Unified Payment Services Limitedis a group of companies with services including Banking, Payment Scheme, Financial Technology, Digital Commerce, Value Added Service, Payment Solutions, Software Solutions, etc. Unified Payments is a principal member or licensed acquirer of American Express, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay; and has been instrumental in building the infrastructure that supports Nigeria’s modern payments ecosystem.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, IT Security

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Objective(s)

  • The Head of IT Security will be responsible for leading the organization’s efforts to protect its information technology infrastructure, applications, and data.
  • This role is crucial for the development, implementation, and maintenance of a comprehensive IT security strategy that ensures the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the company’s IT systems.
  • The Head of IT Security will also work to minimize risk and ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations, and best practices.

Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:

  • Develop and implement a robust IT security strategy aligned with the organization’s business goals and objectives.
  • Ensure the security of IT systems by monitoring evolving risks and establishing proactive defenses.
  • Lead, manage, and mentor the IT security team to build a high-performing department.

Risk Management:

  • Identify, assess, and manage IT security risks and threats to the organization’s systems and data.
  • Conduct regular security assessments, audits, and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
  • Recommend, implement, and monitor risk mitigation strategies and plans.

Security Governance and Compliance:

  • Develop and enforce IT security policies, procedures, and standards.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant security regulations and frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST).
  • Oversee and manage security audits, assessments, and certifications as required.

Incident Response & Recovery:

  • Develop and manage a robust incident response plan to address and recover from IT security
  • breaches or threats.
  • Coordinate response efforts in the event of a security breach, including forensic investigation and root cause analysis.
  • Ensure business continuity planning and disaster recovery procedures are in place and regularly tested.

Security Infrastructure Management:

  • Oversee the implementation and management of security tools and technologies (e.g., firewalls, intrusion detection systems, endpoint protection, encryption tools).
  • Manage vulnerability management processes, including patch management and system hardening.
  • Collaborate with other IT teams to ensure secure system architecture, network infrastructure, and application development processes.

Training & Awareness:

  • Lead initiatives to promote security awareness across the organization by providing training to staff on best practices for IT security.
  • Regularly conduct workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns to keep employees updated on emerging threats.

Reporting & Analysis:

  • Provide regular security status reports and updates to senior management and relevant stakeholders.
  • Present analysis on security incidents, metrics, and trends to inform decision-making.

Vendor Management:

  • Manage relationships with external vendors, service providers, and consultants related to IT security
  • solutions.
  • Ensure third-party vendors comply with security standards and practices.

Requirements

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field
  • Others: Familiarity with both on-premise and cloud-based IT infrastructure security.
  • Experience: Minimum 10 years’ experience managing a security team and leading strategic security initiatives an added advantage.

Application Closing Date
30th September, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: ademuyiwa.adetunji@up-ng.com using the job title as the subject of the mail.