Senior Director Cyber Operations & Threat Intelligence

PPL · Allentown

Company Summary Statement

As one of the largest investor-owned utility companies in the United States, PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), is committed to creating long-term, sustainable value for our 3.5 million customers, our shareowners and the communities we serve. Our high-performing regulated utilities — PPL Electric Utilities, Louisville Gas and Electric, Kentucky Utilities and Rhode Island Energy — provide an outstanding experience for our customers, consistently ranking among the best utilities in the nation. PPL’s companies are also addressing challenges head-on by investing in new infrastructure and technology that is creating a smarter, more reliable and resilient energy grid. We are committed to doing our part to advance a cleaner energy future and drive innovation that enables us to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while maintaining energy reliability and affordability for the customers and communities we serve. PPL is a positive force in the cities and towns where we do business, providing support for programs and organizations that empower the success of future generations by helping to build and maintain strong, diverse communities today.
Overview

NOTE: This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days onsite at one of our office in Allentown, PA. #INDPPL #LI-Hybrid

The Senior Director of Cyber Operations leads PPL’s enterprise cyber defense organization, responsible for Security Operations (SOC), Threat Intelligence, Detection Engineering, Security Engineering, and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR). This role oversees the day-to-day protection of a critical infrastructure environment and leads the ongoing transformation to a modern, intelligence-driven and automation-first cyber program. The leader will integrate emerging capabilities such as Agentic SOC architectures, Machine-driven Cyber Platforms (MCP), Attack Surface Management (ASM), and risk-based Vulnerability Management, while aligning operations to industry frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), and NERC CIP.

Responsibilities

Enterprise Cyber Operations Leadership

Lead and evolve PPL’s 24x7 SOC operations, including monitoring, detection, and incident response
Direct cyber operations across:

Security Operations Center (SOC)
Threat Intelligence
Detection Engineering
Security Engineering
SOAR / automation platforms

Drive operational maturity aligned to NIST CSF domains (Detect, Respond, Recover)
Maintain executive-ready visibility into cyber risk, operational performance, and incident posture

Incident Response & Crisis Management

Lead enterprise cyber incident response and coordination, including high-impact events
Establish and mature playbooks, escalation models, and executive communication protocols
Partner with legal, compliance, and business leadership during cyber events
Ensure readiness through exercises aligned to NERC CIP and resilience requirements

Threat Intelligence & Detection Engineering

Operationalize intelligence-led defense by integrating threat intelligence into detection use cases
Lead detection engineering program to improve fidelity, reduce noise, and expand coverage
Advance proactive threat hunting capabilities across enterprise and critical systems

Security Engineering & Automation

Own design, implementation, and optimization of cyber tooling and platforms
Lead transition toward automation-first and Agentic SOC capabilities
Deploy and scale:

Advanced SIEM and XDR capabilities
SOAR platforms and playbook automation
MCP / AI-enabled cyber decision support systems

Ensure secure adoption and governance of AI in cyber operations aligned to NIST AI RMF

Attack Surface & Vulnerability Management

Establish integrated Attack Surface Management (ASM) across enterprise and external footprint
Lead risk-based vulnerability management program prioritizing remediation based on threat context and business criticality
Integrate asset, exposure, and threat data to drive measurable risk reduction

Critical Infrastructure & Regulatory Alignment

Ensure cyber operations align with NERC CIP requirements and broader regulatory obligations
Partner with compliance teams to support audits, evidence collection, and continuous improvement
Coordinate with OT/IT teams to protect grid operations and critical systems

Team Leadership & Culture

Lead a multi-disciplinary team spanning SOC, engineering, and threat intelligence functions
Develop talent, succession pipelines, and leadership bench strength
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
Drive alignment with enterprise cybersecurity strategy and “Guardians of the Grid” mission

Qualifications

Required Education:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred but not required

Required Experience:

20+ years of experience in cybersecurity or a related field, with demonstrated experience in a senior leadership role.
Proven experience in managing cybersecurity operations and incident response
Strong leadership and project management skills
Excellent communication and collaboration abilities
In-depth knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and best practices
Proficiency in security tools and technologies
Experience managing large, diverse teams and leading complex projects
Understanding of Agile principles and methods
Strong communication and collaboration skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Ability to adapt to new technologies and methodologies
Ability to align IT transformation initiatives with the overall business strategy

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, would be a plus)
Utilities industry experience