Job Summary:
The Network Security Manager will lead the design, implementation, and management of the organization's firewall infrastructure to protect network assets from internal and external threats. This role involves overseeing firewall policies, monitoring security events, coordinating incident response, and ensuring compliance with security standards and regulations. The manager will also lead a team of security analysts and engineers, collaborate with IT and business units, and drive continuous improvement in firewall and network security posture.
Key Responsibilities
Firewall Management and Security Operations
- Develop, implement, and maintain firewall policies and configurations aligned with organizational security requirements and industry best practices.
- Oversee daily firewall operations including rule reviews, change management, and performance monitoring.
- Monitor firewall logs and alerts to detect and respond to security incidents or anomalies.
- Coordinate firewall-related incident response and forensic investigations.
- Manage firewall upgrades, patches, and integration with other security tools (e.g., IDS/IPS, SIEM).
Team Leadership and Collaboration
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of network security engineers and analysts focused on firewall and perimeter security.
- Collaborate with network, infrastructure, and application teams to ensure secure network design and implementation.
- Work with compliance, audit, and risk management teams to ensure firewall policies meet regulatory and internal standards.
Strategy and Policy Development
- Define and enforce firewall governance, including access control policies, segmentation strategies, and change approval processes.
- Evaluate emerging firewall technologies and recommend enhancements to improve security posture.
- Develop and maintain documentation for firewall architecture, policies, and procedures.
Risk Management and Compliance
- Conduct regular firewall rule audits and risk assessments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities or policy violations.
- Ensure firewall configurations comply with relevant standards such as ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, or other applicable frameworks.
- Support internal and external security audits related to firewall and network security controls.
Qualifications and Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.
- Extensive experience (typically 5+ years) in network security with a strong focus on firewall management (e.g., Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, Fortinet, Check Point).
- Proven leadership experience managing security teams and projects.
- Deep understanding of firewall technologies, network protocols, VPNs, and security architectures.
- Familiarity with security monitoring tools (SIEM), intrusion detection/prevention systems, and incident response processes.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCNP Security, or vendor-specific firewall certifications are highly desirable.
