HEAD OF INFORMATION SECURITY (F/M/D)

For our client, an internationally operating software and platform company headquartered in Cologne, we are looking for a Head of Information Security (f/m/d). 

You report to the VP IT & Infrastructure, lead a small team and own the security posture end to end. The mandate is to turn Information Security into a forward-looking function that works hand in hand with Engineering: secure by design across the SDLC, audit readiness for PCI-DSS and SOC 2, and a risk picture made measurable through KPIs. The platform processes sensitive data at scale, so security here is part of the product rather than a back-office function. The person we have in mind is technically credible, pragmatic, and at home in software-driven organisations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the overall security posture and keep improving it; make the risk picture transparent with defined, measurable KPIs.
• Shape the security strategy in line with business goals and the threat landscape, and build security into the SDLC and the day-to-day operation of the platform together with Engineering.
• Set pragmatic standards and guardrails with risk-based guidance that helps teams prioritise and ship secure solutions.
• Get the organisation audit-ready for PCI-DSS and SOC 2 by turning compliance requirements into practical, scalable controls.
• Strengthen threat detection and response with solid logging, monitoring and alerting across both applications and infrastructure.
• Evaluate and roll out security tooling that fits the engineering workflow, including build-versus-buy calls; represent security towards auditors, partners and customers.

PROFILE:

• 6+ years in Information Security or Security Engineering, ideally in cloud or SaaS environments.
• A history of working closely with software development teams and a firm grasp of how modern software platforms get built and operated.
• Hands-on technical depth in identity and access management, APIs, application architectures and the typical weak spots of distributed systems.
• Working knowledge of PCI-DSS and SOC 2 or comparable frameworks.
• You have led and grown small teams, and you communicate clearly with engineers as well as business stakeholders.
• Degree in Computer Science, IT, Cybersecurity or equivalent practical experience.
• Fluent English; German is a plus. Experience with payment data and with security in AI-enabled environments are welcome extras.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:

• A shape-it mandate reporting directly to the VP IT & Infrastructure.
• Personal L&D budget and structured development programmes.
• Gym reimbursement, wellness offers and further health benefits.
• Pension plan, mentoring, volunteer days and referral bonuses.

INTERESTED? Send me your LinkedIn profile or CV along with your availability and salary expectations. I'll get back to you shortly with the next steps. CHARACTERS CONNECTION LTD hello@characters-connection.com · www.characters-connection.com