Security Leadership Titles

This page provides standardized job titles, responsibilities, and expectations for security executives and senior leaders. These roles span all security functions—offensive, defensive, and specialized—providing strategic direction, risk management, and business alignment.
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Security Leadership

Executive and senior leadership roles responsible for organizational security strategy, risk management, and program oversight. These roles span offensive, defensive, and specialized security functions, providing strategic direction and business alignment for security initiatives.

Attribute	Director	Senior Director	Vice President	Senior Vice President	CISO / Chief Information Security Officer
General Description	Director responsible for the overall security program or a major security function. In smaller organizations, may be the most senior security leader reporting to executive leadership. In larger organizations, leads a significant security department or practice area. Balances strategic leadership with operational oversight, owns budget, and drives security maturity across the organization.	Senior Director with expanded scope over multiple security functions, departments, or a large-scale security program. Leads directors and senior managers, driving strategic initiatives across the security organization. Serves as a key member of security leadership, influencing organizational direction and representing security at the executive level.	Vice President of Security serving as an executive leader responsible for enterprise-wide security strategy and operations. Leads the security organization including multiple directors and senior directors. Serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, driving security as a business enabler and managing enterprise risk. May serve as deputy to CISO or as the top security executive in mid-sized organizations.	Senior Vice President of Security serving as a top executive responsible for enterprise security, risk, and trust at the largest and most complex organizations. Leads a large security organization with multiple VPs or senior directors reporting. Serves on executive committee and engages directly with board of directors on security strategy and risk. Represents the organization at the highest levels of industry and government.	Chief Information Security Officer serving as the top security executive and C-suite member responsible for enterprise security strategy, risk management, and organizational protection. Accountable to the board of directors for security posture and risk. Leads the entire security organization and serves as the enterprise authority on security matters. Represents the organization at the highest levels of industry, government, and regulatory engagement.
Primary Responsibilities	Lead security department or program for the organization Develop and execute security strategy and multi-year roadmap Own security budget and resource allocation Build and develop security management team Present security posture and strategy to executive leadership Drive security risk management and governance Build relationships with business unit leaders Ensure regulatory compliance and audit readiness Manage vendor relationships and security investments Represent security in organizational leadership forums Drive security awareness and culture initiatives Oversee incident response for significant security events	Lead multiple security departments or large-scale program Develop enterprise security strategy and vision Manage directors and senior managers Own significant security budget and investment decisions Drive cross-functional security initiatives Present to executive leadership and board committees Build strategic partnerships with business leaders Lead organizational security transformation initiatives Oversee enterprise risk management for security Drive security metrics and reporting to executives Represent organization in industry forums Support M&A security due diligence and integration	Lead enterprise security organization Set security vision and multi-year strategic direction Own enterprise security budget and resource strategy Build and develop security leadership team Present security strategy and risk to board of directors Drive security as a business enabler and differentiator Lead enterprise security risk management Build executive relationships across the organization Represent organization externally at industry and government levels Drive security culture and awareness at enterprise scale Oversee crisis management and major incident response Lead security M&A due diligence and integration strategy	Lead large-scale enterprise security organization Set enterprise security and risk strategy Own multi-hundred million dollar security budget Build and lead security executive team Present directly to board of directors on security matters Drive security as enterprise competitive advantage Lead enterprise-wide risk and compliance programs Build relationships with peer executives across enterprise Represent organization to regulators and government officials Drive industry standards and practices Lead security aspects of major corporate initiatives Oversee global security operations and strategy	Serve as enterprise security executive and C-suite member Own enterprise security strategy and risk accountability Report directly to board of directors on security matters Lead and develop the security organization Drive enterprise risk management and governance Ensure regulatory compliance and audit readiness Build security as enterprise trust and competitive advantage Serve on executive committee and influence corporate strategy Represent organization to regulators, government, and media Lead industry engagement and standards development Oversee crisis management and enterprise incident response Drive security culture across the enterprise Manage security aspects of M&A, partnerships, and investments
Required Skills	Strategic security program leadership Budget management and financial acumen Team leadership and people development Executive communication and presentation Risk management and governance Regulatory compliance knowledge Vendor management and negotiation Cross-functional collaboration and influence Business acumen and alignment	Enterprise security strategy and vision Multi-team and director-level leadership Executive presence and board communication Large budget management Organizational transformation leadership Enterprise risk management Strategic vendor and partner management Industry influence and thought leadership	Executive leadership and vision Board-level communication and presence Enterprise strategy development Large organization leadership Business strategy and alignment Enterprise risk management Executive relationship building Crisis leadership and management Industry and government engagement	C-suite executive leadership Board relationship management Enterprise-wide strategic vision Large organization management Complex stakeholder management Global program leadership Regulatory and government relations Crisis leadership at enterprise scale Industry-shaping influence	C-suite executive leadership and presence Board of directors relationship and reporting Enterprise strategy and business alignment Risk management and fiduciary responsibility Regulatory and compliance expertise Crisis leadership and communication Executive team collaboration Industry and government relations Media and public communication Global organization leadership
Preferred Skills	Prior director or senior manager experience MBA or advanced business education Industry conference speaking Board or audit committee presentation experience M&A security due diligence Crisis management experience	Prior VP or senior director experience Public company experience Board presentation experience Industry advisory roles Published thought leadership International security program experience	Prior VP or CISO experience Public company board experience Government advisory or liaison experience Published books or major thought leadership International program leadership Private equity or M&A experience	Prior CISO or SVP experience Public company C-suite experience Board director experience Government senior advisory roles Industry association leadership Global organization experience	Prior CISO experience Corporate board experience Government senior advisory or service Industry association leadership (ISACs, etc.) Published thought leadership International executive experience Private equity or board portfolio experience
Mentorship Requirements	Develops security management talent pipeline. Mentors managers and senior individual contributors. Shapes security career frameworks for the organization. May participate in industry mentorship programs. Sponsors high-potential security leaders.	Develops director-level talent pipeline. Mentors directors and high-potential senior managers. Shapes security leadership development programs. Industry mentorship through speaking and advisory roles. Creates succession planning for security leadership.	Develops security executive pipeline. Mentors senior directors and directors. Shapes organizational leadership development. Industry-level mentorship and advisory roles. Creates security leadership succession strategy.	Develops executive succession pipeline. Mentors VPs and senior directors for executive roles. Industry-wide mentorship and leadership development. Shapes next generation of security executives. May chair industry mentorship programs.	Develops enterprise security leadership pipeline. Mentors future CISOs and security executives. Industry-wide leadership development impact. May serve on CISO advisory boards and councils. Shapes the security profession through leadership development.
Impact Scope	Organizational security posture and risk management. Security program performance and maturity. Team capability and development. Business enablement through security. Regulatory compliance and audit outcomes.	Enterprise security strategy and execution. Multi-department performance and integration. Security leadership capability. Executive stakeholder relationships. Industry reputation and influence.	Enterprise security posture and business enablement. Security organization performance and capability. Executive leadership effectiveness. Board confidence in security. Industry and regulatory reputation.	Enterprise security and business strategy alignment. Global security organization effectiveness. Board and investor confidence. Regulatory and government relationships. Industry leadership and standards.	Enterprise security and trust. Corporate risk and compliance. Board and shareholder confidence. Regulatory and legal standing. Industry and professional leadership. Organizational reputation and brand protection.
Autonomy & Decision Authority	Full authority over security operations and program. Budget ownership within allocation. Authority over security hiring and organization structure. Strategic decision-making for security. Reports to VP, CISO, CIO, or CEO depending on organization size.	Significant strategic autonomy. Large budget authority and investment decisions. Authority over director hiring and organizational design. Influences organizational security direction. Reports to VP, CISO, or C-suite.	Executive-level autonomy and authority. Significant budget and investment authority. Authority over security organizational design. Strategic influence on business direction. Reports to CISO, CIO, COO, or CEO.	Full executive authority over security domain. Major budget and strategic investment authority. Authority to shape enterprise risk decisions. Significant influence on corporate strategy. Reports to CISO, CEO, or Board.	Full executive authority and accountability for security. Board-level decision-making and reporting. Authority over enterprise security strategy and investment. Significant influence on corporate strategy and risk decisions. Reports to CEO, Board, or Audit Committee.
Communication & Stakeholders	Executive leadership team engagement. Business unit leader relationships. Board or audit committee presentations (in smaller orgs). Regulatory and auditor communication. Industry peer networking.	C-suite and executive committee engagement. Board and audit committee presentations. Industry conference keynotes. Regulatory and government agency relationships. Media engagement on security topics.	Board of directors engagement. C-suite peer relationships. Regulatory and government agency leadership. Industry executive networking. Media and analyst relationships.	Board of directors strategic engagement. CEO and executive committee peer. Regulatory agency executive relationships. Government and policy engagement. Global industry leadership presence.	Board of directors direct reporting. CEO and executive committee peer. Audit committee engagement. Regulatory agency and government official relationships. Industry CISO peer network. Media and analyst engagement.
Degree / Experience	Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of security experience including senior management, OR Master's/MBA with 10+ years. Demonstrated security program leadership and business impact. Industry recognition developing.	Master's degree or MBA preferred, OR Bachelor's with 14+ years including director-level leadership. Demonstrated enterprise security leadership and transformation. Industry recognition established.	Master's degree or MBA typically expected, OR Bachelor's with 16+ years including senior executive experience. Demonstrated enterprise security executive leadership. Significant industry recognition.	Master's degree or MBA typically expected. 18+ years of security experience with significant executive leadership. Demonstrated enterprise transformation and industry impact. Major industry recognition.	Master's degree or MBA typically expected. 20+ years of security experience with extensive executive leadership. Demonstrated enterprise-level impact and transformation. Significant industry recognition and thought leadership.
Certifications	CISSP, CISM required CISO certifications (CCISO, etc.) Executive education programs Industry recognition often supersedes certifications	CISSP, CISM expected Executive certifications (CCISO, NACD) Industry recognition often supersedes certifications Board governance training	CISSP, CISM expected baseline Executive certifications (NACD, board governance) Industry recognition supersedes certifications May hold advisory board positions	Executive certifications and board training Industry recognition is primary credential May hold corporate board positions Government advisory credentials	CISSP, CISM as baseline credentials Board governance training (NACD, etc.) Industry recognition is primary credential May hold corporate board positions Government advisory credentials
Salary: US Gov't	$175,000 - $220,000 (GS-15 Step 10 / SES)	$195,000 - $250,000 (SES equivalent)	$220,000 - $280,000 (Senior SES)	$260,000 - $320,000+ (Senior SES / Political appointee)	$280,000 - $400,000+ (Senior SES / Agency head equivalent)
Salary: US Startup	$220,000 - $300,000 + significant equity	$270,000 - $360,000 + significant equity	$320,000 - $420,000 + major equity	$380,000 - $500,000+ + significant equity	$400,000 - $600,000+ + major equity + signing
Salary: US Corporate	$200,000 - $280,000 + bonus	$250,000 - $340,000 + bonus	$300,000 - $400,000 + bonus	$375,000 - $500,000+ + bonus + LTI	$450,000 - $750,000+ + bonus + LTI

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About This Framework

This standardization framework is designed to:

Provide clarity on executive role expectations at each level
Enable fair compensation through transparent salary benchmarking
Support career development by clearly defining the path to CISO
Facilitate hiring with consistent job descriptions and requirements

How Leadership Relates to Other Tracks

Level	Typical Reports	Scope
Director	Managers, Senior ICs	Single function or small org’s entire security
Senior Director	Directors, Senior Managers	Multiple functions or large program
VP	Senior Directors, Directors	Enterprise security organization
SVP	VPs, Senior Directors	Large enterprise, global scope
CISO	All security leadership	Enterprise-wide accountability

Salary Notes

Sector	Notes
US Government	Based on Senior Executive Service (SES) pay scales. Varies significantly by agency and locality.
US Startup	Reflects venture-backed companies. Equity can represent 50%+ of total compensation at executive levels.
US Corporate	Reflects Fortune 500 and large enterprise. Includes base + bonus + LTI (long-term incentives). Total comp can be 2-3x base.

All salary figures are estimates based on market data and may vary significantly by geography, company size, industry, and individual negotiation. Executive compensation often includes significant variable components not fully reflected in these ranges.

Contributing

This is an open-source effort to standardize security titles. Join the discussion to help improve these frameworks.