Security Team Lead | Technology

We’re Hiring: Security Team Lead

Protect Africa's most loved Merchant Operating Platform through world-class security operations, rapid threat detection and resilient cyber defence.

Location: Johannesburg or Cape Town

Business Unit: Technology

Reports to: Head of Security

Why This Role Matters

Every payment processed, merchant onboarded and customer interaction depends on trust. In today's threat landscape, security cannot simply respond to attacks—it must anticipate, detect and contain them before they disrupt the business.

As Security Team Lead, you will lead Lesaka's Security Operations capability, overseeing our 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC), threat detection, incident response, vulnerability management and Identity & Access Management (IAM). You will ensure operational security controls are executed effectively while building a proactive, resilient cyber defence capability across the Merchant Division.

About Lesaka

Lesaka is a fintech company on a mission to digitise commerce in Africa. We are listed on NASDAQ (LSAK) and the JSE (LSK) and serve merchants, consumers and enterprises across the continent. From spaza shops and taxi ranks to restaurants and city traders, our products power the small exchanges and the big steps of African commerce.

One platform. Many products. One ambition: to be the most loved Merchant Operating Platform in Africa.

How We Operate

Our strategy starts from a simple operating truth. Exceptional customer experiences come from exceptional staff experiences. We balance four pillars across everything we do:

• Customer Experience
• Staff Happiness
• Cost Discipline
• Risk Control

Each one amplifies the others when properly aligned. We have organised around one merchant journey with clear execution and accountability.

Our North Star

Deliver exceptional experiences to our customers and our staff.

We measure ourselves against CHAP (Customer Happiness), SHAP (Staff Happiness), Cost-to-Serve Efficiency and Regulatory Impact.

Happy customers. Happy staff. Disciplined cost. Controlled risk.

The Role

You will lead Lesaka's operational cyber security capability, ensuring our Security Operations Centre delivers continuous monitoring, rapid threat detection and effective incident response across the Merchant Division.

Working closely with Infrastructure, Cloud, Architecture, Applications, Risk and Compliance teams, you will strengthen the organisation's security posture through operational excellence, proactive risk management and continuous improvement.

The role contributes directly to Customer Experience through trusted and secure technology services,

Cost Discipline through effective operational security and automation, and Risk Control through proactive threat management, compliance and cyber resilience.

You will lead a team of nine security professionals responsible for protecting the organisation's technology estate and responding to emerging cyber threats.

What You'll Own

Security Strategy Execution & Risk Posture

• Implement operational security controls aligned to enterprise security architecture.
• Maintain security standards, procedures and operational governance.
• Track security risks and remediation activities across technology environments.
• Ensure security controls remain effective across infrastructure, cloud and applications.
• Support operational risk assessments and remediation planning.

Threat Detection & Security Operations

• Lead and operate a 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC).
• Manage SIEM, XDR, EDR and security monitoring platforms.
• Coordinate incident response, investigation and escalation activities.
• Conduct post-incident reviews and drive continuous operational improvement.
• Integrate threat intelligence into security monitoring and detection capabilities.

Vulnerability, Identity & Access Governance

• Lead vulnerability scanning, remediation tracking and security assurance activities.
• Manage Identity & Access Management (IAM) processes including joiner, mover and leaver controls.
• Govern Privileged Access Management (PAM) processes.
• Ensure endpoint protection technologies remain operational and effective.
• Monitor third-party access and privileged access compliance.

Security Compliance & Assurance

• Support PCI DSS and SOX ITGC compliance programmes.
• Maintain audit evidence, documentation and security control records.
• Perform operational control testing and validation.
• Track audit findings through to successful remediation.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with organisational security policies and standards.

Stakeholder & Service Integration

• Build strong partnerships with Infrastructure, Cloud, Architecture and Application teams.
• Communicate security incidents, risks and remediation activities clearly.
• Support business stakeholders during security incidents.
• Align SOC operations with business priorities.
• Manage Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and other security vendors.

People & Culture Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing Security Operations team.
• Build capability across automation, cloud security and operational engineering.
• Reduce dependency on external vendors through capability development.
• Drive performance management, coaching and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring

You understand that effective cyber security is measured not only by attacks prevented, but by the resilience, confidence and trust it creates across the business. You thrive in fast-moving operational environments where rapid decisions, disciplined execution and continuous learning are essential.

• Strong experience leading Security Operations or Cyber Security teams.
• Deep knowledge of SOC operations, SIEM, EDR, XDR and threat detection technologies.
• Experience managing cyber incident response and security investigations.
• Strong understanding of vulnerability management, IAM and privileged access governance.
• Working knowledge of PCI DSS, SOX ITGC and operational security compliance.
• Experience securing cloud, endpoint and enterprise network environments.

How You'll Show Up

• Performing Under Pressure. You remain calm and decisive during security incidents.
• Decisive and Accountable. You make confident decisions and own operational outcomes.
• Collaborative. You build trusted relationships across Security, Infrastructure and Technology teams.
• Planning and Structuring. You establish disciplined operational processes.
• Customer Focused. You recognise that security enables business confidence and customer trust.
• Continuous Improver. You constantly strengthen detection capability, automation and operational maturity.

Experience

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum seven years' experience in Cyber Security, Security Operations or Infrastructure Security.
• Three to five years leading or supervising Security Operations or SOC teams.
• Proven experience managing Security Operations Centres (SOC).
• Hands-on experience with SIEM, EDR, XDR and threat monitoring platforms.
• Strong background in cyber incident response, vulnerability management and IAM/PAM.
• Experience supporting PCI DSS and SOX ITGC compliance programmes.
• Exposure to cloud, endpoint and enterprise security operations.

Qualifications & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Information Security, Cyber Security or a related discipline (advantageous).
• CompTIA Security+ certification.
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
• Microsoft SC-200 Security Operations Analyst Associate.
• Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate.
• AWS Certified Security – Specialty (advantageous).

Ready to Build With Us?

If protecting critical fintech platforms and leading high-performing cyber security operations is the kind of work you want to be part of, we want to hear from you.

For more information, please contact Zeenat Paruk