VP, IAM Strategic Planning and Automation Leader

Role Summary/Purpose: 

Synchrony Identity and Access Management (IAM) team is seeking an experienced and visionary IAM leader to head the Identity and Access Management Strategic Planning and Automation team. This individual will be responsible for guiding a team of IAM Solution Architects and automation engineers in designing, developing, and implementing scalable, secure, and seamless identity and access solutions across the enterprise. The role requires a strong blend of technical expertise, leadership, and strategic vision to ensure our IAM ecosystem supports business needs, security requirements, and digital transformation initiatives.

Our Way of Working

We’re proud to offer you choice and flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute to our nearest office for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events.

Essential Responsibilities

The ideal candidate for this role will embrace the exciting blend of technical expertise, program management, engagement ability and leadership that is required to be successful.

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of IAM Solution Architects and automation engineers responsible for enterprise IAM services including authentication, authorization, privileged access, and identity lifecycle management.

• Define and drive the overall IAM architectural strategy and roadmap aligned with business objectives and security best practices.

• Oversee the design and implementation of IAM solutions incorporating industry standards and protocols such as SAML, OAuth2, OIDC, SCIM, PAM, RBAC/ABAC.

• Ensure seamless integration of IAM platforms with cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP), on-premises systems, and SaaS applications.

• Provide thought leadership during vendor evaluations, product selections, and oversee the delivery of IAM projects and initiatives.

• Foster collaboration across security, IT, and business teams to translate complex requirements into robust IAM architectures.

• Champion automation and DevSecOps practices within the IAM environment, leveraging tools such as Terraform, Ansible, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Ensure regulatory compliance related to IAM including SOX, GDPR, PCI, and financial institution standards.

• Conduct regular risk assessments, threat modeling, and security reviews related to identity and access solutions.

• Stay abreast of emerging IAM technologies, industry trends, and evolving threat landscapes to proactively evolve the IAM strategy.

• Manage budgeting, resource planning, and performance management for the IAM strategic planning and architecture team.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and high-quality customer experience within the team.

• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of IT/IS experience with at least 7+ years focused on Identity and Access Management; or in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree, a High School Diploma / GED and 13+ years of IT/IS experience with at least 7+ years focused on Identity and Access Management

• Proven experience managing teams of IAM architects, engineers, or developers.

• Deep expertise in IAM tools and platforms such as SailPoint, Okta, CyberArk, Delinea, Microsoft Entra ID, and directory services including Active Directory.

• Strong knowledge of identity protocols (SAML, OAuth 2.0, OIDC, LDAP, SCIM) and cloud IAM models.

• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide IAM architecture, governance, and operations in hybrid and cloud environments.

• Industry-recognized certifications preferred (CISSP, CISM, CCSP, Okta Certified Architect, SailPoint Architect, Microsoft IAM certifications).

• Experience with Zero Trust Architecture, PAM, and modern IAM best practices.

• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks applicable to IAM within financial services or similar sectors.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environments with a focus on delivering business value.

• Demonstrated experience with automation and DevSecOps integration into IAM processes.

Desired Characteristics:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field

• Master's degree preferred

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