Information Security GRC Program Senior Manager

Location(s)

Chicago, Illinois, Downers Grove, Illinois

Details

Kemper is one of the nation’s leading specialized insurers. Our success is a direct reflection of the talented and diverse people who make a positive difference in the lives of our customers every day. We believe a high-performing culture, valuable opportunities for personal development and professional challenge, and a healthy work-life balance can be highly motivating and productive. Kemper’s products and services are making a real difference to our customers, who have unique and evolving needs. By joining our team, you are helping to provide an experience to our stakeholders that delivers on our promises. 

The Information Security GRC Program Senior Manager, reporting to the CISO, leads a team that designs and operates the enterprise security risk and control framework. The role translates regulatory and business requirements into measurable controls, validates control effectiveness through testing and evidence, and drives remediation and risk treatment decisions—ensuring leadership has a clear, defensible view of risk posture and the program remains continuously audit- and exam-ready.

Job Summary
The Information Security GRC Program Senior Manager leads the enterprise governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) function within the Information Security Program and manages a team responsible for control governance, audit/exam readiness, risk assessments, and remediation execution tracking. This role establishes a sustainable, repeatable control environment by operating the policy/control lifecycle, coordinating internal/external audits and regulatory exams, driving cross-functional accountability for remediation, and delivering executive-ready reporting to the CISO, ELT, and Risk Committees.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of GRC professionals; set goals, performance expectations, and development plans aligned to program outcomes.
• Establish operating rhythms, playbooks, and quality standards for control documentation, testing/validation, evidence management, and reporting.
• Manage team capacity and prioritization against enterprise commitments (audits, exams, strategic initiatives, remediation).

Governance & Control Oversight

• Own the Information Security GRC operating model, including control governance, control testing/validation cadence, evidence management, and exception management.
• Maintain and mature the security control framework and control library; ensure alignment to applicable regulatory and contractual requirements (e.g., insurance regulators, NYDFS, SOX ITGCs, Bermuda Cyber Code of Conduct, PCI DSS, privacy/security obligations).
• Govern the policy lifecycle (reviews, approvals, publication, training/attestation inputs, and adoption tracking) and ensure alignment between policy, standards, and procedures.

Audit, Exam & Assurance Management

• Serve as the senior security lead for internal/external audits, regulatory exams, and assurance activities.
• Coordinate evidence collection, response narratives, and stakeholder alignment; ensure timely delivery and consistency across requests.
• Own the lifecycle of audit/exam issues: intake, triage, assignment, remediation plans, due dates, escalation, validation, and closure.

Issue & Remediation Governance

• Drive remediation governance for security findings, control gaps, and formal commitments; monitor execution and remove blockers through structured escalation.
• Validate remediation completion and evidence quality prior to closure; reduce repeat findings by ensuring root causes are addressed.

Metrics, Reporting & Executive Communication

• Develop and maintain KPIs/KRIs and executive-ready reporting on control health, audit readiness, open issues, remediation status, and program maturity.
• Present decision-grade updates to the CISO and governance forums; support Board/Risk Committee reporting with clear themes, trends, and required decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Security, Risk Management, Business, IT, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of progressive experience in information security governance, risk, compliance, audit, or related disciplines.
• 3+ years of people management experience (direct reports) with demonstrated ability to build, coach, and scale a high-performing team.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional programs and driving accountability without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of security governance and control frameworks (e.g., NIST CS