Senior Director Cyber Operations & Threat Intelligence

Company Summary Statement As one of the largest investor-owned utility companies in the United States, PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), is committed to creating long-term, sustainable value for our 3.5 million customers, our shareowners and the communities we serve. Our high-performing regulated utilities — PPL Electric Utilities, Louisville Gas and Electric, Kentucky Utilities and Rhode Island Energy — provide an outstanding experience for our customers, consistently ranking among the best utilities in the nation. PPL’s companies are also addressing challenges head-on by investing in new infrastructure and technology that is creating a smarter, more reliable and resilient energy grid. We are committed to doing our part to advance a cleaner energy future and drive innovation that enables us to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while maintaining energy reliability and affordability for the customers and communities we serve. PPL is a positive force in the cities and towns where we do business, providing support for programs and organizations that empower the success of future generations by helping to build and maintain strong, diverse communities today. Overview NOTE: This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days onsite at one of our local offices: Allentown, PA; Providence, RI or Louisville, KY. #INDPPL #LI-Hybrid The Senior Director of Cyber Operations leads PPL’s enterprise cyber defense organization, responsible for Security Operations (SOC), Threat Intelligence, Detection Engineering, Security Engineering, and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR). This role oversees the day-to-day protection of a critical infrastructure environment and leads the ongoing transformation to a modern, intelligence-driven and automation-first cyber program. The leader will integrate emerging capabilities such as Agentic SOC architectures, Machine-driven Cyber Platforms (MCP), Attack Surface Management (ASM), and risk-based Vulnerability Management, while aligning operations to industry frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), and NERC CIP. Responsibilities Enterprise Cyber Operations Leadership Lead and evolve PPL’s 24x7 SOC operations, including monitoring, detection, and incident responseDirect cyber operations across:Security Operations Center (SOC)Threat IntelligenceDetection EngineeringSecurity EngineeringSOAR / automation platformsDrive operational maturity aligned to NIST CSF domains (Detect, Respond, Recover)Maintain executive-ready visibility into cyber risk, operational performance, and incident postureIncident Response & Crisis Management Lead enterprise cyber incident response and coordination, including high-impact eventsEstablish and mature playbooks, escalation models, and executive communication protocolsPartner with legal, compliance, and business leadership during cyber eventsEnsure readiness through exercises aligned to NERC CIP and resilience requirementsThreat Intelligence & Detection Engineering Operationalize intelligence-led defense by integrating threat intelligence into detection use casesLead detection engineering program to improve fidelity, reduce noise, and expand coverageAdvance proactive threat hunting capabilities across enterprise and critical systemsSecurity Engineering & Automation Own design, implementation, and optimization of cyber tooling and platformsLead transition toward automation-first and Agentic SOC capabilitiesDeploy and scale:Advanced SIEM and XDR capabilitiesSOAR platforms and playbook automationMCP / AI-enabled cyber decision support systemsEnsure secure adoption and governance of AI in cyber operations aligned to NIST AI RMFAttack Surface & Vulnerability Management Establish integrated Attack Surface Management (ASM) across enterprise and external footprintLead risk-based vulnerability management program prioritizing remediation based on threat context and business criticalityIntegrate asset, exposure, and threat data to drive measurable risk reductionCritical Infrastructure & Regulatory Alignment Ensure cyber operations align with NERC CIP requirements and broader regulatory obligationsPartner with compliance teams to support audits, evidence collection, and continuous improvementCoordinate with OT/IT teams to protect grid operations and critical systemsTeam Leadership & Culture Lead a multi-disciplinary team spanning SOC, engineering, and threat intelligence functionsDevelop talent, succession pipelines, and leadership bench strengthFoster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvementDrive alignment with enterprise cybersecurity strategy and “Guardians of the Grid” mission Qualifications Required Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred but not requiredRequired Experience: 20+ years of experience in cybersecurity or a related field, with demonstrated experience in a senior leadership role.Proven experience in managing cybersecurity operations and incident responseStrong leadership and project management skillsExcellent communication and collaboration abilitiesIn-depth knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and best practicesProficiency in security tools and technologiesExperience managing large, diverse teams and leading complex projectsUnderstanding of Agile principles and methodsStrong communication and collaboration skills with technical and non-technical stakeholdersAbility to adapt to new technologies and methodologiesAbility to align IT transformation initiatives with the overall business strategyPreferred Qualifications: Advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, would be a plus)Utilities industry experience