SOC Manager Amstelveen • Cyber Security District

We are representing a leading international organization currently undergoing a merger, seeking an experienced and driven SOC Manager to strengthen and professionalize their Security Operations Center (SOC). This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in ensuring the security of critical assets across the organization during a period of significant transformation.

As SOC Manager, you will lead a team of security analysts while remaining hands-on with operational workloads. You will be responsible for detecting, analyzing, and responding to cyber threats, guiding and mentoring your team, and driving the maturity of SOC processes and tools. Working closely with IT, Security, and Incident Response teams, you will help maintain a resilient security posture and support both day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives related to the ongoing merger.

The primary location for this role is Amstelveen, with occasional travel to Cologne, where part of the IT and security team is based.

• Lead and coordinate the daily operations of the SOC, ensuring effective monitoring, detection, and response to security incidents.
• Act as a hands-on security expert, participating in incident triage, threat analysis, and forensic investigations.
• Develop and maintain SOC processes, playbooks, and documentation in line with industry best practices and compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR).
• Proactively monitor emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and security advisories to enhance the organization’s defenses.
• Support and mentor SOC analysts, fostering professional growth, knowledge sharing, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Drive SOC automation initiatives, including SIEM optimization, alert tuning, and integration with IT and security tools (e.g., Microsoft Sentinel, Defender).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure coordinated responses to security incidents and alignment with the overall cybersecurity strategy.
• Conduct risk assessments, review security controls, and contribute to strategic planning for the security operations function.
• Participate in on-call rotations and provide guidance during high-priority incidents.

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in SOC operations or a similar security operations role.
• Solid understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and standards (ISO 27001, NIST, CIS Controls, GDPR).
• Strong background with SIEM platforms, incident response workflows, and threat intelligence integration.
• Technical foundation in network, endpoint, and cloud security concepts.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a team while balancing operational responsibilities.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Relevant security certifications (CISSP, CISM, SANS, CCSP, or equivalent) preferred.
• Familiarity with cloud security monitoring, ideally Microsoft Defender and Sentinel.
• Prior experience in complex or multi-tenant environments is a plus.
• Willingness to participate in on-call rotations or SOC duty as required.

• Competitive compensation and benefits package
• Flexibility in working arrangements
• A collaborative, international environment with room for impact
• Ongoing training and development
• The chance to shape the security posture of a growing, security-conscious organization