Head of Security & Trust

Valkai
New York +1 more
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior security professionals with enterprise experience who can lead cross-functional initiatives.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience leading enterprise security reviews and compliance programs
    — “You have personally led security reviews and customer audits, earned the trust of enterprise security teams”
  • Individuals who have scaled security programs in high-growth tech companies
    — “You have built or scaled a security program and are comfortable moving between strategy, technical investigation, and day-to-day execution”
  • Candidates with expertise in AI governance and cloud security architecture
    — “You can understand cloud architecture, identity and access, data flows, application security, and AI systems well enough to assess risk”

Things to consider

  • This role demands direct engagement with enterprise customers and auditors, requiring strong interpersonal and organizational skills
    — “You'll work directly with customers and partner with Engineering, Product, AI Research, and Legal”
  • Candidates should be prepared to take full ownership of compliance certifications and readiness processes
    — “Owning readiness, evidence, remediation, and the processes needed to maintain the program”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience with AI risk assessments and model reviews in your interview responses
    — “Establish AI governance with Product, AI Research, Engineering, and Legal, including AI risk assessments, model and vendor reviews”
  • Demonstrate your ability to translate customer concerns into product and security improvements
    — “Translate recurring customer concerns into product and security improvements”
  • Showcase your track record in automating security and compliance workflows
    — “Automate evidence collection and review workflows to improve speed and accuracy”
  • Emphasize your hands-on leadership in security strategy and execution
    — “Own Valkai's security strategy, roadmap, and operating program, with clear priorities, owners, and reporting on risk and progress”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • built or scaled a security program
  • led security reviews and customer audits
  • taken a company through audits or certifications
  • established AI governance
  • partnered with engineering and legal on security requirements
Typical background
security leadership rolesenterprise security experiencecompliance ownership roles

Skills & requirements

Required

Security Program ManagementEnterprise Security ReviewsCompliance OwnershipTechnical DepthStrong JudgmentClear Collaboration

Preferred

AI GovernanceCloud ArchitectureIdentity And Access ManagementData Flow AnalysisApplication SecurityAI Systems AssessmentAI Management System ImplementationISO 42001 CertificationLife Sciences SecurityFinancial Institution SecurityLaw Firm SecurityAI Agent SecurityModel-provider RiskPrivacy Program ManagementNIST AI RMFSecurity AutomationCloud Environment FamiliarityRelevant Credentials

Stack & domain

Cloud ArchitectureIdentity And AccessData FlowsApplication SecurityAI SystemsSOC 2ISO 27001ISO 42001AI GovernanceAccess ControlsCloud And Application SecurityTenant IsolationVulnerability ManagementAI Agent SecurityModel-provider RiskPrivacy ProgramsNIST AI RMFLeadershipCommunicationTeamworkProblem-solvingDecision-makingCustomer ServiceCollaborationCisspCISMISO 27001/42001 Lead ImplementerISO 27001/42001 Lead AuditorSecurityComplianceAIEnterprise Software

About the role

Original posting from Valkai via Ashby

THE ROLE

You'll own the security program and customer trust that allow Valkai to deploy into demanding enterprise environments. This is a hands-on leadership role spanning enterprise security reviews, security operations, compliance, and AI governance. You'll work directly with customers and partner with Engineering, Product, AI Research, and Legal to turn security requirements into practical controls and clear commitments.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

  • Security leaders who build: You have built or scaled a security program and are comfortable moving between strategy, technical investigation, and day-to-day execution.
  • Enterprise credibility: You have personally led security reviews and customer audits, earned the trust of enterprise security teams, and helped resolve the issues that block deployment.
  • Technical depth: You can understand cloud architecture, identity and access, data flows, application security, and AI systems well enough to assess risk and work through solutions with engineers.
  • Compliance ownership: You have taken a company through audits or certifications, owning readiness, evidence, remediation, and the processes needed to maintain the program.
  • Strong judgment: You prioritize meaningful risks, make practical tradeoffs, and know which customer commitments the company can support.
  • Clear collaborators: You explain security and risk clearly to customers, engineers, and leadership, and create accountability across teams.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Own Valkai's security strategy, roadmap, and operating program, with clear priorities, owners, and reporting on risk and progress.
  • Lead enterprise security reviews, technical diligence calls, questionnaires, and customer audits. Partner with Sales and Legal on security requirements and contractual commitments.
  • Build and maintain our Trust Center, security documentation, architecture overviews, and reusable responses. Automate evidence collection and review workflows to improve speed and accuracy.
  • Own the roadmap and execution for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and ISO 42001, including gap assessments, control implementation, auditor coordination, remediation, and ongoing maintenance.
  • Establish AI governance with Product, AI Research, Engineering, and Legal, including AI risk assessments, model and vendor reviews, data-handling practices, human oversight, and documented responsibilities.
  • Partner with Engineering to strengthen access controls, cloud and application security, tenant isolation, vulnerability management, and protections for AI agents and customer data.
  • Translate recurring customer concerns into product and security improvements, and select the tools, external partners, and future hires needed to scale the function.

NICE TO HAVE

  • You have implemented an AI management system or led ISO 42001 certification.
  • You have supported life sciences organizations, financial institutions, law firms, or other highly regulated enterprise customers.
  • You have worked at an AI company or a high-growth enterprise software company.
  • You have experience with AI agent security, model-provider risk, privacy programs, or NIST AI RMF.
  • You have built security or compliance automation and are familiar with cloud environments such as AWS or Azure.
  • You hold relevant credentials such as CISSP, CISM, or ISO 27001/42001 Lead Implementer or Lead Auditor.

BENEFITS

  • Competitive compensation, including meaningful equity.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents.
  • Generous PTO policy.
  • Paid parental leave.

At Valkai, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Source: Valkai careers (Ashby)

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