Firewall Strategy Lead

Open to remote candidates in the US

We are looking for a forward-thinking Firewall Strategy Lead to define, drive, and elevate our global firewall strategy. This is your chance to influence enterprise-scale security decisions, modernize platforms across hybrid environments, and help shape how a global brand protects its digital assets.

If you’re passionate about translating technical excellence into business impact — and want a seat at the table where those decisions are made — this role is for you!

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Define and continuously evolve the enterprise firewall strategy in alignment with organizational goals, emerging threats, and architectural principles.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive firewall lifecycle roadmap, including refresh cycles, decommissioning timelines, and technology modernization initiatives.
• Influence platform selection, service models, and architectural direction based on technical merit, risk impact, and business value.

Vendor Strategy & Governance

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all firewall-related third-party vendors and managed service providers (MSPs).
• Drive vendor selection processes, capability evaluations, and contract negotiations to ensure delivery of high-performing, cost-effective solutions.
• Oversee vendor execution against SLAs, strategic initiatives, and compliance requirements.

Modernization & Innovation

• Lead initiatives to modernize firewall policy models, automation frameworks, and management tools to support scalable, dynamic, and context-aware access controls
• Ensure alignment between cloud-native and on-premise firewall strategies in hybrid environments.

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Develop governance models that ensure auditability, documentation consistency, and alignment with regulatory frameworks (e.g., PCI-DSS, SOX, NIST, ISO 27001).
• Review audit findings, control gaps, and incident trends to drive systemic improvements in firewall design and operational maturity.
• Collaborate with security, compliance, and legal teams to ensure firewall strategy supports regulatory obligations and internal standards.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with Cybersecurity, Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure Engineering, and Restaurant Engineering teams to drive alignment, prioritize initiatives, and support project delivery.
• Create and present business cases to executive stakeholders for new investments, platform transitions, and lifecycle planning.

What Does Success Look Like?:

• A clearly defined and well-executed firewall lifecycle strategy with measurable outcomes.
• Elimination of legacy risks through modernization of platforms, policies, and practices.
• Strong vendor relationships delivering performance, compliance, and cost optimization.
• Enterprise-wide governance model with consistent documentation and metrics.
• Cost-effective investments with demonstrable ROI and risk reduction.

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent work experience).
• Advanced certifications is a plus

Experience

• 7–10 years of experience in network or security roles
• In-depth experience with enterprise firewall platforms including Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Cisco ASA/Firepower, or equivalent.
• Solid understanding of hybrid cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and the role of firewalls within them.
• Familiarity with security frameworks and regulatory mandates (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, SOX).

Skills and Competencies:

• Strategic and architectural thinking with the ability to connect technology decisions to business outcomes.
• Strong documentation and communication skills; able to translate complex topics to executive and technical audiences.
• Risk-aware mindset with a strong drive for innovation, scalability, and process improvement.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and align diverse stakeholders to common goals.
• Deep understanding of firewall technologies, perimeter defense, and access control models.

Work Environment & Conditions:

• This role may support hybrid or remote work, depending on location and team structure.
• Participation in executive briefings or leadership forums may be expected.

Salary Range: $127,900 to $160,200 annually + bonus eligibility. This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of over 59,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories under the company’s concepts – KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill. The Company's KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands are global leaders of the chicken, Mexican-style food, and pizza categories, respectively. Habit Burger & Grill is a fast casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. In 2024, Yum! was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America, and the company was recognized among TIME Magazine’s list of Best Companies for Future Leaders, Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies and USA Today’s America’s Climate Leaders. Yum! also received widespread recognition in 2023, including being listed on the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity. In addition, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands were ranked in the top five of Entrepreneur’s Top Global Franchises Ranking for 2023.