Head of AI Security

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Job Summary

To develop a functional risk and securities operating model and framework in a broadly defined business functional strategy; enabling horizontal alignment, implementation and adoption.

Job Description

Role Purpose

The Head of AI Security is responsible for protecting the Absa’s artificial intelligence systems, machine learning platforms, and generative AI capabilities from cyber threats, adversarial manipulation, data compromise, and misuse. The Head of AI Security will ensure that all AI systems are secure by design and resilient to adversarial attacks. The Head of AI Security ensures that AI platforms, models, and data pipelines are treated as critical digital infrastructure and protected accordingly. The role ensures that AI innovation occurs within a secure and resilient operating environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. AI Security Strategy & Architecture:

Define and implement the enterprise AI security strategy aligned with the Absa’s cybersecurity reference architecture and NIST principles.

Responsibilities:

• Develop the AI Security Framework for the enterprise

• Define secure architecture standards for AI platforms and ML systems

• Embed security-by-design across the AI lifecycle

• Align AI platforms with:

  • Zero Trust architecture

  • Cloud security frameworks

  • Secure SDLC

  • Enterprise IAM and access control

  • Enterprise Detection and Response controls

2. Adversarial Machine Learning Defence

AI systems are vulnerable to attacks that traditional security controls may not be able to detect or prevent.

• The Head of AI Security must implement defences against:

  • Model poisoning

  • Training data tampering

  • Adversarial inputs

  • AI API exploitation

  • Prompt injection (Generative AI)

  • Data exfiltration through AI models

Responsibilities:

• Establish AI threat modelling frameworks

• Implement adversarial robustness testing

• Introduce AI red teaming exercises

• Define secure model deployment controls

• Monitor models for abnormal behaviour and manipulation

3. Secure AI Development & MLOps

Ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed within a secure MLOps environment.

Responsibilities:

• Define Secure MLOps standards

• Integrate security testing into the ML lifecycle

• Protect training datasets

• Secure model registries and model artifact storage

• Ensure AI pipelines enforce authentication and authorization controls

• Implement automated security scanning for ML components.

4. Generative AI & LLM Security

Generative AI introduces significant enterprise risk if not properly governed.

• The Head of AI Security must implement controls to protect the organization from:

• Prompt injection

• Data leakage via prompts

• Sensitive data exposure through outputs

• Unauthorized model usage

• Abuse of AI capabilities

Responsibilities:

• Implement prompt filtering and prompt security policies

• Deploy input/output monitoring and content filtering

• Establish strict access control for generative AI tools

• Monitor generative AI activity and logs

• Define LLM security architecture standards

 

5. AI Data Security & Privacy Protection

• AI systems rely on large-scale data processing.

• The Head of AI Security must ensure:

• Patterns for secure ingestion of training data

• Patterns for Protection of sensitive financial and customer data

• Protection against training data leakage

6. AI Security Monitoring & Detection

AI systems must be continuously monitored for abuse or compromise.

Responsibilities:

• Implement AI security monitoring capabilities

• Integrate AI systems into enterprise SIEM/SOC monitoring

7. AI Incident Response

AI security incidents require specialized response procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Integrate AI threats into cyber incident response playbooks

• Define containment procedures for compromised models

• Establish forensic capabilities for AI systems

• Conduct post-incident model integrity verification

 

Required Experience

• 10–15 years in cybersecurity, AI, or platform security

• Qualifications in Mathematics and/or Computer Science, Masters Degree would be an added advantage

• Experience securing cloud-based AI platforms

• Exposure to machine learning or advanced analytics environments

• Experience implementing secure development frameworks

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised