About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is about leading automation and process engineering within the security operations team. You'll be responsible for improving workflows and incident response through automation and AI, making it a senior-level position focused on strategy and execution rather than day-to-day technical tasks.

Good fit

Ideal candidates have extensive experience in security operations and automation, likely 8+ years, with a strong background in engineering and process improvement. A strategic mindset and leadership skills are crucial for success in this role.

Worth noting

The position emphasizes a significant shift towards automation in security processes, which may appeal to those interested in cutting-edge technology. However, the role's success heavily relies on effective cross-department collaboration, which can be a challenge.

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.

We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.

We have been building the world's most valuable brands for 50 years and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.

Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

For more information, visit WPP.com.

Why we're hiring:

The Head of Automation & Process Engineering is responsible for establishing and leading the enterprise-wide automation and process excellence function within Operational Security. This role builds and scales an engineering-first automation capability that supports an Autonomic Security Operations (ASO) model—driving 10X improvements across SOC workflows, SOAR pipelines, incident response processes, and operational efficiency. The role oversees Security Automation Engineering and Process Engineering disciplines, ensuring seamless integration of automation, AI/ML, workflow optimisation, structured procedures, and end-to-end process governance across the security function.

What you'll be doing:

Automation Strategy & Leadership

· Define and own the automation vision and roadmap aligned to GCAT SOC10x principles.
· Drive adoption of advanced automation capabilities across SIEM, SOAR, EDR, TIP, and cloud-native security tools.
· Lead development and maintenance of SOAR playbooks, integrations, and automation workflows.
· Identify automation opportunities to replace manual, high-effort processes across the security lifecycle.
· Govern standards for automation coding, testing, documentation, and version control.

Process Engineering & Operating Model

· Own the design, improvement, and standardisation of Operational Security processes and SOPs.
· Build and maintain the process architecture for SOC, IR, Threat Hunting, and Detection Engineering.
· Implement KPIs, maturity assessments, and continual service improvement cycles.
· Ensure cross-team alignment and process integration across security disciplines.
· Develop scalable, predictable, and measurable operating models for Operational Security.

Engineering Excellence & Technical Ownership

· Oversee deep integration between Microsoft and Google security stacks, SOAR, SIEM, EDR, and TIP.
· Ensure data flow and telemetry integration support automation pipelines.
· Direct design reviews, QA, tooling optimisation, and technology evaluations.
· Implement AI/ML-driven automation for enrichment, prioritisation, and response orchestration.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

· Act as automation and process engineering authority for Operational Security and Tec

Skills & Tags

python go rust gcp azure ai data product

Aplyr's read

WPP Media (GroupM) is a powerhouse in advertising, attracting professionals who thrive in dynamic, global marketing environments.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•GroupM offers a diverse range of roles across strategy, data, and creative fields.
•The company is part of WPP, providing access to a vast network of global resources.
•Strong focus on digital and programmatic advertising aligns with market trends.

What to watch

•High-pressure environment may not suit those seeking work-life balance.
•Complex organizational structure can lead to bureaucratic challenges.
•Frequent restructuring may cause job insecurity among employees.

Why WPP

•GroupM's scale allows for unparalleled access to global advertising data.
•Specialized roles in programmatic and digital media reflect cutting-edge industry practices.
•As part of WPP, GroupM benefits from a broad spectrum of marketing expertise.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?

About WPP

WPP

wpp.com

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WPP plc is a British multinational advertising and public relations company, known for providing a wide range of marketing and communications services.