Data Security Lead

Data Security Lead, (DLP/DSPM) 

Platform & Data Security 

Position Overview

The Senior Lead, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) & Exception Governance supports Zelis’ enterprise data protection program, reporting to the Director of Data Security. This individual helps discover, classify, protect, monitor, and govern sensitive data across cloud, SaaS, endpoint, collaboration, AI-enabled, and on-premises environments.

As a senior member of the Platform & Data Security team, this role helps ensure Zelis maintains strong protection of healthcare, payment, financial, employee, customer, and corporate information assets while supporting business growth, cloud transformation, analytics initiatives, and emerging AI technologies.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical depth in DLP and DSPM technologies, along with sound judgment in governance and risk management. This individual works closely with Security, Infrastructure, Engineering, Data & Analytics, Privacy, Compliance, and Legal teams to help build and operate scalable, risk-based data protection capabilities that align with Zelis’ data security objectives and regulatory obligations.

This role requires solid working knowledge of enterprise data security tools (particularly Microsoft Purview), cloud security, DSPM technologies, sensitive data discovery and classification, exception governance processes, and regulatory compliance within highly regulated environments. The successful candidate will execute day-to-day program operations, provide technical analysis of data risks, and support governance processes that enable the business while protecting critical information assets, under the direction of the Director of Data Security.

Key Responsibilities

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

• Support day-to-day administration, tuning, and monitoring of enterprise DLP controls across endpoints, email, cloud services, SaaS applications, collaboration tools, file-sharing platforms, and emerging AI technologies.

• Help maintain DLP policies aligned with Zelis’ data classification standards and regulatory requirements.

• Continuously tune DLP rules to reduce false positives and operational overhead.

• Monitor for data exfiltration risks, insider threats, and evolving attack methods impacting sensitive information, escalating issues as needed.

• Partner with Security Operations and Incident Response teams to investigate and help remediate data protection incidents.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM)

• Support implementation and day-to-day operation of DSPM capabilities across enterprise data stores, cloud environments, SaaS applications, databases, data lakes, and analytics platforms.

• Help identify sensitive data exposure, excessive permissions, orphaned data repositories, access risks, compliance gaps, and configuration weaknesses.

• Coordinate risk remediation efforts with engineering, cloud, infrastructure, and data platform teams.

• Maintain visibility into enterprise data assets and prepare risk intelligence reporting for technology and business stakeholders.

• Contribute to reporting that provides transparency into data security posture, trends, and risk reduction progress.

Data Discovery, Classification & Governance

• Support enterprise-wide data discovery, classification, labeling, and protection efforts.

• Help ensure sensitive data — including PHI, PII, PCI, financial, payment, employee, customer, and proprietary business information — is accurately identified and protected.

• Collaborate with Data Governance, Privacy, Legal, and Compliance teams on data governance initiatives.

• Support data lifecycle management, retention, minimization, archival, and secure disposal activities.

• Help drive consistent application of data protection standards across cloud and on-premises environments.

Security Exception Governance

• Administer the security exception governance process, with primary responsibility for data protection and security control exceptions.

• Support exception intake, review, tracking, renewal, escalation, and closure activities.

• Conduct risk-based assessments of security exceptions and evaluate the adequacy of compensating controls.

• Coordinate cross-functional exception review meetings.

• Maintain inventories of approved exceptions and associated business risk.

• Prepare reporting on exception trends, aging, recurring risk patterns, and remediation progress for leadership review.

• Follow up on long-term or high-risk exceptions to help drive timely remediation.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Support security and risk assessments for new technologies, cloud services, and business initiatives involving sensitive data.

• Help translate business, regulatory, and compliance requirements into practical security controls and governance processes.

• Partner with Internal Audit, Compliance, Privacy, and Legal teams to support audits, assessments, and regulatory reviews.

• Support alignment with healthcare, payment, privacy, and cybersecurity requirements, including HIPAA, HITRUST, PCI-DSS, SOC, NIST, and applicable privacy regulations.

• Provide risk-based analysis and recommendations to support leadership decision-making.

AI, Cloud & Emerging Technology Security

• Support Zelis’ adoption of AI, GenAI, machine learning, data analytics, and cloud-native technologies through effective data protection controls.

• Help define governance requirements and security guardrails for the use of sensitive information within AI-enabled solutions.

• Evaluate emerging technologies for data security implications and recommend appropriate controls.

• Partner with architecture and engineering teams to embed security and governance into technology modernization initiatives.

Collaboration & Communication

• Participate in cross-functional security initiatives involving multiple business and technology teams.

• Collaborate with stakeholders and technical teams across the enterprise.

• Provide guidance and knowledge-sharing to junior analysts within the security organization.

• Communicate technical risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Build strong working relationships that promote a culture of accountability, governance, and data protection across Zelis.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Security, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• 5–7 years of progressive cybersecurity experience, with demonstrated growth in scope and responsibility.

• 3+ years of hands-on experience supporting or administering enterprise DLP programs.

• 1–2 years of experience with DSPM, data discovery, data classification, information protection, or broader data security initiatives.

• Experience supporting security governance, risk management, or exception management processes.

• Experience in highly regulated healthcare, healthcare technology, financial services, fintech, or payment-processing environments preferred.

Technical Expertise

• Solid understanding of enterprise data protection strategies, frameworks, and technologies.

• Working knowledge of data lifecycle management, data governance, data classification, information protection, and privacy principles.

• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Purview, including:

• Purview DLP

• Information Protection

• Information Governance

• Insider Risk Management

• Data Lifecycle Management

• Compliance Manager

• Experience with Microsoft Defender security technologies and broader Microsoft security ecosystem.

• Familiarity with DSPM technologies such as BigID, Cyera, Varonis, Wiz, Securiti, or equivalent platforms.

• Working knowledge of Azure, AWS, SaaS security architectures, and cloud-native data security controls.

• Understanding of identity and access management, data access governance, insider risk management, and Zero Trust principles.

• Familiarity with AI governance, GenAI security controls, and secure data enablement practices is a plus.

Communication & Collaboration

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to balance business priorities with security and compliance requirements.

• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships across business and technology teams.

• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team, with direction from the Director of Data Security on strategic priorities.

Preferred Certifications

• CISSP, Microsoft Security Certifications, Azure Security Certifications

Success Measures

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• Effective day-to-day operation and tuning of DLP controls.

• Successful support of DSPM implementation and maturation.

• Improved data classification coverage across enterprise data assets.

• Timely processing and reduction of high-risk security exceptions.

• Measurable improvements in DLP effectiveness and incident handling support.

• Accurate and timely reporting on data security posture and exception status.

• Reliable support of regulatory, audit, and compliance activities.

• Effective support of secure cloud, analytics, and AI initiatives.

This role is important to strengthening Zelis’ overall cybersecurity posture by helping ensure data remains protected, discoverable, governed, and compliant — supporting innovation, digital transformation, AI adoption, and continued business growth under the direction of the Director of Data Security.