Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

CONFIDENTIAL RETAINED SEARCH | SAN DIEGO LIFE SCIENCES

We are conducting a confidential, retained search for a life sciences CISO at a well-established San Diego / CaliBaja life sciences company. The Chief Information Security Officer will lead enterprise cybersecurity strategy and report to the CEO, COO, or CTO, with a growing board-reporting relationship. We seek executives with 15-20 years of progressive cybersecurity leadership.

Search Reference: TNF-LS-CISO-2026 | Cybersecurity Leadership Mandate, Life Sciences

ABOUT THIS SEARCH

Top Notch Finders holds an exclusive, strictly confidential retained search for a Chief Information Security Officer at a client in the San Diego / CaliBaja life sciences corridor. To protect our client and every candidate, we disclose the company’s identity only to qualified candidates under a confidentiality agreement. In addition, Top Notch Finders receives and manages every inquiry and application directly.

THE LIFE SCIENCES CISO OPPORTUNITY

The Chief Information Security Officer leads enterprise cybersecurity strategy. This executive protects clinical trial data, patient information, and intellectual property against a rapidly escalating threat landscape. As a result, cyber risk now holds a standing place on the board agenda.

The company is a biotech, pharma, medtech, or digital health organization that handles regulated clinical and patient data. We disclose the specifics of the location to qualified candidates.

MARKET CONTEXT

Because these companies handle regulated clinical and patient data, cyber risk reaches the boardroom. Therefore, security leaders must translate technical risk into business terms for non-technical executive stakeholders.

For a deeper look at how we evaluate and hire senior leaders in this industry, read our The 2026 San Diego Life Sciences Executive Search Hiring Guide. It explains our approach to executive search for life sciences leadership roles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute the enterprise cybersecurity strategy and risk management framework.
• Oversee HIPAA, GDPR, and other regulatory compliance requirements related to data security.
• Manage third-party and vendor risk, including CRO and CDMO data-sharing arrangements.
• Lead incident response planning and execution for security breaches.
• Report cyber-risk posture and mitigation strategy directly to the board.
• Build and manage the security operations, GRC (governance, risk, compliance), and identity-access teams.
• Translate technical security risk into business terms for non-technical executive stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 15-20 years of progressive cybersecurity leadership experience, including a prior CISO or senior security leadership role.
• CISSP, CISM, or an equivalent security certification (required or strongly preferred).
• Experience securing regulated healthcare and life sciences data environments (HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11).
• Demonstrated ability to communicate risk to boards and executive leadership in business terms.
• Experience building GRC and third-party risk management programs.
• Advanced degree in cybersecurity, information systems, or a related field (preferred).

HOW TO APPLY IN CONFIDENCE

This is a discreet, retained engagement. We will never present your candidacy to any organization without your explicit prior authorization. In addition, the hiring company cannot see any application at this stage.

If you are an accomplished cybersecurity executive and want to be considered as our next life sciences CISO, please submit your resume in confidence through the Top Notch Finders website. Reference search code TNF-LS-CISO-2026 in your submission. However, do not include patient-identifiable, trial-blinded, or other confidential clinical information of any kind in your application materials. We will contact only the candidates whose backgrounds align closely with the mandate.