VP, Principal IAM Architect

Role Summary / Purpose

Synchrony Identity and Access Management (IAM) team is seeking an experienced IAM Solution Architect to lead the design, development and implementation of enterprise IAM solutions. This role is critical to ensuring secure, seamless, and scalable identity services across the Synchrony organization. You will collaborate with business stakeholders, technology teams, and security leadership to define architectural strategies and deliver modern identity solutions that support our digital transformation initiatives.

Our Way of Working

We’re proud to offer you choice and flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home, near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute to our nearest office for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events.

Essential Responsibilities

The ideal candidate for this role will embrace the exciting blend of technical expertise, program management, engagement ability and leadership that is required to be successful.

Lead the design and architecture of IAM solutions spanning authentication, authorization, privileged access and lifecycle management.

Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in IAM technologies, standards, and frameworks (eg. SAML, OIDC, OAuth2, SCIM, PAM, RBAC / ABAC)

Partner with IT and security teams to integrate IAM platforms with enterprise systems, cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP), and SaaS applications.

Define and maintain IAM architectural roadmaps, reference architectures, and design patterns.

Provide technical leadership during vendor evaluations, product selection, and solution implementation.

Guide and mentor IT engineering teams on IAM best practices, secure coding, and integration methods.

Ensure compliance with security, privacy, and regulatory requirements (eg. SOX, GDPR, PCI)

Conduct risk assessments, threat modeling, and security reviews related to IAM solutions.

Stay current with industry trends emerging IAM Technologies, and evolving threat landscapes.

Perform other duties and / or special projects as assigned

Qualifications / Requirements

BS / BA in Computer Science / other technical degree or Business Management and 8 years of IT experience or in lieu of degree High School Diploma / GED and 12 years of IT experience

5+ years of experience in IAM, or an information security domain, with specialized subject matter expertise in Identity & Access Management.

Proven experience designing and implementing IAM solutions in enterprise and hybrid-cloud environments.

Strong knowledge of IAM tools such as SailPoint, Okta, CyberArk, Delinea, Microsoft Entra ID, and directory services (ie. Active Directory)

Deep understanding of identity protocols (SAML, OAuth 2.0, OIDC, LDAP, SCIM)

3+ years’ experience with Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their IAM models

Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into scalable, secure IM architectures.

Desired Characteristics

Master's degree in information security or related field

Industry-recognized security certification such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, CASP, Okta Certified Architect, SailPoint IdentityIQ Engineer / Architect, Microsoft Certified : IAM Associate or CISA

10+ years of experience designing mission critical technology, security, or IAM solutions in a large, highly-regulated enterprise.

Strong executive presence, with proven ability to communicate technical strategy and tailor messaging to the appropriate audience.

Ability to drive cross-functional change through effective collaboration and understanding of larger business initiatives.

Ability to think strategically about how Synchrony’s IAM solutions will be used to support the organization’s overall goals and objectives.

Experience with Zero Trust Architecture and Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and automation in IAM (Terraform, Ansible, CI / CD pipelines)

Demonstrate ability and experience in working with vendors and service providers

Demonstrated security program leadership, facilitation, and customer service experience

Self-starter with a strong sense of urgency and can-do attitude with the flexibility to change directions quickly

Superior written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to lead others through change

Strong analytical and thought leadership skills

Understanding of financial security and regulatory standards, including, but not limited to SOX IT-404, PCI, NIST, FFIEC

Knowledge of cyber defense and information security policies, procedures, and regulations

Knowledge of information technology (IT) risk management policies, requirements, and procedures

Grade / Level

Grade / Level : 13

The salary range for this position is 155,000.00 - 260,000.00 USD Annual and is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.

Actual compensation offered within the posted salary range will be based upon work experience, skill level or knowledge.

Salaries are adjusted according to market in CA, NY Metro and Seattle.

Eligibility Requirements

You must be 18 years or older

You must have a high school diploma or equivalent

You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of the onboarding process

You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service with the company before they are eligible to post on other roles. Once this new hire time in position requirement is met, the associate will have a minimum 6 months’ time in position before they can post for future non-exempt roles. Employees, level 8 or greater, must have at least 18 months’ time in position before they can post. All internal employees must consistently meet performance expectations and have approval from your manager to post (or the approval of your manager and HR if you don’t meet the time in position or performance expectations).

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Our Commitment

When you join us, you’ll be part of an inclusive culture where your individual skills, experience, and voice are not only heard – but valued. Together, we’re building a future where we can all belong, connect, and turn ideals into action. More than 50% of our workforce is engaged in our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), where community and passion intersect to offer a safe space to learn and grow.

This starts when you choose to apply for a role at Synchrony. We ensure all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. We’re proud to have an award-winning culture for all.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

If you need special accommodations, please call our Career Support Line so that we can discuss your specific situation. We can be reached at 1-866-301-5627. Representatives are available from 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday, Central Standard Time

Job Family Group

Information Technology

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