WHO ARE WE? Searchlight Cyber was founded in 2017 with a mission to stop threat actors from acting with impunity. Its External Cyber Risk Management Platform helps organizations to identify and protect themselves from threats emerging from the cybercriminal underground, with Attack Surface Management and Threat Intelligence tools designed to separate the signal from the noise. It is used by some of the world’s largest enterprises, government and law enforcement agencies, and the Managed Security Service Providers at the forefront of protecting customers from external threats. Find out more at www.slcyber.io. ABOUT THE POSITION We are seeking an experienced Head of Data Collection to lead our intelligence gathering operations and drive strategic data acquisition initiatives. This leadership role combines technical expertise with strategic vision to enhance our threat detection capabilities and expand our intelligence coverage across dark web ecosystems. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Planning & Targeting Develop and execute comprehensive data collection strategies aligned with client needs and market threats Establish targeting priorities for high-value criminal forums, marketplaces, and communication channels Conduct threat landscape analysis to identify emerging attack vectors and criminal trends Collaborate with intelligence analysts to define collection requirements and success metrics Maintain strategic partnerships with external threat intelligence sources Performance Management & Analytics Design and implement KPIs to measure collection effectiveness, coverage depth, and data quality Monitor operational metrics including source reliability, data freshness, and collection volume Generate executive-level reporting on collection performance and strategic insights Conduct regular assessments of competitor capabilities and market positioning Optimize collection workflows to maximize efficiency and minimize operational risks Team Leadership & Development Lead a cross-functional team of engineers, collection specialists, and automation developers Manage hiring, training, and professional development for technical staff Foster innovation in collection methodologies and technical approaches Coordinate with product, engineering, and intelligence teams to align collection with business objectives Establish best practices for operational security and team safety protocols Technical Oversight Guide development of automated collection systems and monitoring infrastructure Ensure compliance with legal frameworks and ethical collection standards Oversee implementation of new collection technologies and methodologies Maintain operational security protocols for team activities and data handling Qualifications: Education & Experience: Proven track record in building and scaling data collection operations Technical Skills: Deep understanding of dark web and OSINT techniques Experience with web scraping and automated data collection systems Proficiency in Python and data analysis tools Knowledge of threat actor methodologies and cybercriminal ecosystems Familiarity with intelligence analysis frameworks and threat modeling Leadership & Strategic Skills: Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities Excellent communication skills with ability to present to executives Experience managing technical teams and complex projects Proven ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions Preferred Qualifications Advanced degree in relevant field or equivalent experience Background in law enforcement, military intelligence, or cybersecurity roles Industry certifications such as CISSP, GCTI, or similar credentials Multilingual capabilities for international threat monitoring Security Requirements This position requires adherence to strict operational security protocols and may involve security background investigations. Candidates must demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive intelligence data. WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? Job satisfaction; working for a company that is genuinely making people's lives better and helping to reduce the impact of internet based crime. You will have the opportunity to grow your career with the company in a very exciting industry. On top of a generous salary in line with your experience, you’ll receive a great benefits package, a learning and development plan to help ensure your career always moves in the right direction and enter into a company wide bonus scheme. You’ll be challenged with interesting projects that will help you think outside the box and have plenty of opportunities to learn and practice new skills. You’ll be a key member of the team, directly contributing to our customer and supplier relationships and helping business goals. We believe in training & development, having fun and a great work life balance. Your benefits package will include: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays Entry into company pension scheme Private healthcare from Axa, including dental and vision coverage We offer both TechScheme and Cycle2Work Comprehensive training and support to develop your career, including a training budget A range of office perks, including free fresh fruit daily, a bean to cup coffee machine and more Regular team building and reward events INTERVIEW PROCESS Screening Call with our Talent Manager Face to face interview with line manager and senior management We’d love to meet you in person for an interview, but are happy for a video call too! Offer and onboarding