Assistant Director of Application and System Security

Position Summary
Reporting to the Senior Director of DevOps Planning, the Assistant Director of Application and System Security is responsible for the daily management, execution, and supervision of security operations for applications and systems, both on-premises and in the Cloud.

This position is responsible for installing, configuring, and turning over for operational support, technologies intended to keep university resources safe and secure. This role ensures that security principles are practically applied during the configuration of systems and throughout the development and deployment of web applications. The Assistant Director works directly with application and engineering teams to implement solutions that address current and potential security threats. Key responsibilities include coordinating system configuration management, supporting and enforcing the secure Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) program, and scheduling regular audits, assessments, penetration tests, and vulnerability scans.

Essential Functions
Executes application and system security strategies defined by leadership to enhance the adoption of new technologies and assists in analyzing their impact on the university community.

Monitors system configurations to ensure security and compliance, ensuring security protocols are followed during the development and deployment of servers and web applications.

Supervises the daily security operations of systems and applications in both Cloud and On-Prem environments.

Collaborates directly with application and engineering teams to implement safeguards against existing and emerging security threats.

Coordinates and performs vulnerability scanning of applications to detect issues and assists in leading penetration testing initiatives to identify vulnerabilities.

Supports the maintenance and execution of a secure Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) program.

Conducts periodic audits and assessments for system and application security under the guidance of their management’s directives.

Collaborates with development teams to integrate security controls into enterprise applications, student systems, learning management systems, and research platforms.

Management Responsibilities

Guides the work of other employees who perform essentially the same work and/or student workers. Organizes, sets priorities, schedules, and reviews work, but is generally not responsible for final decisions in hiring, performance management, or compensation.

Additional Functions
Delivers training plans and materials to staff to ensure the success of initiatives and to manage security risks and issues.

Maintains working relationships with university departments, external partners, and vendors.

Implements practical solutions to resolve security challenges.

Adapts daily workflows in response to the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Supports the negotiation process with vendors and partners to achieve security outcomes.

Maintains awareness of the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and technologies.

Upholds high ethical standards and integrity in all cybersecurity practices

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and 4 years of directly related work experience.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills
Working knowledge of authoritative standards, guidelines, and best practices in information security.

Experience participating in or coordinating Attack and Penetration assessments and reviews.

Familiarity with cloud computing, virtualization, Cybersecurity framework (CSF), CIS Benchmarks, and the ITIL framework.

Experience working within a highly automated SSDLC program.

Ability to apply Threat Modeling practices within the product lifecycle.

Experience in implementing and operating application vulnerability scanning products and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools in both a Windows and Linux environment.

Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Good organizational and time management skills.

Ability to balance security with academic and operational needs.

Preferred Qualifications
1-2 years of experience in an information security position.

Experience in security or technology administration within a Higher Education setting.

Previous hands-on experience in roles such as network, server, database, or application administration.

Familiarity with Project Management tools, such as Microsoft Project.

Possession of or ability to obtain relevant information security certifications (e.g., SSCP, GSEC, CISSP, or CISM).

Minimum Starting Salary: $104,000
Maximum Starting Salary: $130,000
Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.