Senior Director Cybersecurity

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer: 

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match 
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us! 

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

JOB PURPOSE:

The Senior Director of Cybersecurity will oversee and enhance the university's cybersecurity program within a sophisticated hybrid IT environment. This position combines visionary leadership typical of a cybersecurity executive with extensive technical expertise similar to that of a Security Architect and Engineer. The Senior Director will have primary accountability for securing the university's systems, applications, networks, and data, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, and guiding technical teams in initiatives focused on threat prevention and mitigation.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

The Senior Director of Cybersecurity will supervise a team of cybersecurity professionals, including managers, engineers, and analysts. This position holds the authority to make decisions regarding hiring, training, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions within the cybersecurity department.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Internal contacts include administrators, faculty, students and staff of the department and University and Howard University Hospital CIO.  External contacts include vendors, consultants, investigators, auditors, etc. Collaborate closely with the Chief Audit and Compliance Officer.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Develop and execute a university-wide cybersecurity strategy that aligns with Howard University’s goals and emerging threat landscapes
• Lead cross-functional cybersecurity governance initiatives, partnering with senior academic and administrative leaders to promote a security-first culture
• Design, implement, and continuously evolve a secure infrastructure architecture across hybrid environments (on-premises and Azure cloud), including identity management (Entra ID), network segmentation, Zero Trust, and secure access
• Evaluate and select enterprise-class security solutions: firewalls, IDS/IPS, SIEM (e.g., Microsoft Sentinel), endpoint detection and response (EDR), encryption, and data loss prevention (DLP)
• Conduct architectural risk analysis, threat modeling, and develop mitigation strategies for new and existing systems and applications
• Ensure identity and access management (IAM) policies align with least privilege and role-based access control principles
• Oversee real-time security monitoring, incident detection, and coordinated incident response efforts, utilizing SIEM and SOAR platforms
• Drive security assessments, penetration tests, and red/blue team exercises to proactively identify and resolve vulnerabilities
• Manage vulnerability management programs and ensure timely patch management across all systems
• Maintain and test business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) plans related to information security incidents
• Coordinate with other departments to integrate cybersecurity measures into business processes
• Monitor and analyze security metrics to provide insights and recommendations to senior leadership
• Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and technologies

CORE COMPETENCIES:   

• Expert experience in the following:
  • Windows Server Operating Systems, VMware
  • Core e