Security Analyst (Research)

Position Function:

This position directly supports the Mississippi State University Research Security Program in accordance with National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM 33) and applicable government agency requirements. The position necessitates a high level of collaboration among cross functional teams supporting MSU research security relative to international operations and relations, including compliance, security management, and other high-risk activities and programs. The incumbent will research, analyze, and prepare risk assessments/products that will assist leadership in the decision-making process to ensure compliance in research security. Products developed will assist in the prevention and/or mitigation of risks, threats and vulnerabilities to the University’s personnel, information, technology, property and physical assets. A specific focus will be on international collaboration, sensitive research, and other high-risk activities that may impact the University’s ability to accomplish its educational and research mission. The incumbent will work with stakeholders to provide guidance and assistance concerning security standards and other compliance related programs.

Salary Grade:  15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.  

Department Profile:

The Office of Research Compliance and Security (ORC&S) strives to provide support and protection for MSU's research enterprise with the highest standards of security, compliance, and ethics utilizing outreach, education, and effective, fair, and consistent customer service. ORC&S is a unit of the Office of Research and Economic Development. This office provides support and training in the regulatory requirements for the conduct of scientific research for University faculty members, researchers, and students. ORC&S oversees programs in human research protections, animal care and use, financial conflict of interest, responsible conduct of research, biological safety, export-control, and national security.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Lead efforts to identify Malign Foreign Influence. Develop training materials related to foreign influence and research security.
2. Assess foreign travel request for research security concerns. Provide training and security briefings to travelers to mitigate risk, as needed
3. Collect, research, collate, analyze diverse pieces of information and author security/risk assessment products that assist leadership in the decision-making process.
4. Advise university employees on risk to the research portfolio involving international agreements, operations, relationships, and governance responsibilities.
5. Work across cross functional lines to ensure the development of standards, and policies to identify, assess, prevent and mitigate threats, vulnerabilities, and risks by leading or co-leading Working Groups.
6. Collaboratively works with university subject matter experts and stakeholders to operationalize strategies that reduce and mitigate security risks.
7. Conducts security audits and carry-out risk mitigation policies and procedures.
8. Assists in investigations of security incidents in the MSU research enterprise that include, but are not limited to, export control violations, failure to disclose conflicts of interest or commitment, or participation in Malign Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs.
9. Stay abreast of new and evolving technology relative to security issues, as well as legal, ethical, and social issues related to the operation and use of information systems at a public, land grant, high research university.
10. Use tools of the trade to perform ongoing vulnerability assessments of MSU research systems and networks to determine weaknesses; design and communicate with stakeholders any remediation strategies for discovered vulnerabilities to mitigate risk.
11. Liaison with government and non-government organizations to ensure compliance for international agreements relative to research, travel, visa applications, visiting researchers, sensitive and secure research, Controlled Unclassified Information, facility and personnel clearances, and export control.
12. Perform Assistant Facility Security Officer duties, as needed.
13. Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility: No direct reports; however, will use managerial and supervisory skills across organization to meet assigned targets. The above essential duties are representative of major duties in this position. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary based upon departmenta