Senior Manager, Cyberinfrastructure, Software & Cybersecurity

Job Summary

Job Description

The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is seeking a Senior Manager, Cyberinfrastructure, Software & Cybersecurity to provide Facility-level leadership for OOI cybersecurity, cyberinfrastructure performance and oversight, and software development. Reporting to the OOI Senior Program Manager in the OOI Program Management Office (PMO), this position is the principal OOI voice for cyberinfrastructure, software, and cybersecurity to NSF, OOI governance and advisory bodies, reviewers, and other stakeholders.

The Senior Manager owns the OOI Cybersecurity Plan and associated risks, provides program-level direction and oversight for OOI software development, establishes and tracks OOI-wide CI/CS requirements and activities, and integrates status and performance information from the Data Center, software development team, and Implementing Organizations into clear management and sponsor reporting. Day-to-day management of the software development team remains with the Software Development Manager, who works under the priorities and direction established by the Senior Manager.

This is a senior technical and program-management position focused on reliable sustainment, cybersecurity compliance, software-team leadership, performance oversight, risk management, and effective communication across a distributed research facility. The role requires enough technical depth to understand and challenge proposed approaches, develop practical plans, make informed decisions, and occasionally work directly with technical staff on difficult issues.

The position is not the day-to-day manager of OOI Data Center operations. The OOI Data Center Program Manager is a key partner and independently manages Data Center hardware, routine system operations, infrastructure maintenance, patching and upgrades, backups, and related operational activities. The Senior Manager relies on that operational expertise, gathers status and performance information as needed, integrates it with software-development and Implementing Organization activities, and provides the OOI Senior Program Manager and stakeholders with the overall CI/CS/software picture.

Similarly, the Senior Manager is not the day-to-day manager of the OOI software development team. The Software Development Manager retains responsibility for day-to-day management of the developers, work execution, staff supervision, and coordination of development activities. The Senior Manager establishes OOI software priorities, requirements, budgets, schedules, and overall technical and programmatic direction; reviews progress and performance; and works with the Software Development Manager to ensure that development activities support OOI-wide priorities.

The Senior Manager establishes Facility-wide CI and cybersecurity requirements and works through OOI PIs, Program Managers including the Data Center Program Manager, and technical leads to drive implementation and corrective action. Unresolved issues are elevated to the OOI Senior Program Manager and Principal Investigator as necessary. Scientific data QA/QC leadership remains with the OOI Data Manager supported by the appropriate OOI scientific and Implementing Organization functions.

Essential Functions & Duties

• Own and maintain the OOI Cybersecurity Program and lead implementation of cybersecurity activities required by NSF and WHOI, translating requirements into practical OOI-wide plans, actions, schedules, and reporting.

• Identify, assess, track, and report cybersecurity risks in the OOI risk register; define and monitor mitigation and corrective actions and ensure significant risks and unresolved issues are elevated in a timely manner.

• Establish and coordinate implementation of OOI-wide cyberinfrastructure and cybersecurity requirements. Work with IO PIs and Program Managers including the Data Center Program Manager, and technical leads to resolve deficiencies and drive corrective action.

• Provide program-level direction and oversight for the OOI software development organization, including establishment of priorities, requirements, technical direction, schedules, budgets, contracts/statements of work, and performance expectations. Work through the Software Development Manager, who retains responsibility for day-to-day team management, work assignments, personnel supervision, and execution. Monitor progress and performance and resolve or elevate issues as needed. Provide Facility-level oversight of the systems used to ingest, process, store, archive, secure, and deliver OOI science and engineering data. Monitor appropriate performance measures and work with responsible operational leads to address adverse trends or deficiencies.

• Gather and synthesize status, metrics, accomplishments, upcoming