Senior Cyber Program Manager

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The University of Southern California (USC) is advancing its cybersecurity posture with a renewed focus on resilience, cyber risk management, and threat-informed defense. As a world-class research institution, USC is building a culture of security that supports its academic and research mission in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

This role sits within a newly restructured cybersecurity organization that’s leading this transformation. You’ll join a team focused on scalable, proactive defense strategies, incident preparedness, and operational excellence—working alongside experts who are deeply committed to service, innovation, and impact.

If you’re driven by purpose, thrive in complexity, and want to help shape the future of cybersecurity at a leading university, we invite you to bring your leadership to the table.

POSITION SUMMARY

As the Senior Cyber Program Manager you will be an integral leader of the cybersecurity department while also collaborating with stakeholders across the university ecosystem, and reporting to the Cyber Governance Senior Director.  This is a full-time exempt position, eligible for all of USC’s fantastic Benefits + Perks.  This opportunity is remote. 

The Senior Cyber Program Manager leads the delivery of complex, enterprise-level IT and cyber programs and projects. This position is responsible for driving program and project management deliverables for both internal and external stakeholders. The role oversees a comprehensive program and project plans — managing scope, schedules, and budgets — while guiding cross-functional project teams toward successful completion of deliverables. The Senior Cyber Program Manager actively demonstrates and promotes USC’s values in action.

The Senior Cyber Program Manager will:

• Identifies and proactively resolves issues, creating strategies for risk mitigation and contingency planning and escalating disruptions and dependencies to departmental leadership, as necessary. Reports risks that may affect work progress and recommends mitigation strategies.

• Maintains understanding of current and future business needs, university-wide technology initiatives and leading-edge project management practices. Follows project management methodology, applying tools, service management frameworks, and technology strategy to all projects. Utilizes pertinent change control processes, developing project progress and compliance reports, and presents regular updates in project team meetings

• Establishes foundation for projects, working with sponsors to create robust, comprehensive project charters and baseline reports. Builds and sustains collaborative relationships with key stakeholders (e.g., staff, customers, partners) in administrative and academic units. Manages communications with project stakeholders and internal project teams. Collaborates with team members and management, implementing effective solutions to support the department’s vision.

• Manages productivity and effectiveness of projects with varying complexities. Creates appropriate status reports and maintains accurate tracking logs to organize budget, time, scope and communication details. Drives continuous improvement, ensuring accurate, well-communicated scope and actionable schedules and budgets for each project.

• Aids the cultivation of a community-minded environment and a culture of belonging, trust and transparency, sharing information broadly, openly, and deliberately. Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with heterogeneous groups of peers, team members, and leadership. Actively embodies university values and behaviors (e.g., accountability, ethics, best-in-class customer service).

• Engage with stakeholders across the university to understand their needs and ensure alignment with business operations. Serve as a point of contact for the supported functions and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration.

• Maintains currency with technology, standards, and best practices. Supports process improvement efforts within the team and across the organization.

• Manage the budgeting process and financial planning for the supported functions. Oversee financial reporting, accounting, and procurement activities.

• Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

• Lead and manage projects related to business operations, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget

• Develop and implement business strategies to improve efficiency and effectiveness across HR, Finance, Communications, and Security functions.

MINIMU