- Pay
- $130–160k
- Where
- Socorro, NM · Albuquerque, NM · West Virginia
- Level
- Mid
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Position Description:
Position Summary
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe.
NRAO is seeking an experienced information security professional or chief information security officer (CISO) for our Division Head, Information Security opportunity. The Division Head (DH) provides strategic, operational, and technical leadership for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's enterprise information security program. Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Information Officer, the DH is responsible for establishing, implementing, and sustaining a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that protects the Observatory's scientific, operational, and enterprise technology environments while enabling the continued advancement of its scientific mission.
The DH will lead a significant transformation of the Observatory's information security capabilities, addressing existing security vulnerabilities, reducing the organization's exposure to cyber threats, and establishing the foundational security processes, technologies, governance structures, and operational disciplines necessary to achieve a mature and sustainable cybersecurity posture. This position requires a leader capable of building and modernizing security capabilities in an environment where critical security controls, operational processes, and supporting technologies are either immature, inconsistently implemented, or not yet established.
This position demands more than traditional policy oversight or compliance administration. The DH must possess the technical credibility to engage directly with infrastructure engineers, network architects, system administrators, scientific computing specialists, and application development teams to understand complex security exposures and develop practical, effective remediation strategies. Equally important, the successful candidate must demonstrate the organizational leadership necessary to build a sustainable cybersecurity function, establish accountability across distributed technology teams, and guide meaningful cultural and operational change.
This position will be based in Albuquerque, NM, Socorro, NM, Charlottesville, VA or Green Bank, WV. For well-qualified candidates, a remote work arrangement may be considered.
What You Will be Doing
The DH reports directly to the Deputy Chief Information Officer and serves as the Observatory's senior leader responsible for enterprise cybersecurity strategy, governance, risk management, and security operations.
The DH is expected to work collaboratively with the Associate Director of Data Management and Software, Deputy CIO, technology architects, infrastructure engineering, Science IT, and other organizational stakeholders to establish security requirements and coordinate their implementation.
The position is responsible for defining cybersecurity policies, standards, control requirements, and risk management processes, while partnering with the appropriate technology owners to implement and maintain those controls.
The DH will provide regular cybersecurity posture assessments, material risk reports, remediation progress updates, and investment recommendations to the Deputy CIO and other designated Observatory leadership. The duties and responsibilities of the DH will include, but are not limited to:
Lead the transformation of the Observatory's cybersecurity posture by identifying and addressing systemic security weaknesses, architectural…