Chief Information Security Officer

The Security Executive Council; Hillsborough Township (NJ); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Short term and long-term disability

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Tuition reimbursement program

Job summary

A leading cybersecurity firm in New Jersey is seeking a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity program. This individual will balance hands-on execution with strategic oversight and ensure alignment with growth initiatives. The ideal candidate should have 10+ years of experience in information security, strong cloud security knowledge, and excellent communication skills with executives. Benefits include a competitive salary, 401(k) matching, and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to communicate cyber risk to non-technical executives and investors.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Experience in SMB, PE-backed, or high-growth environments.

Responsibilities

• Establish and operate a risk-based cybersecurity program.
• Develop and maintain a cybersecurity strategy and roadmap.
• Lead compliance initiatives such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, CMMC.

Skills

10+ years in information security

Cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP, SaaS)

Incident response and ransomware defense

Identity & access management

Strong communication with executives

Analytical skills

Ability to manage multiple projects

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology

Tools

Security framework (NIST, ISO, CIS)

Job description

Overview

CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER – Sciens is seeking a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) who will establish and operate a risk‑based cybersecurity program that protects the company, supports growth initiatives, and aligns with value‑creation objectives. This role balances hands‑on execution with strategic oversight, ensuring security enables business performance and M&A activity.

Key Objectives

• Reduce cyber risk that could impact valuation
• Establish repeatable, scalable security controls across the company
• Support due diligence, integrations, and audits
• Build a roadmap that will improve cyber maturity without enterprise‑level cost or complexity
• Provide clear, board‑level visibility into risk posture
• Deliver measurable reduction in critical vulnerabilities and incident risk
• Perform successful audits and customer security assessments
• Improve / reduce cyber insurance terms and premiums

Responsibilities

Security Strategy & Governance

• Develop and maintain a pragmatic cybersecurity strategy and roadmap aligned to business objectives
• Define security policies, standards, and procedures appropriate for a fast‑growing SMB environment
• Establish cybersecurity governance, risk appetite, and reporting mechanisms
• Present cyber risk updates to executive leadership and private equity (PE) stakeholders in plain business terms

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify, assess, and prioritize cyber risks using a risk‑based approach
• Oversee vulnerability management, penetration testing, and remediation efforts
• Lead compliance initiatives such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, CMMC, HIPAA, PCI‑DSS
• Ensure third‑party and vendor risk management processes are in place

Incident Response & Resilience

• Own the incident response plan, tabletop exercises, and breach readiness
• Lead response to security incidents, ransomware events, or data breaches
• Coordinate with legal, insurance, forensics, and external advisors as needed
• Oversee backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning

Technology & Operations

• Oversee core security tooling (IAM, endpoint security, SIEM/MDR, email security, cloud security)
• Ensure secure configuration of cloud, SaaS, and on‑prem environments
• Partner closely with IT and operations teams to embed security into operations
• Make cost‑effective build vs. buy decisions

M&A Support

• Support cybersecurity due diligence for acquisitions
• Assess security posture of acquisition targets and provide risk summaries
• Lead or advise on post‑acquisition security integration and remediation
• Align security maturity with PE exit strategy (strategic buyer or IPO readiness)

Culture & Awareness

• Build a security‑aware culture through training and phishing simulations
• Act as a business‑friendly security advisor
• Educate leadership on cyber risk, insurance implications, and regulatory exposure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• 10+ years in information security, IT risk, or cybersecurity leadership
• Experience in SMB, PE‑backed, or high‑growth environments
• Strong working knowledge of cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP, SaaS)
• Identity & access management
• Endpoint and network security
• Incident response and ransomware defense
• Proven ability to communicate cyber risk to non‑technical executives and investors
• Experience with at least one recognized security framework (NIST, ISO, CIS)
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting private equity portfolios or M&A
• Experience standing up a security program from scratch
• CISSP, CISM, or equivalent certification

Compensation

• Competitive salary based on qualifications
• Paid time off plan and holidays
• 401(k) matching
• Short term and long‑term disability
• Medical, dental, and vision plans with options
• Life insurance
• Company laptop
• Professional career development opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement program