Director, Cybersecurity

Inari; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 158,000 - 217,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match

Health savings account (HSA)

Vision and dental coverage

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Inari seeks a Director of Cybersecurity to own the strategy, operation, and governance of information security across Inari. You will protect data, applications, systems, and infrastructure while evolving with the threat landscape.

You will lead risk assessment, policy enforcement, and security improvements, partnering with senior leadership and key business units to deliver secure, scalable technology that supports innovation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in information security with risk and IT responsibilities.
• 0
• Ability to lead a mature cybersecurity function with measurable improvements.
• Experience evaluating AI/ML systems and AI-specific risk considerations.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive a risk-based cybersecurity strategy aligned to business priorities.
• Maintain and optimize security controls with IT/Engineering partners.
• Lead information security risk assessment and governance processes.
• Ensure policies and standards are applied across projects and contracts.
• Monitor industry threats and AI-related risks; advise leadership.

Skills

Information security

Risk management

Security strategy

AI/ML security

Cloud security

Leadership

Stakeholder management

ISO 27001 / NIST CSF

IAM

PKI

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

IAM systems

PKI infrastructure

Security monitoring tools

Job description

About Inari…

Inari is the SEEDesign™ company. We embrace the diversity and complexity of nature in every aspect of our business to drive innovation – to push the boundaries of what is possible. Through our unrivaled technology platform, Inari uses predictive design and advanced multiplex gene editing to develop step-change products. We are taking a nature positive approach to unlock the full potential of seeds that will transform the food system. The results will lead to more productive acres delivering value creation for farmers and a more sustainable future for our planet.

Our success is dependent on great minds, collaborating to generate bright ideas and deliver exceptional outcomes.

We have 200 employees, with research sites in Cambridge, MA (USA) and Ghent (Belgium), as well as a product development site in West Lafayette, IN (USA). We’ve deliberately built a team that brings diversity of thought to all aspects of our business, to generate new ideas, approaches, and ways of operating. And we’ve intentionally combined experience with potential, bringing agriculture industry experts with the desire to innovate together with bright minds from academia, human therapeutics, software, and consulting. If you want to be part of a diverse and inclusive team developing unique solutions to feed the world while protecting our planet’s natural resources, we’d love to hear from you!

About the role…

We are seeking a Director of Cybersecurity to own the strategy, operation, and governance of information security across Inari, ensuring our data, applications, systems, and infrastructure remain appropriately protected as the business and threat landscape evolve.

As Director of Cybersecurity, you will…

• Maintain, refine, and evolve a risk-based and data-driven cybersecurity strategy and roadmap aligned to Inari’s business priorities
• Direct and contribute to ongoing evaluation, tuning, and optimization of security technologies and controls, including AI-powered security tooling, partnering with IT and Engineering to close gaps and reduce operational overhead
• Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and lead ongoing information security risk assessment and risk management processes
• Ensure consistent application of established policies and standards across technology projects, systems, services, and contracts, and update them as the organization and risk landscape change
• Monitor industry trends, emerging threats, and vulnerabilities, including those introduced by AI adoption, keep leadership informed of implications, and recommend proportionate mitigation strategies
• Continuously assess and refresh the security technology stack, retiring tools that no longer earn their keep and adopting solutions, including AI-driven capabilities, that reduce risk or operational burden
• Partner with senior leadership on ongoing risk assessment and risk management processes
• Partner with the business to identify opportunities where security capabilities can add and capture business value, including support for technology monetization efforts
• Serve as a key point of contact for the Board, providing regular reporting and assurance on the state of the cybersecurity program

You bring…

• 10+ years of progressive experience in information security, combining risk management, information security, and IT-related responsibilities
• Demonstrated success operating and maturing an established cybersecurity function, including metrics-driven continuous improvement, not just initial build
• Demonstrated success partnering with business functions to deliver security threat analysis and mitigation solutions
• Experience evaluating and securing AI/ML systems and applications, and understanding of AI-specific risk considerations
• Experience with software development and product security best practices
• Experience securing cloud computing and containerized environments
• Hands-on technical experience managing security tools with a deep understanding of networking and technology infrastructure
• Clear understanding of the evolving needs of a mature cybersecurity function and current information security best practices, standards, and frameworks
• Working knowledge of common information security management frameworks such as ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST CSF
• Knowledge of common technologies used to secure back-office environments (IAM, PKI, network controls)
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or a related field
• Proven track record maintaining and improving information security policies, procedures, programs, and solutions over time
• Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the organization
• Ability and desire to continue expanding knowledge and skillset to remain knowledgeable of current Cybersecurity challenges
• Professional certification(s) desired (CISSP, CCISO, CISM, CISA, etc.)

Inari pays competitively and rewards results.

The salary range for this position is $158,000 - $217,000. Whether you are full-time or part-time, Inari provide three different components of pay – base, short-term incentive, and long-term equity along with a one-time new hire stock option grant. That’s rare!

We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including both a Preferred Provider Network (PPO) and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a company-funded health savings account (HSA), vision, dental, and several flexible spending accounts (FSA), a host of voluntary benefits, and a robust wellness program. In addition, Inari offers a 401k plan with a company matching and a flexible paid time off policy.

Consistent with our commitment to pay transparency,salary range information is being disclosed. Please note that offers are based on the candidate’s qualifications & experience as well as market demand.

Inari is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Inari is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Learn more about us:

About Inari: https://inari.com/about-us/

Multiplex Gene Editing – The Key to Unlocking the Full Potential of Seed: https://inari.com/multiplex-gene-editing-matters-for-the-population-the-planet-and-the-people-who-grow-our-food/

The Promise of AI in Plant Breeding: https://inari.com/the-promise-of-ai-in-plant-breeding-2/

Unseen Upside Podcast: AI & Agriculture –Data-Driven Fields, Resilient Futures: https://www.cambridgeassociates.com/podcasts/agriculture/

AgTech Breakthrough AgTech Company of the Year: https://inari.com/inari-repeats-as-agtech-company-of-the-year/

Bloomberg: Inari AgTech Startup: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-07/agtech-startup-inari-raises-equity-at-2-17-billion-valuation

BBC: Disaster-Proofing Crops: https://inari.com/bbc-news-how-crops-are-being-disaster-proofed/

Reuters: Gene Editing Wheat: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/australian-trial-gene-edited-wheat-aims-10-bigger-yields-2024-05-23/#:~:text=CANBERRA%2C%20May%2023%20(Reuters),and%20make%20farming%20more%20sustainable

Inari at Databricks Data + AI Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJG-r3ob-n0

Job Applicant Privacy Notice: https://inari.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Job-Applicant-Privacy-Notice.pdf

FOR U.S. CANDIDATES:

Please note that we use the resume you submit with your application during our background check process. To ensure an efficient and accurate background verification, we kindly ask that you carefully review and accurately represent your work history, education and other relevant information on your resume. Any discrepancies or inaccuracies found during the background check may impact your candidacy for the position.

Inari Agriculture provides immigration sponsorship for candidates in certain qualified roles that meet performance criteria. However, the company will not provide sponsorship to H-1B candidates whose employment would require payment of the $100,000 fee mandated by the Presidential Proclamation “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.