Executive Director of Cybersecurity

Sowela Technical Community College; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

Generous annual leave

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Sowela Technical Community College is seeking an Executive Director of Cybersecurity in Baton Rouge, LA. This leadership role focuses on developing a strategic cybersecurity vision and ensuring operational excellence. The ideal candidate will lead governance and compliance efforts while fostering a high-performing team.

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in a related field and three years of leadership experience. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package including multiple insurance options and generous leave policies.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of progressive leadership experience in cybersecurity.
• Experience managing multiple complex projects.
• Must obtain relevant certifications within the first year.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with state and federal requirements in information security.
• Lead strategic development of the cybersecurity program.
• Motivate and develop employees through ongoing feedback.

Skills

Customer Service Orientation

Written Communication

Verbal Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a closely related field

Job description

Executive Director of Cybersecurity

Executive Director of Cybersecurity Job no: 495598 Closes: Work Type: Staff Full-Time Locations: Baton Rouge, LA Categories: Information Technology

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Cybersecurity serves as a senior technology leader responsible for the strategic vision, operational excellence, and continuous improvement of the Cybersecurity governance, risk management, and compliance functions across the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges (LCTC) System.

Reporting to the Vice President for Technology, the Executive Director of Cybersecurity is responsible and accountable for implementing and monitoring the LCTC and colleges’ information security and privacy programs. The incumbent must be a customer-focused, collaborative leader who works effectively with IT teams, college personnel, and senior leadership to strike an optimal balance between robust security strategies and competing institutional priorities, proactively identifying and managing reasonably foreseeable internal and external threats to safeguard all information assets across the LCTC and its colleges.

As a transformational leader, the Executive Director builds and sustains high-performing teams by fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement. This position requires an engaging leader who combines strategic vision with hands‑on execution, capable of advancing information security operations, developing team capabilities, and establishing a robust, enterprise-wide security program.

College: LCTC

Department: Information Technology

Type of Appointment: Unclassified Regular Full-time

Salary: Salary will be commensurate with education and experience

Duties and Responsibilities

Cybersecurity Oversight

• Ensure the LCTC and its colleges’ compliance with state and federal requirements and serve as the primary liaison with legal and regulatory bodies on issues related to information security, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Provide strategic leadership for governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the organization’s governance, risk management, and compliance framework, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and cross‑functional teams to embed risk‑aware decision‑making into business processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate notification of the LCTC System President, Vice President for Technology, relevant college administrators, and appropriate federal and state agencies regarding security breaches, risk events, or regulatory noncompliance, in accordance with established protocols and reporting requirements.
• Ensure appropriate training and awareness programs are in place to educate operating units on security and privacy issues, best practices, and vulnerabilities.

Strategic Leadership and Innovation

• Lead the strategic development of the cybersecurity program and plan that supports institutional resilience and innovation.
• Align security initiatives with enterprise risk management and digital transformation efforts, including cloud, research computing, and third‑party ecosystems.
• Drive adoption of modern security frameworks, metrics, and maturity models to continuously improve program effectiveness.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on cybersecurity strategy, risk appetite, and emerging threats.
• Champion a proactive, risk‑informed culture across faculty, staff, and students.

People Leadership and Team Development

• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure team members are positioned in roles that leverage their greatest strengths.
• Motivate, coach, and develop employees through ongoing feedback, recognition, and professional growth opportunities.
• Foster a culture of accountability paired with psychological safety, where excellence is expected and people feel empowered to succeed.
• Remove obstacles and streamline processes that impede individual or team performance.
• Provide appropriate tools, training, and resources to enable each team member to do their best work.

Governance, Standards, and Compliance

• Establish policies, standards, and controls to promote accountability, transparency, and ethical operations.
• Oversee enterprise risk assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate operational, financial, cybersecurity, and regulatory risks.
• In partnership with appropriate stakeholders, create governance mechanisms to assess, mitigate, and address risk.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies through monitoring, auditing, and reporting, while driving a culture of continuous improvement and resilience.

Operations and Support Excellence

• Prioritize and manage incident response, ensuring timely and transparent risk mitigation and resolution of issues with minimal operational impact.
• Build and mentor a service‑oriented support culture committed to high‑quality and reliable delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement of security processes, tools, and service delivery to enhance effectiveness, scalability, and user experience.
• Establish and monitor Service‑Level Objectives, Process Adherence, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and operational metrics to drive accountability and continuous service improvement.

Project and Resource Management

• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans, timelines, and budgets for all enterprise initiatives.
• Allocate human and financial resources strategically across a portfolio of concurrent, competing priorities.
• Proactively monitor risks, facilitate cross‑functional conflict resolution, and communicate status with transparency to all stakeholders.
• Maintain a regular cadence of status reporting to leadership, ensuring visibility and trust at all organizational levels.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.

Required Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive leadership experience with a demonstrated track record of improving the processes, metrics, services, and the overall cybersecurity posture.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent complex projects, including planning, scheduling, risk management, and resource coordination.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent customer service orientation with a proven track record of instilling those values in direct reports and peers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non‑technical audiences.

Required Licenses or Certifications

• Within the first year of employment, must have one of the following certifications: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), or other appropriate Security Certification (approved by the VP for Technology).

Preferred Education

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field.

Preferred Experience

• Five (5) years of progressive leadership experience with a demonstrated track record of improving the processes, metrics, services, and the overall cybersecurity posture.
• Experience implementing and managing Federal, State, and industry cybersecurity frameworks and regulatory requirements, including NIST SP 800‑53, NIST SP 800‑171, and the Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley Act (GLBA) Safeguards Rule, preferably within a higher education environment.
• Demonstrated success in establishing and maturing an information security program, including team development, processes, documentation, and supporting technologies.
• Extensive experience with governance, risk, and compliance tools, processes, and strategies.
• Experience in higher education preferred.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proven ability to build consensus and drive outcomes across organizational boundaries without direct authority.
• Strong leadership and team‑building skills, with the ability to drive results through collaboration.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking - sees the big picture, anticipates future needs, and identifies opportunities to advance the institution through technology.
• Leadership and Development - Inspires and develops individuals and teams, creating conditions for sustained high performance and professional growth.
• Project and Program Management - Manages complexity across multiple initiatives with discipline, rigor, and a steady focus on outcomes and timelines.
• Stakeholder Collaboration - Builds trust‑based relationships across all levels and functions, influencing outcomes through partnership and clear communication.
• Customer Focus - Keeps the needs of students, faculty, and staff central to every decision, championing usability and service quality.
• Mission Commitment - Demonstrates a genuine commitment to improve the quality of life of Louisiana's citizens through accessible educational and skills training programs.

Benefits

As a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, LCTC has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, term life, disability, accident, vision, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan, holidays (14 per year, typically includes longer break at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, and Employee Assistance Program. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.

Application deadline: Applications will be accepted and the position will remain open until filled.

In accordance with LCTC Policy #6.036, a criminal history check will be conducted on all new hires. LCTC participates in the federal E‑Verify system for identification and employment eligibility purposes. LCTC is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information about the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, visit www.lctcs.edu.