Information Security Officer

City of Philadelphia; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free transportation

Parental leave

Health coverage

Wellness program

Paid vacation

Retirement savings plan

Student loan forgiveness

Tuition discounts

Job summary

The Information Security Officer at City of Philadelphia protects the Police Department’s digital infrastructure, systems and data. This mid‑level role works with OIT, cybersecurity teams, and legal personnel to enforce policies, monitor controls, and respond to threats impacting public safety.

Responsibilities include access management, identity security, risk assessment, policy enforcement (CJIS/HIPAA/FERPA), system hardening, staff training, and executive reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or related discipline (Security+, CISM, CISSP preferred).
• At least four years of experience in information security roles within law enforcement, government, or large enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with security principles across networks, applications, mobile devices, and cloud platforms.
• Knowledge of public sector cybersecurity frameworks and risk management practices.
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Participate with central OIT security team in monitoring and response to security incidents across internal platforms, databases, and communication systems.
• Conduct forensic reviews and support investigations into unauthorized access or data compromise.
• Maintain situational awareness of emerging threats through threat intelligence sharing and vendor collaboration.
• Administer role-based access across PPD platforms including RMS, CAD, HR systems, and surveillance databases.
• Manage identity protocols including multi-factor authentication, credential issuance, and access logging.
• Perform periodic audits to verify permissions, detect anomalies, and support compliance.
• Enforce internal security policies aligned with CJIS, HIPAA, FERPA, and the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law.
• Participate in audits and collaborate with compliance teams to meet legal and regulatory obligations.
• Assist in drafting and updating departmental security guidelines.
• Develop dashboards to track security metrics, incident response times, and audit findings.
• Present monthly updates to the Police IT Director outlining security posture and improvements.
• Recommend upgrades, procedural changes, or staffing adjustments based on risk assessments.
• Identify vulnerabilities across on-premises and cloud-based applications and recommend remediations.
• Collaborate with technical teams to implement firewall rules, antivirus protections, and data encryption.
• Maintain documentation of patch cycles, Disaster Recovery testing, and system redundancies.
• Provide cyber hygiene education to sworn and civilian personnel.
• Deliver briefings on phishing, ransomware, and data handling risks.

Skills

Information security experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or related discipline

Job description

• Compensation: USD 80,000 - USD 95,000 - yearly

Company Description

A best‑in‑class city that attracts best‑in‑class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well‑being.

Agency Description

The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) is the nation's fourth largest police department, with over 6,300 sworn members and 800 civilian personnel. The PPD is the primary law‑enforcement agency responsible for serving Philadelphia County, extending over 140 square‑miles in which approximately 1.5 million reside. Geographically, the Department is divided into twenty‑one police districts (each headed by a captain), which comprise six police divisions (Northwest, Northeast, East, Central, Southwest, South – each headed by a Divisional Inspector), into two major sections of the city, Regional Operations Command North (ROC North) and Regional Operations Command South (ROC South), each headed by one Chief Inspector under Patrol Operations. Personnel are assigned to work in 55 different locations throughout Philadelphia, with Police Headquarters located in the 6th Police District, in Center City, at 400 North Broad Street.

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Information Security Officer plays a key role in protecting the Philadelphia Police Department’s digital infrastructure, systems, and sensitive data. This mid‑level position ensures confidentiality, integrity, and availability of law enforcement information across a complex ecosystem that includes dispatch systems, records management, digital evidence platforms, email communications, mobile devices, and cloud‑hosted environments.

Working in collaboration with the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT), cybersecurity teams, operational units, and legal personnel, the officer is responsible for enforcing policies, monitoring security controls, and responding to threats that could impact critical public safety operations. This role is vital in strengthening resilience and upholding trust in PPD’s digital systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Cybersecurity Operations

Participate with central OIT security team in the monitoring and response to security incidents across internal platforms, databases, and communication systems.

Conduct forensic reviews and support investigations into unauthorized access or data compromise.

In conjunction with the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, maintain situational awareness of emerging threats through threat intelligence sharing and vendor collaboration.

Access Management and Identity Security

Administer role‑based access across PPD platforms including RMS, CAD, HR systems, and surveillance databases.

Manage identity protocols including multi‑factor authentication, credential issuance, and access logging.

Perform periodic audits to verify permissions, detect anomalies, and support compliance.

Security Policy and Compliance

Enforce internal security policies aligned with CJIS, HIPAA, FERPA, and the Pennsylvania Right‑to‑Know Law.

Participate in audits and collaborate with compliance teams to meet legal and regulatory obligations.

Assist in drafting and updating departmental security guidelines.

Participate in OIT security reviews of new PPD systems being implemented.

System Hardening and Risk Mitigation

Identify vulnerabilities across on‑premises and cloud‑based applications and recommend remediations.

Collaborate with technical teams to implement firewall rules, antivirus protections, and data encryption.

Maintain documentation of patch cycles, Business Continuity, disaster recovery testing, and system redundancies.

Ensure compliance with SDLC standards.

Staff Training and Cyber Awareness

Provide cyber hygiene education to sworn and civilian personnel.

Deliver briefings on phishing, ransomware, and data handling risks.

Create training materials that align with departmental policies and technology platforms.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

Develop dashboards to track security metrics, incident response times, and audit findings.

Present monthly updates to the Police IT Director outlining security posture and improvements.

Recommend upgrades, procedural changes, or staffing adjustments based on risk assessments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or related discipline (Security+, CISM, CISSP preferred)

At least four years of experience in information security roles within law enforcement, government, or large enterprise environments.

Familiarity with security principles across networks, applications, mobile devices, and cloud platforms.

Knowledge of public sector cybersecurity frameworks and risk management practices.

Strong attention to detail, problem‑solving ability, and communication skills.

Why This Position is Critical to Public Safety:

The Information Security Officer ensures that the Philadelphia Police Department’s systems are not just functional—but fortified. From safeguarding investigative data to maintaining the integrity of command communications, this role reinforces the backbone of public safety infrastructure. It’s where vigilance meets precision, and where operational trust begins.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, writing sample, and resume.

Salary Range: $80,000 - $95,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan.
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Generous retirement savings options are available.
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student‑loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well‑being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non‑medical, non‑emergency or patient‑facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient‑facing medical care (ex. nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215‑686‑4670 or send an email to [e-mail].

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