Information Security Officer - Principal Manager I

Judicial Branch of California; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision benefits program

14 paid holidays per calendar year

Annual or Sick/Vacation Leave

Job summary

The Judicial Council of California seeks an Information Security Officer (ISO) to lead the Information Security Services Program, report to the CIO, and safeguard branchwide information systems. This senior role sets strategy, directs cybersecurity operations, and advises leadership on security matters for the Judicial Council, Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and Trial Courts.

Responsibilities include overseeing security frameworks, staff development, risk management, and cross‑agency

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of professional analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience.
• Master’s degree in a related field with three (3) years of professional analytical or managerial experience, including supervisory/management.
• Cybersecurity certifications (e.g. CISSP, CISM) are desirable.
• Experience with security frameworks and risk/compliance programs is required.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for information security across the Judicial Council and branch.
• Oversee SOC and security services across multiple courts and offices.
• Lead major security initiatives across on‑premises and cloud environments.
• Advise executive leadership and external partners on security matters.
• Manage risk, compliance programs, and staff development.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Collaboration & partnerships

Education

Bachelor's degree + 6 years experience

Master's degree + 3 years experience

Tools

SIEM

IDS/IPS

Firewall

DLP systems

Cloud security governance

Job description

The Information Technology office is seeking a Principal Manager I to serve as the Information Security Officer (ISO) for the Judicial Council and the broader Judicial Branch.

This senior‑level role reports directly to the Chief Information Officer and leads the Judicial Council’s Information Security Services Program. This position is responsible for protecting branchwide information systems, strengthening cybersecurity practices, and advising Judicial Council leadership, committees, and California courts on security matters.

The ISO sets the strategic direction for information security, oversees the Security Operations Center (SOC), and ensures consistent, high‑quality security services across the Judicial Council, Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and Trial Courts. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, establishing and enforcing security frameworks, developing and training of security staff, managing risk and compliance programs, and leading major security initiatives across on‑premises and cloud environments.

This role supervises major security programs and projects, including the design, implementation, and deployment of key technologies and strategic initiatives. Additionally, the ISO ensures secure and cohesive operations across on‑premises and cloud environments, providing leadership on cloud governance, architecture, and risk mitigation.

As the Judicial Council’s cybersecurity advisor and subject matter expert, the ISO represents the branch in executive discussions, committees, and public forums and provides expert guidance to leaders and external partners.

The Judicial Council

The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule‑making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to reside within the State of California and travel to office and court locations throughout the state as business needs dictate.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of professional analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience. An additional four (4) years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor’s degree.

Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

OR

Master’s degree in a directly related field for the assigned discipline and three (3) years of professional-level analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience.

Desirable Qualifications

Educational

• Degree in information technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field.

Experience

• 5-10 Years of progressive responsibility in IT and Information Security roles
• Proven leadership in developing and implementing security policies, frameworks, and incident response plans
• Cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CISM, CASP+, CISA)
• Cybersecurity framework experience (NIST SP 800-53, CJIS compliance, ISO 27001)
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and frameworks (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DCSS, SOC 2)
• Experience with security technologies such as SIEM, IDS/IPS, endpoint protection, firewalls and DLP systems
• Proficiency in security protocols (SSL/TLS, IPsec), authentication mechanisms, and encryption techniques.
• Experience with
• Zero Trust Architecture
• AI Risk Governance
• Cloud security governance across cloud platforms (i.e. Azure, AWS, GCP).

Soft Skills

• Leadership and team management. Ability to guide cross‑functional teams and manage vendor relationships.
• Communication skills. Clearly convey complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders and executives.
• Strategic thinking. Align security initiatives with organizational goals and business strategy.
• Analytical skills. Assess threats, vulnerabilities, and risks effectively.
• Problem‑solving. Respond to security incidents with poise and develop effective solutions.
• Collaboration and partnership. Maintain positive working relationships with other business units and internal/external partners.