IT Security Program Director

Oakridge Staffing; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Prestigious NYC based university is seeking an experienced Security Program Director/Project Lead to spearhead a comprehensive enterprise security initiative, blending strategic leadership with hands-on program management.

Act as strategic director and hands-on lead across infrastructure, applications, data, identity, processes, and governance, partnering with the AVP and senior leaders to define priorities and ensure execution of agreed-upon initiatives.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading enterprise security programs in large complexes.
• Strong track record in strategic leadership and hands-on PM.
• Expertise across infrastructure, applications, data, identity and governance.
• Deep knowledge of NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls.
• Understanding of on-prem data centers and cloud security.
• Experience in highly decentralized environments.

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic director and hands-on lead for enterprise security initiatives.
• Partner with AVP and senior leadership to define priorities and ensure execution.

Skills

Enterprise security

Program leadership

Hands-on PM

Cloud security

Governance

NIST ISO27001

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Microsoft 365

Job description

Prestigious NYC based university is looking for an experienced Security Program Director/Project Lead to spearhead a comprehensive enterprise security initiative.

This role requires both strategic leadership and hands-on program management to drive multiple workstreams focused on strengthening technology, processes, practices, and policies across a large, complex academic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as both a strategic director and hands-on lead for enterprise-wide security initiatives across infrastructure, applications, data, identity, processes, and governance.
• Partner directly with the AVP and senior leadership team to define priorities, align stakeholders, and ensure execution of agreed-upon initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience leading enterprise-wide technology/security programs, ideally in complex, decentralized organizations.
• Demonstrated track record in both strategic program leadership (director-level) and hands-on project management.
• Expertise in enterprise security initiatives across all layers of technology and operations.
• Deep knowledge of enterprise security frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls).
• Strong understanding of on-premise data center and hosting environments.
• Strong understanding of Cloud Security (M365, Azure, AWS, GCP) and endpoint management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, research institutions, or other highly decentralized environments.
• Familiarity with IT risk management, compliance frameworks, and regulatory standards.
• Experience coordinating with external law firms, consultants, or third-party vendors in security engagements.