Research Technology & Security Director

CHOC Children's; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 134,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

CHOC Children's in Orange, CA, seeks a Research Technology & Security Director to own research technology environments end-to-end, aligning them with enterprise IT standards and regulatory requirements. This executive role demands strategic architecture, incident resolution, and cross-functional leadership.

You will lead security architecture, data protection, and regulatory compliance across complex healthcare research platforms, ensuring scalable, compliant operations while guiding

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field.
• Ten+ years in IT, cybersecurity, or research technology environments.
• Five+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Experience with federal research regulations and compliance frameworks.
• Experience with enterprise IT service management.

Responsibilities

• Own research technology environments end-to-end, from strategy to operations.
• Architect, implement, and operate secure, compliant systems.
• Lead cross-functional teams and drive enterprise IT alignment.
• Respond to incidents and regulatory challenges.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Security architecture

Cloud platforms

Identity and access management

Data protection

System integration

Executive presentation skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Why CHOC?

At CHOC, we strive to be the leading destination of children’s health by providing exceptional and innovative care. We are responsible for the overall health of our community’s pediatric population in our hospitals, clinics, and practices. And because of our breadth of care, your career at CHOC can be as diverse and fulfilling as you determine. CHOC’s compensation structure, benefits offerings, and career development programs are geared to helping you achieve your professional and personal goals.

Work Location

Orange, California

Work Shift

Day – 08hrs (United States of America)

Why CHOC?

At CHOC, we strive to be the leading destination of children’s health by providing exceptional and innovative care. We are responsible for the overall health of our community’s pediatric population in our hospitals, clinics, and practices. And because of our breadth of care, your career at CHOC can be as diverse and fulfilling as you determine. CHOC’s compensation structure, benefits offerings, and career development programs are geared to helping you achieve your professional and personal goals.

Environmental Sustainability Statement

Driven by the connection between children’s health and a healthy environment, we commit to creating a healthcare model that incorporates environmental sustainability aligned with our mission to protect children’s health and patient safety.

Job Summary

The Research Technology & Security Director is a senior, highly autonomous leadership role embedded within the Research Institute and aligned to Information Technology (IT). This position is responsible for end-to-end ownership of research technology environments, including strategy, architecture, implementation, operations, and continuous improvement. This role carries executive-level authority to drive change, enforce standards, and resolve complex technical and regulatory challenges. The Director serves as the single point of accountability for ensuring that research environments are secure, compliant, scalable, and fully aligned with enterprise IT standards. The role requires a blend of regulatory expertise, technical depth, operational execution, and leadership presence. The individual must be equally comfortable designing enterprise architecture, interpreting federal mandates, and stepping into active incidents to resolve technical issues.

Pay Range

Minimum $133,827 Midpoint $177,320 Maximum $220,792

Rate of pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to knowledge, skills, competencies, experience, education, as well as position requirements.

Experience

• Required: Ten or more (10) years of experience in IT, cybersecurity, or research technology environments. Five or more (5) years in senior leadership roles with demonstrated authority to implement change.
• Preferred: Experience in healthcare, academic, or life sciences research environments. Experience supporting large-scale enterprise transformations.

Education

Required: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field.

Training

Required: None required.

Specialized Skills

• Required: Deep expertise in federal research regulations and compliance frameworks. Strong technical background in infrastructure, cloud platforms, and security architecture. Experience with identity and access management, data protection, and system integration.
• Proven ability to resolve complex technical issues in real-world environments. Experience operating within enterprise IT service management frameworks. Strong communication and executive presentation skills.

Licensure

Preferred: Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, AWS, or Azure certifications

Work Environments - Functional Demand

Light - Moderate energy level Lift and carry 25-35 lbs. Push/pull 50-100 lbs. (ie. empty bed, stretcher).

Physical Activity Requirements

Bending, Carry Objects, Climbing, Keyboard use/repetitive motion, Pinching/fine motor activities, Push/Pull, Reaching forward, Reaching overhead, Sitting, Squat/kneel/crawl (Squad & Knee), Standing, Talk or hear, Taste or smell, Twisting, Walking, Wrist position deviation

Physical Activity Lifting

Lifting (Floor to waist level) - Occasional 0-35%, Lifting (Waist level and above) - Occasional 0-35%

Sensory Requirements

Color Discrimination, Depth Perception, Far Vision, Hearing, Near Vision

Environment Requirements

Airborn Communicable Disease, Bloodborne Pathogens, Chemical, Dust Particular Matter, Extreme Noise Levels, Extreme Temperatures, Radiation, Uneven Surfaces or Elevations

Non-Discrimination Statement

CHOC does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, genetic information, disability, sex, gender (including pregnancy, breastfeeding, childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, medical condition, sexual orientation, veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or other protected characteristics in accordance with state and federal laws.

We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply for positions at CHOC, even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the listed qualifications for a particular role, as your unique experience may be a great addition to our culture for another one of our opportunities.

If you desire support or accommodations throughout the Talent Acquisition process, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner.