Tech 8 - Senior Cybersecurity Specialist

Wichita Public Schools; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wichita Public Schools seeks a Senior Cybersecurity Specialist to safeguard the district’s cyber infrastructure, including cloud and on‑prem systems. The role involves leading incident responses, mentoring team members, and implementing MFA and access controls.

The ideal candidate will have advanced threat detection skills, experience with SIEM platforms, and a Bachelor’s degree in IT or CS. In this role you will work within an educational environment to protect student data and critical systems.

Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of TCP/IP, ports, protocols and security architecture.
• Experience with vulnerability scans and incident investigations.
• Knowledge of security controls, access management and data protection.

Responsibilities

• Lead Incident Response activities and coordinate investigations.
• Mentor specialists and act as escalation point for security issues.
• Maintain network security across cloud and on‑prem environments.
• Manage secure access with MFA and IAM solutions.
• Oversee securing Microsoft Azure deployments and endpoint protection.

Skills

TCP/IP fundamentals

Log analysis

Vulnerability scanning

Incident response

MFA and IAM

Azure security

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT & Information Systems or Computer Science

Tools

RSA Security

HIPS

Anti-Virus

Full Packet Capture

Host-Based Forensics

Network Forensics

SIEM platform

Job description

Job Description - Tech 8 - Senior Cybersecurity Specialist (14115)

Tech 8 - Senior Cybersecurity Specialist - ( 14115 )

Job Title:

Tech 8 Network Services (Senior Cybersecurity Specialist)

Position Function:

The Senior Cybersecurity Specialist provides support for all areas of the Cybersecurity ecosystem; Maintaining a high level of knowledge regarding network security within cloud and on-prem infrastructures, application access, device protection, encryption methods and secure internet communications. Responsible for discovering vulnerabilities and risks in networks, software systems and data centers with ongoing vulnerability scans, monitoring network data, and ensuring hardware and software applications are updated. Assists in the development and implementation of data access security safeguards and protective measures to ensure protection of data from internal and external users. Keeping up with current trends and innovations is required as well as understanding how they exist within an educational environment.

Essential Performance Responsibilities:

• Leading Incident Response.
• Mentoring Specialists and serving as the escalation point.
• Maintain the highest levels of safety and security for WPS Students.
• Manage and support secure access to the network with MFA, identity, and access solutions.
• Responsible for secure development and operations within the Microsoft Azure platform.
• Manage and support antivirus, EDR, and next generation endpoint security platforms.
• Safeguards information system assets by identifying and solving potential and actual security problems.
• Implement security improvements by assessing current situation; evaluating trends; anticipating requirements.
• Determines security violations and inefficiencies by conducting periodic audits.
• Protect systems by defining access privileges, control structures, and resources.
• Recognizes problems by identifying abnormalities; reporting violations.
• Monitors network traffic for exploits through LAN, WLAN, WAN, and core systems.
• Harden and protect server operating systems, ensure best practices are maintained.
• Investigates incidences of access violations and data corruption or loss and reports findings to supervisor for direction or resolution.
• Monitors and audit the IT environment to isolate and identify occurrences of illegal or unauthorized access.
• Investigates and corrects security related problems to ensure data information system integrity.
• Perform eDiscovery tasks and provide reports to HR for investigative cases.
• Understand IP based networks and lead in-depth troubleshooting when necessary.
• Document processes and teach Cyber Security best practices and skills to other employees.
• Monitor, secure and support Cisco network equipment with a deep understanding of routing & switching, firewalling & Wi-Fi technologies.
• Support safe, secure and highly available access to the internet with web filtering and traffic inspection technologies.
• Perform software and hardware maintenance, upgrades and periodic testing to ensure the security, stability and performance of all IT systems.

Additional Duties:

Perform other duties as assigned by the CIO and Network Supervisor.

Equipment:

This position may require the ability to use SMART boards and iPads in addition to basic office equipment such as computers, copiers, scanners, and fax machine. Must always comply with WPS guidelines for equipment use.

Travel:

Occasional in-district and out-of-district travel is required.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Regular attendance and reliability.
• Make continuing education and learning new skills a priority.
• Ability to perform under pressure and quickly resolve outages that affect thousands of users.
• Daily schedules may fluctuate to accommodate deadlines and delivery of services.
• Required to be on-call and be available to support after-hours outages.
• Must maintain confidentiality of records and strictly adhere to privacy laws.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Requirements:

• Advanced understanding of TCP/IP, common networking ports and protocols, traffic flow, system administration, OSI model, defense-in-depth and common security elements.
• Hands-on experience analyzing high volumes of logs, network data, and other attack artifacts in support of incident investigations.
• Experience with vulnerability scanning solutions.
• Proficiency with the following: Anti-Virus, HIPS, ID/PS, Full Packet Capture, Host-Based Forensics, Network Forensics, and RSA Security.
• In-depth knowledge of architecture, engineering, and operations of at least one enterprise SIEM platform.
• Strong leadership, troubleshooting and teamwork skills as well as an extensive knowledge of computer hardware, software, networking and other technology applications (including maintenance and repair of various kinds of computer hardware and an understanding of a variety of software packages) are vital.
• Exhibit a professional manner and a positive attitude.
• Ability to plan, organize, make decisions and work under time constraints to meet deadlines.
• Ability to perform as an effective team member.
• Ability to communicate both verbally and written.
• Displays a significant degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to conform to proper standards of professional dress and appearance.
• Knowledge of Wichita Public Schools’ mission, purpose, goals and your role in achieving them.

Interrelations:

• Regular contact with personnel within the district, customers and vendors.
• Working within a diverse population requires the ability to handle all situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Must understand and respond appropriately to customer needs and maintain a positive attitude with all customers and colleagues.
• Expected to interact with all internal and external customers in a friendly, professional manner and provide quick, responsive customer service.

Employee Punctuality and Appearance:

• For schools to operate effectively, employees are expected to perform all assigned duties and work all scheduled hours during each designated workday, unless the employee has received approved leave
• Any deviation from assigned hours must have prior approval from the employee’s supervisor or building administrator
• All employees are required to report to work dressed in a manner that reflects a positive image of Wichita Public Schools and is appropriate for their position

Qualification Profile:

• A High School Education or GED equivalent is required.
• Minimum five (5) years relevant security experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree in IT & Information Systems or Computer Science is preferred.
• Microsoft, ISC2, Security+ & CISSP certifications with knowledge and experience on a large enterprise level preferred.