Vice President, U.S. Government Cybersecurity Strategy & Engagement

Mastercard Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 239,000 - 383,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard is seeking a senior leader to shape and execute the U.S. government cybersecurity strategy.

The role focuses on developing engagement with federal, state, and local government stakeholders to advance security priorities and create commercial opportunities across identity, fraud prevention, and threat intelligence. The ideal candidate will bring extensive cybersecurity and national security experience, an established network within USG circles, and the ability to translate policy

Qualifications

• Extensive years of experience in cybersecurity, national security, or tech policy with US government engagement.
• Strong network of USG cybersecurity and national security stakeholders.
• Understanding of federal agency priorities and procurement mechanisms.
• Active security clearance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for U.S. government cybersecurity engagement across local, state, and federal levels.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior officials across USG agencies, departments, and offices.
• Engage with critical infrastructure councils, ISACs, and industry associations to raise Mastercard's profile.
• Identify opportunities where Mastercard's cybersecurity capabilities align with USG priorities and procurement pathways.
• Partner with product and sales teams to translate government engagement into structured commercial opportunities.
• Represent Mastercard at senior government forums and industry events; help identify speaking/advisory roles.
• Monitor policy developments and regulatory trends to inform internal strategy and executive communications.
• Deliver high-quality briefings, white papers, and thought leadership tailored to USG audiences.

Skills

Cybersecurity leadership

US government engagement

Policy analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, public policy, international affairs, or related field

Tools

Recorded Future

Job description

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary Vice President, U.S. Government Cybersecurity Strategy & Engagement Overview: The Vice President, U.S. Government Cybersecurity Strategy & Engagement will lead Mastercard's efforts to deepen its strategic presence and trusted advisor status with United States government stakeholders, as well as state and local governments, across national security, critical infrastructure, and cybersecurity policy. This role sits at the intersection of cybersecurity strategy and commercial opportunity, driving engagement that advances both Mastercard's mission and its business objectives. This individual will build and manage relationships across relevant U.S. government agencies, including civilian, defense, and intelligence community stakeholders, as well as key industry associations and critical infrastructure sector groups. Critically, this role will serve as the primary bridge between Mastercard's external government engagement and its internal product and sales teams, identifying where Mastercard's capabilities in identity, fraud prevention, and threat intelligence can address USG priorities, and helping to create the conditions for meaningful commercial outcomes. While this role is not a sales position, it will be commercially oriented in a meaningful sense: effective engagement that establishes Mastercard as a credible, indispensable partner creates the conditions for deeper collaboration and, in partnership with Mastercard's product and sales teams, for commercial opportunities across identity, fraud prevention, and threat intelligence. This individual will be instrumental in identifying where Mastercard's capabilities are most relevant to United States government needs and in shaping how the company is positioned in those conversations. This is a role for a seasoned professional with established USG relationships, strong cybersecurity fluency, and the ability to operate with credibility at the highest levels of government.

Role:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for U.S. government cybersecurity engagement, leading to government opportunities for Mastercard at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior officials across relevant USG agencies, departments, and offices — including CISA, NSC, NSA, DHS, Treasury, and other key stakeholders.
• Engage with critical infrastructure sector coordinating councils, ISACs, and relevant industry associations to elevate Mastercard's profile and deepen its influence.
• Identify opportunities where Mastercard's cybersecurity capabilities — spanning identity, fraud, and threat intelligence, including Recorded Future — align with USG and state and local priorities and procurement pathways.
• Partner with Mastercard's product and sales teams to develop informed, credible USG go-to-market approaches — translating government engagement into well-structured commercial opportunities.
• Represent Mastercard at senior‑level government forums, working groups, and industry events; help identify speaking and advisory roles that reinforce Mastercard's cybersecurity leadership.
• Monitor and analyze U.S. cybersecurity policy developments, legislative activity, and regulatory trends to inform internal strategy and executive communications.
• Develop and deliver high‑quality briefings, white papers, and thought leadership materials tailored to USG audiences.

About You:

• Extensive years of experience in cybersecurity, national security, or technology policy — with significant direct experience engaging with or within the U.S. federal government.
• Established network of relationships across USG cybersecurity and national security stakeholders; ability to engage credibly at the senior executive and political appointee level.
• Substantive understanding of the U.S. government cybersecurity landscape, including federal agency priorities, critical infrastructure protection frameworks, and relevant procurement mechanisms.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and develop strategic opportunities at the intersection of government engagement and commercial outcomes.
• Strong communicator with the ability to translate complex technical and policy concepts for diverse audiences.
• Experience working with or in the private sector on government‑focused cybersecurity initiatives preferred.
• Prior experience with cybersecurity, financial services, identity, fraud, or threat intelligence capabilities is a plus.
• Active or recently held U.S. security clearance preferred.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in cybersecurity, public policy, international affairs, or a related field preferred.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Success in this role means Mastercard is consistently present, credible, and influential in the rooms where key U.S. government, state, and local cybersecurity decisions are made. This individual will be measure by the depth and quality of USG and state, and local governments relationships developed, the relevance and frequency of Mastercard’s engagement in key forums, and, in partnership with sales and product teams, the emergence of concrete commercial pathways that reflect Mastercard’s value to the U.S. government cybersecurity mission, as well as to the priorities of state and local governments.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role.

In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Pay Ranges Washington, District of Columbia

$239,000 - $383,000 USD

Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include:

• insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance);
• flexible spending account and health savings account;
• paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave);
• 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire;
• 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays;
• 401k with a best-in-class company match;
• deferred compensation for eligible roles;
• fitness reimbursement or on‑site fitness facilities;
• eligibility for tuition reimbursement;
• and many more.

Mastercard benefits for interns generally include:

• 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time;
• jury duty leave;
• and on‑site fitness facilities in some locations.

THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 09/29/2026. If the fill date has passed, Mastercard intends to fill this position as soon as possible.