Manager, Cyber Architecture

About the Department

The University of Southern California (USC) is enhancing its cybersecurity posture, focusing on resilience, cyber risk management, and threat-informed defense. As a world-class research institution, USC is dedicated to building a robust security culture that supports its academic and research mission amidst an evolving threat landscape. This role is part of a newly restructured cybersecurity organization leading this transformation, joining a team committed to scalable, proactive defense strategies, incident preparedness, and operational excellence. If you are purpose-driven, thrive in complex environments, and wish to shape the future of cybersecurity at a leading university, your leadership is invited.

Position Summary

As the Manager, Cyber Architecture, you will serve as an integral leader within the cybersecurity department, collaborating with stakeholders across the university ecosystem and reporting to the Director, Cyber Architecture and Engineering. This is a full-time exempt position, eligible for all of USC’s fantastic Benefits + Perks. This opportunity is remote.

The Manager, Cyber Architecture is responsible for managing the university’s overall security architecture, ensuring the integrity of IT systems and maintaining compliance with applicable regulatory standards. This role leads specialized teams in executing cybersecurity strategies aligned with established architectural principles. You will manage assessments and recommend security solutions at both the enterprise and local levels across the university, helping to shape security policies, conducting rigorous assessments, endorsing robust security solutions that span the university, and safeguarding research initiatives. Expert technical insights on security matters will be offered as required.

The Manager, Cyber Architecture Will

• Manage assessments and recommend security solutions for the entire university, including research security, and design robust security systems while responding swiftly to vulnerabilities.
• Provide key input for defined security architecture guidelines and offer technical security-related perspectives upon request.
• Perform regular reporting on security metrics.
• Lead the strategic development and execution of the university’s comprehensive security architecture, ensuring alignment with architectural principles.
• Shape and influence security policies, perform thorough assessments, and advocate for enterprise-wide security solutions, with a strong emphasis on research security.
• Direct specialized teams to implement security strategies effectively, fostering a culture of excellence and compliance.
• Participate in staff management activities such as hiring, coaching, training, performance reviews, pay actions, and promotions.
• Offer recommendations to leadership on security monitoring and incident response strategies based on informed analysis.
• Provide expert technical insights on security-related matters upon request, serving as a valuable resource for the organization.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the security architecture effectively supports the university's goals and risk management strategies.
• Maintain a forward-looking perspective on security trends and technologies, ensuring the architecture continuously evolves to meet emerging threats and opportunities.
• Ensure the architecture evolves with changes in legal, regulatory, and technology environments that may affect operations, and communicate these updates to senior management and staff.
• Encourage a workplace culture where all employees are valued, respect others, and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words, and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

Minimum Qualifications

Great candidates for the position of Manager, Cyber Architecture will meet the following qualifications:

• 7 years of experience in security architecture design, network security, and/or related fields.
• A bachelor’s degree or combined experience and education as a substitute for minimum education.
• Extensive experience in security architecture design, with the ability to conceptualize and implement effective security frameworks.
• Proven knowledge of network security technologies and solutions.
• Understanding of cybersecurity best practices and the ability to apply them effectively.
• Working knowledge of network security concepts and strategies, including fundamentals and attack strategies.
• Familiarity with application frameworks, security concepts, and strategies, to allow for secure application environments.
• Experience with Operational Technology architecture requirements and concepts.
• Knowledge of modern data center technologies (e.g., virtualization, containerization, cloud computing, disaster recovery).
• Technical expertise necessary to deliver enabling technologies and applications that support the university's objectives.
• Ability to design, evaluate, and document processes, leading teams in process review and improvement.
• Understanding of Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and Infrastructure Development Lifecycle (IDLC) processes, integrating security considerations throughout.

Preferred Qualifications

Exceptional candidates for the position of Manager, Cyber Architecture will also bring the following qualifications or more:

• 10 years of related experience.
• A bachelor’s degree in information science, computer science, computer engineering, or a related field(s); or combined experience/education as a substitute for minimum education.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Experience in a university environment.
• Familiarity with existing university security architecture.
• Cyber certification (e.g., CISSP, GIAC, CISM).

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words, and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

Salary and Benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is $205,068.39 to $225,319.41. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations. To support the well-being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here. Join the USC cybersecurity team within an environment of innovation and excellence.

Key skills/competency

• Security Architecture Design
• Network Security
• Cyber Risk Management
• Compliance Standards
• Incident Preparedness
• Team Leadership
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Cloud Computing Security
• SDLC/IDLC Security Integration
• Operational Technology Security