Architect | GRC/AI Governance (Remote)

Trace3•Dallas, TX

6d•$135,000 - $163,000•Remote

About The Position

The Architect, Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) is a senior, delivery-focused consultant responsible for leading and executing GRC engagements for Trace3 clients. The role conducts framework-based security program assessments, risk assessments, and business impact analyses, and translates findings into practical, prioritized roadmaps that help clients build resilient, scalable, and compliant security programs. The Architect works directly with CISOs, risk and compliance leaders, control owners, and technical teams from engagement kickoff through final executive readout. The role also helps clients establish governance over artificial intelligence use, aligning AI adoption with emerging frameworks, regulations, and internal risk tolerance. The Architect is accountable for engagement quality, on-time completion of deliverables, and client satisfaction, and builds trusted client relationships to enable client success. The position leads engagements from kickoff through stakeholder interviews, evidence review, analysis, deliverable development, and executive readouts. It assesses security program maturity, regulatory readiness, IT and cyber risk, business impacts, and AI governance; defines target states and implementation roadmaps; and develops and reviews client-ready reports, mappings, risk registers, briefings, and other deliverables. The Architect also manages engagement execution, mentors consultants, contributes to delivery methodologies and reusable tools, and maintains knowledge of evolving frameworks, regulations, and industry trends.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least 8 years of experience in information security, IT risk, or IT audit, including at least 5 years delivering GRC consulting or assessment engagements.
Demonstrated experience leading NIST CSF assessments from planning and stakeholder interviews through maturity scoring, roadmap development, and executive readout.
Strong expertise assessing security program maturity, identifying current state, and establishing a target-state roadmap that accounts for capability gaps and associated risks.
Extensive knowledge of security and risk management frameworks, such as NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27001, ISO 27005, and NIST RMF, and hands-on experience assessing against them.
Experience performing IT/IS risk, privacy, and control assessments based on leading practices and regulatory requirements, such as PCI DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR.
Excellent written communication skills and ability to produce clear, client-ready deliverables.
Excellent oral communication and presentation skills, including presenting findings to C-level executives and non-technical audiences.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong time management and prioritization skills in a fast-paced, high-volume, evolving environment.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent engagements and changing priorities while meeting deadlines.
Ability to approach client requests proactively and consultatively, understand client needs, and deliver effectively.
Motivated self-starter who enjoys solving challenging problems and is comfortable working directly with clients.
Ability to travel when needed.

Nice To Haves

CISSP, CISA, CISM, CRISC, or equivalent security or risk certification is strongly desired.
Experience conducting Business Impact Analyses and supporting business continuity and disaster recovery programs, such as ISO 22301 or NIST SP 800-34.
Experience with AI governance frameworks and regulations, such as NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001, the EU AI Act, and U.S. state AI legislation.
Relevant certifications such as CBCP, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer, ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer or Lead Auditor, IAPP AIGP, or CIPP.
Experience with GRC platforms such as ServiceNow IRM, Archer, or OneTrust.
Experience serving regulated-industry clients, including financial services, healthcare, or the public sector.
Prior professional services or Big 4 consulting experience.

Responsibilities

Lead and execute GRC engagements end-to-end, including kickoff, stakeholder interviews, documentation and evidence review, analysis, deliverable development, and executive readouts.
Perform security program maturity assessments against NIST CSF 2.0 and related frameworks, including NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27001, and CIS Critical Security Controls as appropriate.
Conduct gap and readiness assessments against regulatory and compliance requirements, including PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, GLBA, FFIEC, SOX, CMMC, and GDPR.
Perform IT and cyber risk assessments, including risk identification, analysis, and rating, and develop risk registers and treatment plans.
Conduct Business Impact Analyses to identify critical processes, dependencies, and supporting technology; establish RTO, RPO, and MTD objectives; and inform continuity and disaster recovery planning.
Assess and help establish AI governance programs, including use-case inventories, acceptable use policies, AI risk assessments, and alignment with relevant frameworks and regulations.
Facilitate workshops and interviews with executive stakeholders, process owners, and technical teams.
Assess current-state capabilities across people, process, and technology and define target states, priorities, dependencies, and implementation roadmaps.
Translate regulatory, security, and AI requirements into tailored control environments, governance models, policies, procedures, standards, and measurable program objectives.
Develop and quality-review assessment reports, gap analyses, maturity scorecards, risk registers, control mappings, BIA reports, executive briefings, and strategic roadmaps.
Manage day-to-day engagement execution, including schedules, status reporting, and client communication; escalate scope or timeline risks to practice leadership.
Mentor consultants on engagement teams and provide technical quality reviews of their work.
Contribute to delivery methodologies, assessment tools, templates, and reusable intellectual property.
Maintain current knowledge of evolving frameworks, regulations, and industry trends, and share lessons learned with the practice.