Director, Cybersecurity & Compliance - Knoxville, TN

Arctiq•Brentwood, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Our client is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Cybersecurity & Compliance to lead cybersecurity operations, compliance initiatives, and managed security service delivery. This leader will be responsible for strengthening the organization's security posture while driving the growth of a CMMC-focused managed services practice. This role combines technical leadership, operational oversight, compliance expertise, and client engagement. The ideal candidate has experience translating regulatory requirements into scalable security operations, developing repeatable processes, and advising both internal stakeholders and clients on cybersecurity strategy and risk management.

Requirements

Proven leadership experience managing cybersecurity operations and security teams.
Strong background in managed security services, consulting, or enterprise cybersecurity.
Hands-on experience with Microsoft security technologies, SIEM platforms, vulnerability management, identity security, and cloud security.
Deep understanding of CMMC Level 2, NIST SP 800-171, DFARS, SOC 2, HIPAA, and related compliance frameworks.
Experience building operational processes, security standards, and governance programs.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage technical teams, executives, and clients.

Nice To Haves

CISSP
CISM
CCSP
CMMC CCP/CCA (preferred)

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day cybersecurity operations and manage the security team.
Serve as the senior escalation point for security incidents, vulnerabilities, and client risk concerns.
Oversee managed security services including: Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR), Identity Threat Detection, Vulnerability Management, SIEM & Log Management, Email Security, DNS Filtering, Security Awareness Training.
Maintain incident response procedures, operational playbooks, and security workflows.
Monitor service performance, identify trends, and drive continuous improvement.
Lead the organization's cybersecurity compliance program with an emphasis on CMMC Level 2, NIST SP 800-171, and related regulatory frameworks.
Develop operational processes that support audit readiness and defensible compliance.
Translate compliance requirements into technical standards, operational controls, documentation, and evidence collection processes.
Oversee control ownership, remediation tracking, policy development, and assessment readiness.
Coordinate with external assessors, consultants, and compliance partners.
Develop and maintain enterprise security standards and baseline configurations.
Define secure technology standards across Microsoft 365, Microsoft Entra ID, Azure, endpoints, servers, firewalls, and cloud infrastructure.
Evaluate new security tools and technologies for operational effectiveness, compliance value, and scalability.
Partner with infrastructure, networking, cloud, and service teams to ensure consistent implementation of security standards.
Lead vulnerability management and incident response activities.
Develop remediation standards, severity classifications, and response playbooks.
Coordinate investigations and communications during security incidents.
Identify recurring security risks and implement long-term improvements through automation and process optimization.
Maintain security policies, standards, risk registers, and governance documentation.
Support SOC 2, HIPAA, CMMC, and other compliance initiatives.
Conduct access reviews, control validation, and risk assessments.
Support disaster recovery, business continuity, and tabletop exercises.
Participate in executive-level client meetings, security assessments, and strategic planning discussions.
Support business development through technical discovery, solution validation, and cybersecurity consulting.
Review proposed security solutions for technical feasibility and compliance alignment.
Stay current on evolving cybersecurity threats, regulatory changes, and industry best practices.