Director of Controlled Research Support Program

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

39d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of the Controlled Research Support Program will lead the establishment, implementation, and ongoing management of the University of Texas at Austin's controlled research compliance program and secure enclave environment, which specifically includes Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Operating from the Office of the Vice President of Technology and Chief Information Officer in Enterprise Technology (ET) and in partnership with the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) and the Information Security Office (ISO), this role will ensure researchers, staff, and administrators are equipped with the infrastructure, policies, and training necessary to both protect sensitive research data and accelerate the time to research, while enabling innovation and collaboration. The position requires both strategic leadership and hands-on operational oversight of secure computing environments.

Requirements

U.S. Citizen, resident, or officially recognized asylee - Applicant selected will be subject to government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to the project requirements of the position.
Bachelor's degree in Information Security, Information Technology, Research Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of experience in architecting, managing and delivering large-scale, secure infrastructure that serves the unique needs of university researchers.
Strong understanding of federal requirements related to CUI (e.g., NIST SP 800-171, DFARS, CMMC).
Experience standing up or managing secure computing environments for research or compliance programs.
Hands-on technical experience with enclave infrastructure, cloud-based secure environments, and system administration.
Excellent leadership, communication, organizational and project management skills.
Ability to manage complex projects and coordinate across multiple departments.
Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Commitment to ethical conduct and confidentiality.
Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Information Security, Information Technology, Research Administration, or related field.
Experience working in higher education or research-intensive environments.
Familiarity with export controls, ITAR, and other regulated research areas.
CISSP, CISM, or similar security certification.

Responsibilities

Contribute to developing, implementing, and maintaining a comprehensive CUI and controlled research program aligned with federal regulations (e.g., NIST SP 800-171, DFARS, CMMC) with a specific focus on implementing and maintaining controls in the secure enclave environment and ensuring compliance.
Working knowledge and understanding of CUI and other controlled data controls and requirements, assisting with advising leadership, faculty, and staff on obligations and best practices.
Working knowledge and understanding of policies, procedures, and governance structures that ensure compliance across all research activities involving controlled research.
Liaison with federal agencies, sponsors, and auditors regarding controlled research program compliance.
Monitor regulatory updates (NIST 800-171, DFARS, CMMC, ITAR/EAR), assess their implications, and inform and advise University stakeholders accordingly.
Oversee the design, deployment, and ongoing operation of the secure enclave infrastructure that supports controlled data including CUI research.
Manage and/or coordinate the work of systems administrators and other technical personnel responsible for enclave operations.
Ensure enclave systems meet or exceed compliance baselines (e.g., access controls, logging, encryption, incident response).
Coordinate vulnerability management, patching, and continuous monitoring activities.
Partner with ET functional teams, ISO and other University technical teams to integrate enclave services into the broader institutional technology ecosystem.
Provide training and outreach to faculty, staff, and students conducting research in the enclave environment.
Assist in the preparation and review of technical compliance artifacts, including: System Security Plans (SSPs); Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms); Technology Control Plans (TCPs); SPRS Score Justifications
Collaborate with local college, school or unit IT, building managers, research administration, and department chairs to ensure physical access controls, network segmentation, and endpoint management are in place and well-understood.
Interface regularly with campus stakeholders to align physical, network, and cybersecurity controls within research spaces.
Develop onboarding processes that streamline researcher access while maintaining compliance requirements.
Act as a trusted partner to research teams, ensuring the enclave environment supports their scientific goals.
Maintain a centralized register of active secure research environments, tracking SSPs, POA&Ms, SPRS submissions, and enclave deployments.
Support proposal development by providing accurate descriptions of the controlled data program and secure infrastructure to sponsors.
Build and lead a cross-functional team supporting controlled data (including CUI) compliance and secure enclave operations.
Collaborate with University leadership to align the controlled data program with the institution's broader research security and compliance strategies.
Report regularly to senior leadership on program status, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Contribute to a culture of compliance and security awareness within the University research community.
Perform other related functions as assigned.

Benefits

Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) or the Optional Retirement Program (a defined contribution plan)
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Training and conference opportunities
Tuition assistance
Athletic ticket discounts
Access to UT Austin's libraries and museums
Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Capital metro buses with staff ID card