Manager, Cyber Architecture

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

10d•Remote

About The Position

The Manager, Cyber Architecture is an integral leader in USC’s cybersecurity department, reporting to the Director, Cyber Architecture and Engineering and collaborating with stakeholders across the university. This full-time, exempt position is remote. The role manages USC’s overall security architecture to protect IT systems, support compliance with applicable regulatory standards, and advance resilience, cyber risk management, and threat-informed defense across the university’s academic and research environment. The manager leads specialized teams responsible for implementing cybersecurity strategies in alignment with architectural principles. The role oversees security assessments and recommends enterprise or local security solutions, including those supporting research security. It provides input on security architecture guidelines, technical perspectives, security metrics, and recommendations for security monitoring and incident response. The position also shapes security policies, advises leadership, and ensures architecture evolves with emerging threats and changes to legal, regulatory, and technology environments. The role includes staff management activities such as hiring, coaching, training, performance reviews, pay actions, and promotions. The successful candidate supports collaboration and risk management across the university and helps foster a workplace culture aligned with USC’s Code of Ethics and Unifying Values.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in security architecture design and network security and/or related fields.
Bachelor’s degree, or combined experience and education as a substitute for the minimum education requirement.
Extensive experience in security architecture design and the ability to conceptualize and implement effective security frameworks.
Knowledge of network security technologies and solutions.
Understanding of cybersecurity best practices and how to apply them.
Working knowledge of network security concepts and strategies, including fundamentals and attack strategies.
Familiarity with application frameworks, security concepts, and strategies for enabling secure application environments.
Experience with Operational Technology architecture requirements and concepts.
Knowledge of modern data center technologies, such as virtualization, containerization, cloud computing, and disaster recovery.
Technical expertise to deliver enabling technologies and applications that support university objectives.
Ability to design, evaluate, and document processes and lead teams in process review and improvement.
Understanding of Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and Infrastructure Development Lifecycle (IDLC) processes, with the ability to integrate security considerations throughout.
Demonstrated commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

Nice To Haves

10 years of related experience.
Bachelor’s degree in information science, computer science, computer engineering, or a related field; or combined experience and education as a substitute.
Proven leadership experience.
Experience in a university environment.
Familiarity with existing university security architecture.
Cybersecurity certification, such as CISSP, GIAC, or CISM.

Responsibilities

Manage security assessments and recommend enterprise or local security solutions across the university, including research security.
Lead the strategic development and execution of the university’s security architecture in alignment with established architectural principles.
Design robust security systems and respond to potential vulnerabilities.
Provide input on security architecture guidelines and technical security perspectives when requested.
Conduct regular reporting on security metrics.
Shape security policies, perform assessments, and advocate for enterprise-wide security solutions.
Direct specialized teams implementing cybersecurity strategies and promote a culture of excellence and compliance.
Participate in staff management activities, including hiring, coaching, training, performance reviews, pay actions, and promotions.
Recommend security monitoring and incident response strategies to leadership based on informed analysis.
Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure security architecture supports university goals and risk management strategies.
Monitor security trends and technologies and ensure architecture evolves to address emerging threats and opportunities.
Ensure architecture evolves with legal, regulatory, and technology changes that may affect operations, and communicate updates to senior management and staff.
Encourage a workplace culture where employees are valued and able to contribute, consistent with the USC Code of Ethics.