Senior Director, Special Projects (Cyber Security / Security Operations Center)

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority • Los Angeles, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Oversees, manages, and executes plans, policies, and frameworks for projects for an executive unit that may have broad organization-wide impact; coordinates and oversees the work of assigned staff on related projects or assignments. The Senior Director, Special Projects manages the Security Operations Center (SOC) LA METRO, overseeing security monitoring, incident response, threat detection, and operational readiness across enterprise and critical transportation systems. This role manages SOC Analysts, and the organization’s outsourced 24/7 Managed SOC provider while driving continuous improvement of cybersecurity alerts, ingestion and incident response capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or a related field
• Five years of management-level experience overseeing capital and/or other project management functions
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Knowledge of theories, principles, practices, and tools of project management and development
• Knowledge of transportation planning, engineering, construction, and operations
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations governing policies, trends, strategies, and developments for areas such as project management, the transportation industry, environmental impact
• Knowledge of public and transportation project finance and funding
• Knowledge of capital budget development and administration
• Knowledge of public procurement policies and procedures
• Knowledge of new and emerging technology and innovation practices
• Knowledge of modern management theory
• Knowledge of applicable business software applications
• Skill in program/project management and development
• Skill in managing projects from inception to culmination
• Skill in determining strategies to achieve goals
• Skill in critical thinking and synthesis of ideas and concepts
• Skill in policy research, analysis, and development
• Skill in building consensus and support around new concepts and innovations
• Skill in coordinating, facilitating, and motivating internal and external clients to make sound business decisions
• Skill in developing and implementing policies, procedures and strategies
• Skill in analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions and solving complex problems
• Skill in communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Skill in preparing comprehensive written correspondence, analyses, recommendations, and public reports
• Skill in providing oral and written presentations and briefings for senior decision makers
• Skill in interacting professionally with various levels of employees and outside representatives
• Ability to develop new concepts and ideas to improve program/project performance that adhere to Metro policy and applicable rules, laws, and regulations
• Ability to analyze project information to develop and implement recommendations
• Ability to quickly obtain, analyze, and synthesize information
• Ability to write and speak concisely and persuasively
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders at various levels of seniority from a range of disciplines
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Ability to plan financial and resource needs
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in a related field
• Experience supporting cybersecurity operations within large scale public transportation, critical infrastructure, utility, or public sector environment.
• Experience building and maturing a Security Operations Center program including people, process, tooling, metrics, and operations.
• Experience working with managed security service providers, or third-party cybersecurity monitoring organizations.
• Experience developing executive cybersecurity dashboards, operational metrics, board level reporting, and strategic operational briefings.
• Experience implementing cybersecurity frameworks and standards including NIST, MITRE ATT&CK, ISO, TSA Security Directives

Responsibilities

• Directs the evaluation, development, and implementation of multiple projects that may have major financial or operational impact to the department or Metro
• Oversees, manages, and executes project or program delivery strategies
• Manages staff execution of key workstreams and tasks
• Scopes and oversees consultant support workstreams
• Directs cross-functional development teams to address departmental issues
• Works cross functionally with other departments to understand needs and strategic direction and ensure that department is aligned to meet client's support requirements utilizing existing processes and tools and identifying areas for new solution development
• Directs the development of business plans, objectives, initiatives, policies, and strategies for department or program
• Evaluates issues that have an impact on department and/or Metro and facilitates executive decision making
• Directs coordination of process and systems analysis, and oversees the development and recommendation of solutions, enhancements, testing, and implementation activities for assigned projects
• Develops recommendations for policy and administrative procedural changes that contribute toward continuous improvement and streamlining efforts
• Develops short- and long-range plans; establishes priorities and goals/objectives for functional department
• Develops, studies, and reports to evaluate productivity of functional areas and eliminate impediments to peak performance
• Directs the preparation of capital project budgets, monitors and controls expenditures, initiates procurements, and approves payment of invoices
• Develops financial and administrative studies and reports
• Directs and participates in the preparation of Requests for Proposals (RFPs); participates in proposal evaluation, vendor/consultant selection, and contract negotiation processes; monitors progress of consultants, develops and manages consulting budgets, and recommends payment for services
• Presents monthly status briefing to executive management and compiles monthly published reports for financial staff, FTA (Federal Transit Administration), and Metro's executive office, as required
• Represents department to the public and press
• Supervises, coordinates, oversees, trains, mentors, and motivates assigned employees
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees
• May be required to perform other related job duties

Benefits

• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability.
• Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior