Executive Director, Security & Classified Operations and Chief Security Officer
Company: RAND
Location: Santa Monica
Posted on: November 20, 2023
Job Description:
Job Type: Regular Overview RAND Corporation is a research
institution devoted to developing solutions to important public
policy challenges to help make communities across the world safer,
healthier, and more prosperous. In pursuing this mission, RAND
helps sponsors at the highest level of U.S. national and homeland
security and in related roles throughout the U.S. government, along
with leaders in key allies, with their toughest problems. This
requires the ability to conduct work at all levels of
classification while using cutting-edge computing and analytic
capabilities, a demanding combination. And it is critical to RAND
to remain a close and trusted partner with these officials and
agencies by upholding the highest standards of security. To
accomplish this, the RAND classified support and security team
works in partnership with RAND's senior leadership, research
divisions, information services (IS), workplace services and real
estate, human resources, and other departments to ensure we have
top notch classified research capabilities, world class cleared
staff, and uncompromising protection of classified information and
security. The multi-faceted security problems facing the U.S. and
its allies are daunting. RAND plays a key role in analyzing these
problems and developing recommendations for government leaders, and
the director of classified support and security and their team are
essential for enabling RAND to play this vital role. Position
Description As a member of RAND's leadership team, reporting to the
senior vice president of finance and operations, the executive
director guides the 250-person Security and Classified Operations
organization to maximize RAND's research impact. In this newly
created role, we're looking for a leader to leverage all their
knowledge and skills to evolve RAND's classified research
capabilities, particularly with increased expectations for virtual
collaboration remaining post-pandemic and the rapid evolution of AI
as critical to the conduct of research. The director will develop
and provide classified research capabilities to the RAND Federally
Funded Research and Development Center researchers that enable them
to execute cutting edge, complex research responsive to the top
priorities of U.S. national and homeland security and law
enforcement. This requires being able to quickly establish the
capabilities to meet new and evolving needs, high-performance
computing that stays on the leading edge at all levels of
classification, and the ability to collaborate virtually across
RAND offices and with a very broad array of government sponsors.
The classified information services team is expected to provide
excellent service to meet research needs while upholding the
highest standards for compliance and security to protect classified
information and RAND staff. Specifically, the director will
lead:
- All RAND classified capabilities encompassing government
systems, facilities, and computing. Classified computing
responsibilities include ensuring computer and storage capabilities
stay aligned with research needs, information assurance, system
administration, and technical support to staff.
- Security policies and programs include RAND's National
Industrial Security Program (NISP), intelligence, personnel
security, physical security, safety, emergency preparedness and
incident response, communications security, document control,
operational security, security investigations, Sensitive
Compartmented Information (SCI) operations, and Special Access
Program (SAP) operations.
- Hiring, and development of classified information technology
and security staff across RAND's U.S. offices in Santa Monica,
Pittsburgh, and Arlington. In managing classified information
technology, the director will work in close partnership with the
Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the rest of the RAND
Information Services (IS) team regarding the acquisition and
maintenance of information technology (IT) and the hiring and
development of IT staff. The director also has advisory
responsibility for security matters for RAND's non-U.S. offices.
Responsibilities Key responsibilities include:
- Ensures robust policies, procedures, and processes are in place
and well implemented to effectively manage the department, to
provide classified computing capabilities to RAND US cleared staff,
and to provide security to RAND associates across the globe.
- Ensures compliance with NISP and intelligence regulations,
contractual, executive order, and other relevant federal directives
for classified operations and other local, national, and
international regulations relevant to security.
- Serves as the principal security liaison between RAND and the
security organizations of its clients in the Departments of
Defense, Homeland Security, State, Justice, Treasury, and Commerce;
the Intelligence Community; U.S. ally defense organizations; and
other clients as needed.
- In concert with RAND senior leadership and research division
management, establishes the department's vision, strategy, and
execution priorities and leads department staff and activities to
execute this strategy.
- In partnership with RAND's leadership team, directs the
development of an effective strategy to assess and mitigate risk
(foreign and domestic), manage incidents, and safeguard the
organization and its ability to conduct all work.
- In partnership with RAND's research and IS leadership, ensures
that RAND's classified research capabilities stay at the leading
edge to enable RAND to always be ready to support the needs of its
government sponsors.
- Ensures risk management principles are incorporated into
Security by proactively assessing asset values/loss consequences,
threats, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures' effectiveness to
maximize efficiencies and contain security and safety related
costs.
- Develops relationships with executive-level officials in law
enforcement to include country-level and international security
agencies, intelligence agencies, and other relevant governmental
functions as well as private sector counterparts worldwide in
locations relevant to RAND's operations.
- Ensures compliance with laws and regulations related to
Security and classified functions including special security and
intelligence community policies and procedures.
- Keeps abreast of the regulatory environment and marketplace
changes and emerging security and computing technologies.
- Leads and manages security and classified computing resources,
staff, and facilities:
- Determines staffing needs, attracts, and hires staff from
diverse backgrounds.
- Guides the development of department staff, to include training
and other developmental activities, to ensure effective career
development and effective succession planning, in concert with IS
leadership.
- Leads the performance management process for the department
staff.
- Develops and oversees objectives, operating policies and
procedures, budget, strategic plans, and action plans for achieving
goals.
- Serves as the primary security contact with the directors of
RAND research units. Maintains familiarity with the research
agendas to provide proactive management and delivery of
capabilities and provides security and classified computing
expertise regarding their programs and projects.
- Provides security and classified computing technical support
for research proposals.
- Ensures the maintenance of facility accreditations as well as
joint and co-use agreements with applicable government
agencies.
- Continually monitors research computing needs and IT trends,
upgrading capabilities as merited to ensure sufficient storage and
processing capabilities and cutting-edge analytic
capabilities.
- Ensures all classified information systems and secure
communication systems remain authorized by the respective
government agency (classified network, collateral, SIPRNet, TS/SCI
and SAP/SAR) and operate in accordance with current government
regulations.
- Through continual adherence to standards, ensures perpetual
readiness for Command Cyber Readiness, DIA, DCSA, DISA, and other
government oversight inspections.
- Oversees RAND's interactions with DISA, DIA, DCSA, the military
departments, and other government agencies regarding the
authorization of classified operating capabilities.
- Acts as the focal point for administering SCI and SAP programs
for all government sponsors.
- Coordinates and implements the domestic and international
travel program to include prevention seminars, international
travel/safety awareness briefings, and security threat analysis to
ensure protection of all RAND associates.
- Creates and implements a robust security education program for
all RAND staff.
- Coordinates and implements the international travel safety
program to include prevention seminars, security and safety
awareness briefings, and security threat analysis.
- Maintains a comprehensive emergency response, business
continuity, and disaster recovery program to include plans,
exercises, incident response, and training. Qualifications Security
- In depth knowledge of special security regulations for a broad
range of clients in DoD, Air Force, Army, NSA, DHS, NSA, DIA, DTRA,
and the Intelligence Community.
- In depth knowledge of National Industrial Security Program
Operating Manual (NISPOM), Intelligence Community Directives
(ICDs), JSIG, and Security Executive Agent Directives (SEAD).
- Significant experience managing special security facilities and
providing associated computing and communications
capabilities.
- Established relationships with government security
counterparts.
- Experience in preparing for and managing incident response
regarding security and safety events.
- Experience in designing and conducting security education and
training programs (desirable).
- Familiarity with U.S. export control regulations. Information
Technology (IT)
- Broad knowledge of IT operations and information assurance,
familiarity with the latest computing capabilities available, and
sufficiently deep IT knowledge to manage an IT workforce.
Leadership/Executive
- Proven ability to lead the development of new teams and
organizations and to mentor and develop staff.
- Demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity,
and inclusion (DEI) including working with a variety of people of
diverse backgrounds and perspectives across all levels in a
collegial, collaborative, and intellectually challenging
environment.
- Ability to establish organizational strategies and
implementation priorities in partnership with key stakeholders
across an organization.
- A track record of taking the initiative to prevent or solve
problems and to seize new opportunities.
- Experience managing an organization with a reputation for
providing exceptional customer service.
- Proven ability to align resources and to achieve organizational
needs/goals.
- Experience in managing a budget and working to shift priorities
as changing circumstances require.
- Excellent judgment and decision making. Education Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required.
- An advanced degree in business, computer science, security or a
related field is a plus.
- American Society for Industrial Security Certified Protection
Professional (ASIS CPP) certification is a plus.
- Memberships in Industrial Security Working Group (ISWG) and
Contractor SAP Security Working Group(CSSWG) are a plus. Experience
- 10+ years of progressively responsible security, classified
support, and/or IT experience including at least 5 years in
management and direct experience in both security and IT-related
leadership roles with significant staff responsibility; 15 years of
experience preferred.
- Experience working with a highly analytical knowledge-based
workforce is preferred. Security Clearance Transferable current Top
Secret with SCI access clearance based on an SSBI. Location RAND
Offices in Santa Monica, CA and Arlington, VA are preferred
locations for this position; candidates working from the
Pittsburgh, PA office will also be considered.
- This position is office-based.
- Travel of approximately 25% within the U.S. is required. Salary
Range $197,100 - $315,200 RAND considers a variety of factors when
formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific
role and associated responsibilities; a candidate's work
experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal
equity.The salary range includes base pay plus RAND's sabbatic pay
(which provides additional compensation above base pay when
vacation is taken). In addition, RAND provides strong benefits
including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance,
savings plan, paid time-off and more.This position may be eligible
for additional compensation. Equal Opportunity Employer:
race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national
origin/disability/vet
Keywords: RAND, Santa Monica , Executive Director, Security & Classified Operations and Chief Security Officer, Executive , Santa Monica, California
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