Information Security Officer

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The University of Southern California (USC) is advancing its cybersecurity posture with a renewed focus on resilience, cyber risk management, and threat-informed defense. As a world‑class research institution, USC is building a culture of security that supports its academic and research mission in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

This role sits within a newly restructured cybersecurity organization that is leading this transformation. You’ll join a team focused on scalable, proactive defense strategies, incident preparedness, and operational excellence—working alongside experts who are deeply committed to service, innovation, and impact.

If you’re driven by purpose, thrive in complexity, and want to help shape the future of cybersecurity at a leading university, we invite you to bring your leadership to the table.

As the Information Security Officer (ITS) you will be an integral member of the cybersecurity department while also collaborating with stakeholders across the university ecosystem, and reporting to the ISO Manager. This is a full‑time exempt position, eligible for all of USC’s fantastic benefits and perks. This opportunity is remote.

The Information Security Officer (ITS) coordinates with university departments, schools, and units to capture and enforce cybersecurity requirements and support resiliency efforts. You will facilitate a unified approach to cybersecurity safety and compliance, participate in the development and delivery of training programs, maintain relationships between the department, schools, units, and central cybersecurity leadership, and ensure leading data security practices are implemented across the university, driving awareness and completion of cyber initiatives.

Information Security Officer (ITS) will:

• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the department, school, and/or unit cybersecurity standards and procedures. Support resiliency efforts in collaboration with university departments, schools, and units to support response and recovery from cyber‑related events.
• Participate in the setup and hardening of departmental information systems to protect against unauthorized access or attacks. Be responsible for reviews of control effectiveness and perform regular risk assessments.
• Assist in emergency procedures, in conjunction with relevant partners and existing cyber emergency plans, for handling security incidents, data breaches, and other critical situations. Assist in responding to security events, supporting incident response and contributing to investigations as required.
• Contribute to training and awareness programs for department, school/unit staff to foster understanding and adherence to cybersecurity protocols. Maintain professional currency (e.g., all relevant cybersecurity laws, regulations, policies).
• Encourage a workplace culture where all employees are valued, respect others, and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words, and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

Great candidates for the position of Information Security Officer (ITS) will meet the following qualifications:

• 4 years of experience in IT, cybersecurity, and leadership roles.
• A bachelor’s degree or combined experience and education as a substitute for minimum education.
• Comprehensive understanding of the cybersecurity landscape (e.g., trends, risks, best practices for risk management).
• Proficiency in information technology infrastructure and various cybersecurity tools and programs.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate security matters to different audiences.
• Sound analytical and problem‑solving skills with an ability to make quick decisions in emergency situations.
• Experience with operational technology environments and security requirements to secure OT environments.
• Experience with security audits and compliance with industry security standards and regulations.
• Strong ethical standards and a solid understanding of privacy laws, confirming confidential information will be handled with integrity.
• Relevant professional certifications or working toward attainment (e.g., GCIH/GSEC, CISM,…