The Agency Information Security Officer will provide consultative, professional advice and expertise about security issues to agency and executive management as the agency subject matter expert on information security matters. The position will work with agencies and IT divisions to identify, assess, prevent, protect, and mitigate information security risks, threats, and vulnerabilities to safeguard business operations. This individual will serve as a central point of contact on security related matters for agencies to assist in their strategic planning, operational needs, incident response operations, and regulatory compliance efforts.
*Potential for 90% remote, 10% onsite in Maine*
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with agencies and IT to strengthen the state's security posture through continuous assessment, proactive security measures, and alignment of security initiatives with business goals.
- Exercise independent judgment on critical security matters, including risk assessments, resource allocation, and policy implementation, ensuring the agency’s operations and inter-agency relationships are secure and compliant with state and federal regulations.
- Work closely with sections of the Information Security Office to implement and support the State of Maine Information Security Program Plan, fostering cross-functional collaboration to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
- Engage with stakeholders across agencies to integrate security strategies into business objectives, ensuring that security operations and initiatives directly support the agency’s missions, goals, and regulatory compliance needs.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the escalation of cybersecurity issues, ensuring that concerns are promptly addressed and resolved in a timely, coordinated, and efficient manner to minimize risk and maintain business continuity.
- Advise on Security Policies & Standards – Develop, review, and enforce security policies, standards, and best practices to ensure agency compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Risk Assessment & Management – Conduct security risk assessments, analyze findings, and recommend remediation strategies to mitigate threats and vulnerabilities.
- Incident Management & Response – Assist with security incident investigations, coordinate response efforts, and provide guidance on incident containment, remediation, and reporting.
- Third-Party Risk Management – Evaluate vendor and third-party security controls to ensure compliance with state security requirements and industry standards.
- Audit & Compliance Support – Support internal and external security audits by providing necessary documentation and guidance to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
- Emerging Threat & Technology Assessment – Stay informed on evolving cybersecurity threats, technologies, and best practices, and provide recommendations for improving agency defenses.
- Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery – Collaborate with agencies to develop and test business continuity and disaster recovery plans to ensure resilience in the event of a security incident or disruption.
WHAT MAKES THIS JOB UNIQUE?
- Make a Difference: The scope of this position impacts the trajectory of application security in the State of Maine, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of critical systems.
- Show Your Strength: A chance to apply your expertise in application security and demonstrate your capabilities.
- Experience in State Government: Opportunity to work within a large IT enterprise supporting critical State applications.
- Selfless Service: Play a pivotal role in safeguarding the State’s critical systems, contributing to the public good by protecting citizens' data and ensuring the secure operation of essential government services.
What you can expect:
- Immersion in rapidly evolving issues of state government and a fast-moving organization full of opportunity.
- Collaboration with talented peers and exposure to creative problem-solving approaches.
- Opportunities to tackle unique and complex projects in application security.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Self-motivated leader with 5 to 7 years of experience in a leadership role, information security, relationship management, and cross-functional goal achievement;
- Experience with regulatory compliance & policy implementation
- Experience in Incident response & threat mitigation
- Bachelor’s degree in information technology or related field. Four years of direct experience with information security consultancy may be used in lieu of a degree;
- Expertise working with Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations as established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
- Ability to pass required background checks; and
- While not mandatory, experience with support functions—such as consolidated data centers, shared print facilities, and disaster recovery sites—as they relate to the regulatory compliance requirements for federally protected data types is preferred.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Proactive: Uses time effectively and makes sound decisions independently;
- Collaborative: Builds coalitions among supported agencies for efficient information security program management;
- Expertise: Subject matter expertise or the capacity to become an expert in the role's essential functions; and
- Versatility: Dynamic individual capable of balancing information security, agency business functions, and statewide risk.