Senior Director, National Cybersecurity Centers

Whatcom Community College welcomes applications for the Senior Director of the National Cybersecurity Centers. This position will lead, develop and implement the goals and objectives of two national centers hosted at Whatcom Community College (WCC): the National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center (NCyTE) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the CAE Candidates National Center (CCNC) funded by the National Security Agency (NSA).   

NCyTE is an Advance Technological Education National Science Foundation funded center.   NCyTE’s mission is to advance cybersecurity education in the U.S. by investing in innovation, resources, professional development and tools to support faculty, community colleges and the workforce pipeline of tomorrow. It is focused on building a comprehensive network of educational institutions, business and government agencies dedicated to developing and maintaining the cybersecurity workforce.

The CCNC program exists to guide university and college administrators and faculty through program development and ultimately the rigorous application process to be designated as Centers of Academic Excellence (CAEs) in cybersecurity. 

Reporting to the Center’s executive director, this position will have overall responsibility for directing the work of NCyTE/CCNC staff and Co-PIs in achieving all grant deliverables, implementing sub-award contracts, meeting federal grant reporting requirements, ensuring effective budget management, project dissemination and related activities.   This work is national in scope and includes collaboration with a variety of government agencies, educational institutions and industry across the nation, with a focus on community colleges.   This position will also collaborate closely with the director of the WCC-based Center of Excellence for Cybersecurity (CoECyber) for Washington State to leverage resources, contacts and Center efforts. 

The NCyTE/CCNC Senior Director will:

• Develop knowledge of, oversee and implement goals, objectives and projects associated with the national centers and related grants.
• Work in close collaboration and effectively with associated personnel from the NSA and NSF, with National Visiting Committee members, CoE director and WCC leadership to ensure smooth and effective Center operations.
• Ideate and lead the development and implementation of Center initiatives; ensure expenditures are appropriate and effective documentation and dissemination of outcomes.
• Present at and contribute to national events and initiatives around addressing the national cybersecurity workforce gap.
• Identify needs and opportunities for collaboration and develop effective partnerships for achieving grant outcomes.
• Contribute collaboratively to strategizing and implementing new programs and initiatives towards meeting Center objectives, and to problem solving and resolving challenges within existing programs.
• Lead new grant ideation and concept development.
• Identify effective contributors to initiatives and key positions in support of the Centers and center projects.
• Lead Center administration and ensure alignment of project mission, programs and policies. Ensure effective grant support operations and processes. Ensure accurate tracking, reporting and dissemination of data and information on an ongoing basis.
• Supervise NCyTE and CCNC staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in IT, cybersecurity, or a related field with knowledge of these industries.
• Five years’ administrative experience leading federal grants or working in a senior position in the federal government, academia or industry.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in IT, cybersecurity, or a related field with knowledge of these industries.
• Curriculum development experience.
• Experience teaching and working in higher education.
• Experience leading complex projects, budgets, personnel, teams and working with distributed contractors.
• Experience in contract development and management.

Specific Position Requirements:

• Ability to travel and work over weekends as project requires.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle for reimbursable travel.
• Ability to work some evenings and early mornings.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilitities:

• Excellent leadership, organizational and communication skills (both oral and written).
• Ability to present information clearly and logically in a public setting and in reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with leaders at senior levels across academia, government and industry nationwide.
• Ability to develop realistic solutions to problems, work under and meet aggressive deadlines and to juggle multiple significant and complex priorities.

Salary and Appointment:

• This is a twelve-month, full-time, grant funded Administrative/Exempt position with likely extension based on continuation of grant funding. Exempt from Washington State civil service law with an annual salary based upon a range of $108,000.00 to $112,000.00.

Benefit Package:

• The position comes with a full benefit package, including health, dental, life, long-term disability insurance and a retirement plan. 
• Accrues 8 hours per month of sick leave and 14.67 hours per month vacation leave.

• *Additionally, as a Washington State, public higher education institution, WCC offers the following:

• Whatcom Community College is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). If you work for the College full time, have had Direct Loans and are on an eligible repayment plan, you are eligible to apply.
• Full-time employees are eligible to apply and participate in the Whatcom Community College Employee Tuition Program, which provides a tuition waiver for available and eligible WCC courses.
• Full-time employees may qualify for Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefit.

Start Date:

• As soon as can be arranged with successful candidate.

Application Due Date:

• For guaranteed consideration, application packets should be received by Friday, April 28th 2023 at 5:00 pm. Position open until filled.

A completed application consists of an online application and:

• Letter of application detailing relevant experience and how the applicant is prepared to meet the duties of the position.

• Diversity statement that demonstrates a commitment to pluralism and the ability to support a diverse workplace and educational environment.

• Current resume.

• Unofficial transcripts for all earned degrees; official transcripts are required prior to the official start date.

• List of five recent professional references with contact information.