Director, Cybersecurity Programs

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Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

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Aspen Digital

Aspen Digital is a nonpartisan technology and information-focused organization that brings together thinkers and doers to uncover new ideas and spark policies, processes, and procedures that empower communities and strengthen democracy. This future-focused Aspen Institute program inspires collaboration among diverse voices from industry, government, and civil society to ensure our interconnected world is accessible, safe, and inclusive – both online and off. Across its initiatives, Aspen Digital develops methods for elevating promising solutions and turning thought into networked impact. To learn more, visit aspendigital.org

Cybersecurity Program

The Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity program, founded in 2017, stands as the field’s leading convenor of high-level dialogues between the senior-most levels of industry, government, and civil society, helping to drive change on issues like diversity in the cybersecurity field, artificial intelligence, workforce, critical infrastructure security, international cyber norms and standards, and disinformation, among other efforts. Its work has helped lead to Fortune 100 hiring reforms, federal legislation, and spawned the respected Aspen Commission on Information Disorder, and its events regularly host Cabinet and sub-Cabinet leaders from across the US government, as well as executives from foreign partners and allies. Specific programs under this umbrella include the US Cybersecurity Group, the Global Cybersecurity Group, the Aspen Cyber Summit, as well as the program’s cyber workforce project, its efforts around cyber civil defense, and other regular public and private events throughout the year, ranging in size from intimate closed-door roundtables to large-scale public conferences.

About this role

The Director, Cybersecurity Programs will manage and grow a portfolio of multi-stakeholder convenings, projects, and relationships around cybersecurity policy, both domestically and globally, under the supervision of the Senior Director, Cybersecurity Programs.

The Director of Cybersecurity Programs will interact externally with key cross-sector stakeholders, partners, and funders, as well as collaborate closely with colleagues across Aspen Digital, and represent Aspen Digital’s cyber program internally and externally as requested. The position will require minimal quarterly travel nationally and internationally.

The salary range for this position is $155,000 to $175,000. This is a Washington, D.C., based position, and employees are expected to work in person at the office approximately two days a week.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Build, maintain, grow, and steward productive relationships with high level stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society, in furtherance of the program’s mission to drive informed, effective and equitable cyber public policy decision-making

• Solicit input from a broad range of stakeholders including institutional leaders, partner organizations, internal colleagues, and funders to inform priority cyber public policy matters and distribute information to key stakeholders

• Create agendas, curate themes, recruit, brief, and coordinate speakers from government, industry, academia, and civil society

• Help manage, facilitate, and lead multiple high level meetings and roundtables, especially the U.S. and Global Cyber Group meetings, and the annual Aspen Cyber Summit

• Substitute for the Senior Director and represent the Cybersecurity Program externally at conferences and industry events as requested

• Collaborate with the Senior Director and other leaders across Aspen Digital to develop high-quality programming, research, and tools that are responsive to the greatest needs in the field

• Assist in the program’s communications strategy to raise the public profile of the program, including the cultivation of media relationships and participation in thought leadership opportunities

• Identify and recruit new members of the Aspen Cyber Groups in agreement with the Senior Director

• Take on project management responsibilities, including execution, coordination, managing deadlines, overseeing work plans and event budgets, and other tasks as needed

• Help develop, engage, and steward existing and prospective funders from across the private sector and philanthropy

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• Have 10+ years of relevant experience in the cybersecurity and / or technology field, with a track record of success performing in demanding environments that require strategic planning and execution, stakeholder engagement, and leadership in a team context

• Have relevant subject matter knowledge and networks

• Excellent ability to build relationships with stakeholders and lead and manage client relations

• Extremely strong speaking, writing and editing skills, including a track record of effective communication that can engage audiences from public, private, and non-profit sectors

• Strong analytical skills, strategic thinking

• Excellent program management and execution skills to plan, organize, and follow through with a variety of internal and external constituencies

• Entrepreneurial acumen and drive, and respond to opportunities to strengthen and/or course correct program plan

• Ability to manage multiple tasks without losing attention to detail in a fast paced environment

• Ability to work with diverse audiences

• Extremely collaborative, friendly, curious, and with collegial spirit

• Enjoy working in a team context, with excellent interpersonal skills and a desire to learn

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

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