Head of Security

Position Summary:

Join a team focused on the success of our customers, the success of our communities, and the success of each other. Farm Credit East (FCE) is the leading provider of loans and farm advisory services to farm, forest product, fishing, and other agricultural business owners across the northeast with $11.7 billion in total loan volume and $29 million in annual financial services revenue from 18,000 customers across our 8-state territory. We are One Team Working Together with a focus on our five pillars: Outstanding Customer and Employee Experience, Quality Growth, Operational Excellence, Commitment to our Communities, and Protecting Customer Information. 

The Head of Security at FCE is a responsible forleading the teams and overseeing the strategy, operations, and Security of the company's technology infrastructure, systems, and services as well as Security. This senior leadership role ensures the efficient and reliable operation of all Security related to Corporate and Enterprise Applications, IT infrastructure, data centers, networks, cloud services, IaaS/PaaS/SaaS and related technologies to support the business. Security focus is to protect company data and IP, reports into the Chief Information Officer.

The value drivers for this role are as follows:

• Strategic Leadership: Guiding the vision and roadmap for security.
• Operational Excellence: Ensuring reliable and efficient security operations.
• Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating security risks.
• Compliance: Adhering to Farm Credit Association (FCA) laws and FCA industry standards.
• Team Leadership: Building and leading a high-performing security team.
• Security Integration: Embedding security in all aspects of the business.
• Incident Response: Promptly addressing security breaches.
• Emerging Threats: Staying ahead of new security challenges.
• Collaboration: Working with stakeholders to align security with business goals.
• Innovation: Driving process improvements and adopting new Security and Cyber technologies.
• Budget Management: Efficiently managing security budgets and resources.
• External Representation: Advocating for the company's security interests.

Come join a collaborative, customer-focused team at Farm Credit East!

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Managed Service Provider (MSP) Collaboration: Manage the direction and vision of the internal MSP, ensuring alignment with other associations and holding the MSP accountable for delivering on Information Security and Cyber Security SLAs.

• Strategic Vision and Roadmap: Develop and execute the strategic vision and roadmap for Information, Cyber Security, Cyber Defence platforms, and technology operations to meet current and future business needs.

• Security Policies and Procedures: Monitor security policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures covering areas such as access control, risk management, incident response, business continuity, and disaster recovery.

• Security and Privacy Team: Build and lead a high-performing security and privacy team, providing strategic direction, management, coaching, and professional development opportunities.

• Security Integration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate security and privacy controls into the design, development, and deployment of new products, services, and systems.

• Emerging Threats and Best Practices: Stay current on emerging security threats, attack vectors, and industry best practices; implement defensive technologies and processes to mitigate risks.

• Risk Assessments and Audits: Conduct risk assessments, security audits, and penetration testing; identify and resolve potential vulnerabilities across applications, networks, servers, databases, and endpoints.

• Security Awareness and Training: Develop and manage an information security awareness and training program to educate employees on security risks and best practices.

• Incident Response: Oversee the monitoring of security systems and incident response processes to promptly detect, investigate, and resolve potential security breaches or incidents.

• Compliance: Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards related to data protection, privacy, and information security (e.g., NIST, PCI DSS, NIS2).

• External Representation: Represent the company's security and privacy interests by participating in external committees, working groups, and advisory boards.

• Operational Excellence: Manage service level agreements and ensure operational excellence with metrics for performance, reliability, capacity planning, and cost optimization.

• Business Alignment: Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements and align technology capabilities to meet business objectives.

• Process Improvements and Automation: Drive operational efficiencies through process improvements, automation, tooling, and adoption of modern Security infrastructure and cloud technologies.

• Budget and Resource Management: Develop and manage annual technology infrastructure budgets, forecasts, and resource planning.

• Reporting: Prepare and deliver security risk reports, metrics, and recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.

Job Qualifications and Requirements:

• This position requires Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Security, or related field. Advanced degree preferred or equivalent experience
• 15+ years of progressive experience in Security, technology and infrastructure
• Proven Track record building out environments and high performing teams that deliver a sound and secure place for all technology needs across all business lines and functions.
• Proven expertise in enterprise infrastructure technologies, such as data centers, networks, cloud services, SaaS platforms and cyber security. Should possess Certs; (CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CISA)
• Strong leadership abilities with exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Expertise in IT service management frameworks (ITIL, etc.) and driving operational excellence
• Excellent strategic planning, financial management, and budgeting skills
• Knowledge of IT governance models, security frameworks, and regulatory compliance standards
• Experience leading diverse, cross-functional, and globally distributed teams in a matrix organization
• Deep technical knowledge in areas such as security controls, cryptography, network security, cloud security, application security, Ethical Hacking, Social Engineering & Digital Forensic Science.
• Proven ability to build, mentor and lead high-performing security teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to convey complex security concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Knowledge of relevant laws/regulations and industry security/privacy standards and frameworks.
• Experience managing security programs and projects within large, complex organizations.
• We offer hybrid work options after three months of employment with Farm Credit East. After three months candidate is expected to be in the office on either a partial week, weekly or every other week.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $170,000 - $260,000 commensurate with experience. 

• Short Term Incentive to reward business results  

• Retirement Contributions: 

  • 401(k) match up to 6% of salary; or for those unable to take full advantage of the 401(k) match, verified student loan payments may qualify for an employer match in your 401(k) up to 6% of salary 

  • Defined Contribution retirement plan funded at 2-9% of salary depending on years of service 

• Time Off: 

  • 15-25 days of vacation leave per year, depending on years of service 

  • 12 days of holiday leave per year 

  • 7.5 days of sick leave in your first year, followed by 12 days of sick leave per year thereafter; unlimited rollover of unused sick leave year to year 

• Health and Insurance: 

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, including preventive care and wellness programs to support your overall health and well-being 

  • Health Savings Account 

  • Life insurance at 2x base pay 

  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance at 2x base pay 

  • Long-term disability insurance at 2/3 base pay 

• Additional Benefits:  

  • Tuition reimbursement 

  • Continuing education and training 

  • Employee Assistance Program offering a wide variety of tools and resources 

Farm Credit East is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. It is our goal to make employment decisions that further the principle of equal employment opportunity by utilizing objective standards based upon an individual's qualifications for a specific job opening. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), if you have a disability and would like a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a position with Farm Credit East, please call 1-800-562-2235 or e-mail FarmCreditCareers@farmcrediteast.com.