Chief Information Security Officer

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are: 

Information Technology Services (ITS) works in partnership with the campus community to provide leadership and assistance in information technology matters to achieve their goals and objectives. We are a highly service-oriented organization that provides robust, reliable, adaptable, and innovative technological resources through which the College community is empowered to accomplish the College’s mission and strategic plan.

The opportunity: 

Reporting to the Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO), the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a member of the Information Technology Services (ITS) leadership team and is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing Swarthmore College's comprehensive information security program. The CISO plays a critical role in protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of College information assets across all technology platforms, including cloud and SaaS environments, in alignment with the College’s academic mission and culture.  

The CISO provides strategic leadership and direction in identifying, evaluating, and mitigating information security risks, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, and fostering a security-aware culture across the College community. This position exercises considerable influence over IT projects and supervises information security staff, providing expert services and support to the entire community.  

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive information security program aligned with the College's strategic goals and objectives.
• Develop and maintain information security policies, standards, and procedures to ensure the protection of College information assets.
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight for security initiatives, projects, and operations.
• Monitor the evolving threat landscape and proactively adapt security strategies to address new and emerging threats.
• Collaborate with ITS leadership and campus stakeholders to integrate security into IT planning and operations.  

Risk Management and Compliance

• Conduct regular risk assessments and vulnerability analyses to identify and evaluate security risks and vulnerabilities.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies and controls to protect College information assets.
• Ensure compliance with relevant federal and state regulations, including GLBA, FERPA, and GDPR, as applicable.
• Oversee internal and external security audits and assessments.
• Manage the College's incident response plan and coordinate the response to security incidents and breaches.  

Security Operations and Technology

• Manage information security for cloud and SaaS environments, network security infrastructure, and endpoint security.
• Oversee the deployment, operation, and maintenance of security technologies, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, endpoint protection, and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.
• Monitor security systems and logs to detect and respond to security incidents.
• Manage vulnerability scanning and penetration testing activities.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to system and network administrators on security best practices.  

Security Awareness and Training

• Develop and implement security awareness and training programs to educate the College community on information security best practices.
• Promote a culture of security awareness and responsibility across the College.
• Communicate security policies and procedures to faculty, staff, and students.  

Leadership and Collaboration

• Attract, develop, supervise, and retain a high-performing information security team.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to security staff.
• Foster strong relationships with ITS teams, functional administrative offices, and campus stakeholders.
• Participate in College committees and working groups related to information security and data governance. 

Who you are: 

• Correlate and analyze security-related information from various sources, including incident events, risk assessments, system logs, and forensic data.
• Maintain a strong understanding of malware detection and propagation techniques, defenses against phishing and other email-borne threats, web application security, and system hardening.
• Possess a solid understanding of supported hardware and software platforms, applications, and networking infrastructure.  
• Maintain a working knowledge of open-source and vendor security solutions.
• Manage multiple projects effectively, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.  
• Adhere to a high standard of professional ethics and integrity, consistent with Swarthmore College's values and policies.  
• Be available to work outside of regular business hours, including weekends and holidays, as needed.

What you bring: 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.  
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in information security, with demonstrated leadership responsibilities.
• Experience in developing and implementing information security programs in a higher education or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of information security principles, practices, and technologies.
• Experience with cloud security, network security, and endpoint security.
• Knowledge of relevant security frameworks and standards, such as NIST 800-171, ISO 27001, and CIS.
• Familiarity with relevant regulations, including GLBA, FERPA, and GDPR.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred.
• Relevant certifications, such as CISSP, CISM, or CISA, are highly desirable.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by June 23, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.