Syracuse University
Associate Director of Security
🇺🇸
Syracuse, NY
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$99K - $115K
💻
Cybersecurity
🗓️
April 23rd, 2026
FERPA
SIEM
Edtech.com's Summary
Syracuse University is hiring an Associate Director of Security to lead the university's Security Operations Center (SOC). The role involves providing daily operational leadership for security monitoring, incident detection, response, and security awareness initiatives, while managing SOC staff and continuously improving detection and response processes.
Highlights
- Lead operational activities of the SOC including security monitoring, threat detection, incident triage, and response.
- Make tactical decisions on security event classification, escalation, and response actions.
- Maintain and advance SOC procedures, playbooks, and workflows.
- Supervise two full-time SOC staff and oversee recruitment, training, evaluation, and professional development of student analysts.
- Manage the university’s security awareness and training programs, including phishing simulations and compliance tracking.
- Serve as incident commander for security incidents and coordinate response and communications.
- Report on SOC performance, threat trends, incident metrics, and operational risks to executive leadership.
- Require working knowledge of SIEM, IDS/IPS, EDR platforms, especially Microsoft security stack (Defender, Sentinel, Purview).
- Experience with incident response methodologies, security compliance frameworks like NIST 800-53, CIS Controls, FERPA, GLBA, PCI-DSS.
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Security, Computer Science, IT, or equivalent experience and 3+ years in security operations or incident response.
Associate Director of Security Full Description
Associate Director of Security
Posting Details
Job # | 042704
Department Code | 20703-6034
Department | IT Security
Job Title | Associate Director of Security
Location | Syracuse, NY
Campus | Syracuse, NY
Commitment to On-Campus Experience | Syracuse University is committed to delivering an exceptional student experience through vibrant, engaged campus communities. This position is based at the above campus location and requires regular in-person presence to support our students, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to our thriving academic environment. Syracuse University values the collaboration, mentorship, and spontaneous connections that happen when our community works together on campus. Remote work arrangements are limited in accordance with University policy.
Pay Range | $99,000 - $115,000
Pay Determination | Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.
Staff Level | S6
FLSA Status | Exempt
Hours | Standard University business hours
8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.
Job Type | Full-time
Unionized Position Code | Not Applicable
Job Description
The Associate Director serves as the operational leader for Syracuse University’s Security Operations Center (SOC), reporting directly to the Chief Information Security Officer. This role provides day-to-day leadership for security monitoring, incident detection and response, and security awareness initiatives, combining technical security expertise with operational leadership to ensure the SOC functions effectively as the university’s front-line defense against cyber threats.
The Associate Director makes tactical decisions regarding security event classification, escalation, and response actions while maintaining and advancing SOC operating procedures, playbooks, and runbooks and workflows. The role tracks performance metrics and drives continual improvements in detection capabilities and response workflows, while maintaining situational awareness of the university’s security posture and emerging threats.
The position directs two full-time SOC staff members and leads recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, evaluation, and professional development of student SOC analysts.
Education and Experience | Bachelor’s degree in information security, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent professional experience. Three (3+) plus years of experience in information security operations, security monitoring, or incident response. Demonstrated experience leading security operations activities or coordinating team efforts. Experience with security awareness training and phishing simulation platforms. Experience in higher education or similarly complex IT environment preferred. Experience mentoring or training junior staff members.
Skills and Knowledge | Working knowledge of security monitoring tools including SIEM, IDS/IPS, and EDR platforms, especially from the Microsoft security stack (Defender, Sentinel, Purview). Understanding of incident response methodologies and common attack vectors. Familiarity with compliance frameworks relevant to higher education (NIST 800-53, CIS Controls, FERPA, GLBA, PCI-DSS). Strong decision-making skills with ability to assess and respond to security events independently. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain technical security concepts to non-technical audiences. Working knowledge of AI-powered tools and their potential to streamline and improve business processes. Ability to identify opportunities where AI solutions can reduce manual effort and support data-driven decision-making. Familiarity with AI assistants (such as Anthropic’s Claude, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar tools) and a willingness to apply them in functional analysis and documentation activities. Ability to work collaboratively across technical and non-technical teams. Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate team activities. Commitment to continuous learning in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity field.
Responsibilities | SOC Operations Leadership Provide operational leadership and accountability for all SOC activities including security monitoring, threat detection, incident triage, and initial response. Make tactical decisions regarding security event classification, escalation, and response actions to ensure timely and effective incident management. Establish, govern, and continuously advance SOC operating procedures, playbooks, and runbooks to support consistent, scalable, and resilient operations. Serve as the institutional lead for SOC operations, acting as the primary liaison for operational security matters across IT and campus stakeholders. Define, track, and report key SOC performance metrics and drive continuous improvement of detection capabilities, response effectiveness, and operational maturity.
Team Coordination and Development Provide direct supervision of two full-time SOC staff members, assigning work, setting priorities, and ensuring operational coverage. Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and professional development of student security analysts to build a scalable security operations talent pipeline. Cultivate a high-performing, collaborative team culture that promotes accountability, knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
Security Awareness and Training Programs Provide operational leadership for the university’s security awareness and training program, including content governance, deployment, compliance tracking, and executive reporting. Ensure the design, execute, and assess phishing simulation campaigns to measure user risk exposure and drive measurable improvements in security behavior. Define and report key program metrics, including training completion, phishing susceptibility trends, and overall risk reduction indicators. Collaborate with Communications, HR, IT, and campus stakeholders to align security awareness initiatives with institutional priorities and evolving threat patterns.
Incident Management and Response Serve as incident commander for routine and moderate security incidents, coordinating response activities, technical and stakeholder communications, and ensuring timely containment and resolution. Assess incident severity and escalate significant events to the CISO with clear situational context, risk impact analysis, and recommended response actions. Lead documentation of incident response activities, facilitate post-incident reviews, and drive implementation of lessons learned to strengthen institutional resilience and response readiness.
Strategic Support and Reporting Advise and provide operational perspective to support the CISO¿s strategic planning, policy development, risk management, and compliance initiatives. Develop and deliver regular executive-level reporting on SOC performance, threat trends, incident metrics, and operational risk indicators. Contribute to security program planning, resource forecasting, and budget discussions to align operational capacity with institutional risk. Serve as the operational representative for security operations in cross-functional IT initiatives and university governance committees.
Physical Requirements | *
Tools/Equipment | *
Application Instructions | In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University | Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About the Syracuse area | Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement | Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans | Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community | Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
Quick Link | https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/112737
Job Posting Date | 04/22/2026
Application Deadline |
Full Consideration By |
Job Category | Staff
Message to Applicants |
Department Code | 20703-6034
Department | IT Security
Job Title | Associate Director of Security
Location | Syracuse, NY
Campus | Syracuse, NY
Commitment to On-Campus Experience | Syracuse University is committed to delivering an exceptional student experience through vibrant, engaged campus communities. This position is based at the above campus location and requires regular in-person presence to support our students, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to our thriving academic environment. Syracuse University values the collaboration, mentorship, and spontaneous connections that happen when our community works together on campus. Remote work arrangements are limited in accordance with University policy.
Pay Range | $99,000 - $115,000
Pay Determination | Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.
Staff Level | S6
FLSA Status | Exempt
Hours | Standard University business hours
8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.
Job Type | Full-time
Unionized Position Code | Not Applicable
Job Description
The Associate Director serves as the operational leader for Syracuse University’s Security Operations Center (SOC), reporting directly to the Chief Information Security Officer. This role provides day-to-day leadership for security monitoring, incident detection and response, and security awareness initiatives, combining technical security expertise with operational leadership to ensure the SOC functions effectively as the university’s front-line defense against cyber threats.
The Associate Director makes tactical decisions regarding security event classification, escalation, and response actions while maintaining and advancing SOC operating procedures, playbooks, and runbooks and workflows. The role tracks performance metrics and drives continual improvements in detection capabilities and response workflows, while maintaining situational awareness of the university’s security posture and emerging threats.
The position directs two full-time SOC staff members and leads recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, evaluation, and professional development of student SOC analysts.
Education and Experience | Bachelor’s degree in information security, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent professional experience. Three (3+) plus years of experience in information security operations, security monitoring, or incident response. Demonstrated experience leading security operations activities or coordinating team efforts. Experience with security awareness training and phishing simulation platforms. Experience in higher education or similarly complex IT environment preferred. Experience mentoring or training junior staff members.
Skills and Knowledge | Working knowledge of security monitoring tools including SIEM, IDS/IPS, and EDR platforms, especially from the Microsoft security stack (Defender, Sentinel, Purview). Understanding of incident response methodologies and common attack vectors. Familiarity with compliance frameworks relevant to higher education (NIST 800-53, CIS Controls, FERPA, GLBA, PCI-DSS). Strong decision-making skills with ability to assess and respond to security events independently. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain technical security concepts to non-technical audiences. Working knowledge of AI-powered tools and their potential to streamline and improve business processes. Ability to identify opportunities where AI solutions can reduce manual effort and support data-driven decision-making. Familiarity with AI assistants (such as Anthropic’s Claude, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar tools) and a willingness to apply them in functional analysis and documentation activities. Ability to work collaboratively across technical and non-technical teams. Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate team activities. Commitment to continuous learning in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity field.
Responsibilities | SOC Operations Leadership Provide operational leadership and accountability for all SOC activities including security monitoring, threat detection, incident triage, and initial response. Make tactical decisions regarding security event classification, escalation, and response actions to ensure timely and effective incident management. Establish, govern, and continuously advance SOC operating procedures, playbooks, and runbooks to support consistent, scalable, and resilient operations. Serve as the institutional lead for SOC operations, acting as the primary liaison for operational security matters across IT and campus stakeholders. Define, track, and report key SOC performance metrics and drive continuous improvement of detection capabilities, response effectiveness, and operational maturity.
Team Coordination and Development Provide direct supervision of two full-time SOC staff members, assigning work, setting priorities, and ensuring operational coverage. Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and professional development of student security analysts to build a scalable security operations talent pipeline. Cultivate a high-performing, collaborative team culture that promotes accountability, knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
Security Awareness and Training Programs Provide operational leadership for the university’s security awareness and training program, including content governance, deployment, compliance tracking, and executive reporting. Ensure the design, execute, and assess phishing simulation campaigns to measure user risk exposure and drive measurable improvements in security behavior. Define and report key program metrics, including training completion, phishing susceptibility trends, and overall risk reduction indicators. Collaborate with Communications, HR, IT, and campus stakeholders to align security awareness initiatives with institutional priorities and evolving threat patterns.
Incident Management and Response Serve as incident commander for routine and moderate security incidents, coordinating response activities, technical and stakeholder communications, and ensuring timely containment and resolution. Assess incident severity and escalate significant events to the CISO with clear situational context, risk impact analysis, and recommended response actions. Lead documentation of incident response activities, facilitate post-incident reviews, and drive implementation of lessons learned to strengthen institutional resilience and response readiness.
Strategic Support and Reporting Advise and provide operational perspective to support the CISO¿s strategic planning, policy development, risk management, and compliance initiatives. Develop and deliver regular executive-level reporting on SOC performance, threat trends, incident metrics, and operational risk indicators. Contribute to security program planning, resource forecasting, and budget discussions to align operational capacity with institutional risk. Serve as the operational representative for security operations in cross-functional IT initiatives and university governance committees.
Physical Requirements | *
Tools/Equipment | *
Application Instructions | In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University | Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About the Syracuse area | Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement | Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans | Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community | Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
Quick Link | https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/112737
Job Posting Date | 04/22/2026
Application Deadline |
Full Consideration By |
Job Category | Staff
Message to Applicants |
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * How did you first find out about this position?
- sujobopps.com (Syracuse University Online Employment website)
- Syracuse University HR Recruiter
- Virtual Career Fair (via NYS Department of Labor)
- SUNY EOC (Equal Opportunity Center)
- Women’s Opportunity Center
- Jubilee Homes
- Syracuse Northeast Community Center
- Interfaith Works
- JobPlus
- Syracuse.com
- Chronicle of Higher Education
- HigherEdJobs.com
- HERC (HERC Higher Ed Recruitment Consortium)
- InsideHigherEd.com
- Indeed.com
- DiverseEducation.com (Diverse Issues in Higher Education website)
- LinkedIn Job Posting
- Job Fair
- Search Firm
- Referred by an SU Employee
- Other
- If "other", please describe how you first found out about this position.
(Open Ended Question)
621 Skytop Road | Suite 1001 | Syracuse, NY 13244 – 5300 | 315.443.4042
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© 2017 - Syracuse University, All Rights Reserved. | Accessibility | Privacy | Accreditation | syr.edu
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