VP, Chief Information Security Officer

Discovery Education is seeking an experienced and strategic VP, Chief Information Security Officer to lead the continued maturation, implementation, and continuous improvement of our enterprise-wide information security and compliance programs. The person in this role will be responsible for protecting our corporate systems, customer-facing products, data assets, and brand reputation in an increasingly complex global environment.
The ideal candidate will bring a balanced blend of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and business acumen, ensuring security is both a foundation of trust and an enabler of innovation at Discovery Education.
Hiring Manager: Travis Barrs
In This Role You Will:
Security Strategy & Governance
• Develop and execute a comprehensive information security strategy aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements.
• Establish governance frameworks and policies to ensure consistent and effective security practices.
Enterprise & Product Security
• Oversee IT security operations, including network security, endpoint protection, identity and access management, and disaster recovery.
• Integrate security principles across the product development lifecycle, including secure coding, vulnerability management, and incident response.
Risk & Compliance Management
• Lead programs to achieve and maintain compliance with ISO 27001, SOC 2, FERPA, COPPA, GDPR, and other relevant standards.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies across the organization.
Vendor & Third-Party Management
• Oversee third-party risk assessments and ensure vendors meet security requirements.
• Collaborate with Legal, IT, and Business Systems teams to manage vendor relationships.
Incident Response & Crisis Management
• Lead proactive incident response planning and real-time management of security events.
• Develop and maintain crisis communication protocols.
Data Privacy & Protection
• Partner with Legal, Product, Engineering, and Data teams to uphold global data privacy standards.
• Implement governance practices for data protection.
Security Awareness & Education
• Promote a strong security culture through training, simulations, and executive tabletop exercises.
Leadership & Collaboration
• Lead and develop a high-performing security team.
• Partner with IT, Engineering, Legal, and Product Management to embed security into business operations.
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
• Respond to customer security inquiries and support audits and contract reviews.
• Provide clear, actionable updates to executives and board-level stakeholders
Core Competencies for Success:
• Strategic Mindset
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Manages Complexity
• Builds Effective Teams
• Communicates Effectively
• Instills Trust
• Tech Savvy
Credentials and Experience:
• 10+ years of experience in information security leadership roles.
• Proven expertise in cloud-native environments (AWS preferred), SaaS security, and modern software development.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks relevant to the education and technology sectors.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical issues into business impacts.
• Experience leading audits and certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or related field; advanced degree or certifications (CISSP, CISM, CISA) preferred.
• Legal right to work in the United States
• Experience in K-12, EdTech, SaaS, or regulated industries.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Security Stack (Defender, Sentinel) and Hyperproof or similar compliance tools.
• Knowledge of AI-related security threats and mitigation strategies.
• M&A analysis experience.
• High integrity, ownership, and accountability.
This role will sit in our Charlotte HQs with a hybrid work schedule.


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At Discovery Education, we are fulfilling our mission of preparing learners for tomorrow by creating innovative classrooms connected to today's world.
Serving more than 4.5 million educators and 45 million students, available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the UK, and more than 140 countries around the globe; we are on a journey to transform teaching and learning though innovative partnerships with school districts, states, ministries of education, and other like-minded organizations.
We have built an award-winning and highly reputable organization because of talented and driven people who work together to accelerate student achievement by tapping into students' natural curiosity and desire to learn by capturing their minds and imagination through the fascination of Discovery.
Why Join Discovery Education?
Discovery Education believes empowering each team member is vital to cultivating high performing, highly engaged teams. Being a part of our team means we partner together to achieve mutual goals. To this end, Discovery Education offers a robust and comprehensive insurance package. You can find a complete listing on our Career Page.
Along with traditional insurance offerings, our inclusive offerings center around:

• Career Development Ownership - Be the driver of your success!
• Continuing Education AND Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Mentorship program and collaboration with veteran leaders
• Constant opportunities for cross-functional training and skill building
• Uncapped career growth
Team Member Wellness – When you feel great, you do great work!

• Leave for life’s moments including 7 recognized holidays
• Take PTO without the vacation guilt
• Up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Annual Winter Holiday Break (typically the last week of December)
This opportunity is perfect for people interested in joining a high-performing, collaborative team, who enjoy a dynamic industry, and are excited about high-impact, project-based work.
Inspired? We would love the opportunity to review your candidacy! Select the blue “Apply Now” button at the bottom left of the screen to begin your application.
Discovery Education is an equal opportunity employer. Discovery Education is committed to being an employer of choice, not just a good place to work, but a great and inclusive place to work. To that end, we strive to recruit and maintain a workforce that meaningfully represents the communities we serve. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, protected veteran status or disabled status, or genetic information.