Deputy Director of IT Risk and Compliance

About the Role

The Deputy Director of IT Risk & Compliance Management provides strategic and operational leadership over enterprise technology risk, compliance, and governance functions across the MBTA. The role safeguards information assets by operationalizing security and privacy control frameworks, orchestrating supply chain and vendor risk diligence, and translating risk posture between executive-level dashboards and actionable remediation plans. The Deputy Director fosters a high-performance culture of security awareness, drives policy governance, and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on emerging risks spanning legacy, cloud, DevOps, and Operational technology environments.

Responsibilities

• Direct the risk management lifecycle—identification, assessment, response, monitoring—for IT and OT systems, ensuring alignment with NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, CIS, and applicable privacy mandates (e.g., MA 201 CMR 17.00, GDPR, CCPA).
• Maintain an authoritative inventory (Risk Register) of business, technology, regulatory, contractual, and organizational security related risks; oversee continuous control testing and issue management.
• Design and run a robust Supply-Chain Risk Management (SCRM) program, including third-party onboarding, due-diligence assessments (SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, CMMC), and ongoing performance monitoring.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Legal to embed security clauses and right-to-audit provisions in contracts.
• Develop, socialize, and maintain MBTA information security and privacy policies; drive adoption through targeted awareness campaigns, phishing simulations, and organization-wide training.
• Evangelize a Security-First mindset via townhalls, brownbag sessions, and executive briefings.
• Administer and optimize GRC portals (e.g., ServiceNow, Archer) for control catalogues, risk registers, exception management, and board-level metrics.
• Integrate vulnerability, incident, and asset data to deliver end-to-end traceability from findings to remediation and residual risk reporting.
• Produce concise, data-driven dashboards and briefings for the CISO, CIO, Board, and federal regulators (TSA, FTA, DHS/CISA).
• Present program status, risk trending, and budget justification in public speaking forums, executive committees, and industry conferences.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of risk analysts and compliance specialists; cultivate psychological safety, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Champion collaboration across Operations, Engineering, Legal, Audit, and Finance to embed security into MBTA’s technology and business roadmaps.
• Evaluate emerging threats, technologies, and regulatory changes; recommend process enhancements, automation, and tooling (e.g., IRM workflows, AI assisted control testing).
• Serve as primary interface for internal/external auditors and regulatory bodies; coordinate evidence collection, track remediation commitments, and attest to control effectiveness.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Computer Science or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressive IT risk, compliance, or cybersecurity governance experience within large, complex environments.
• Two (2) years of supervisory, managerial, and/or leadership experience.
• Demonstrated implementation of NIST 800-53/CSF, ISO 27001/27701, CIS Controls, ITIL, COBIT, and privacy regulations.
• Working knowledge of network, cloud (AWS/Azure), DevOps pipelines, legacy on-prem systems, security tooling (SIEM, EDR, IAM), and vulnerability management platforms.
• Hands-on administration of GRC suites (ServiceNow GRC, Archer, Origami, Armis, Nazomi) and phishing training platforms (KnowBe4, Proofpoint, Cofense).
• Exceptional verbal and written communication, public speaking, and executive-level presentation skills.
• At least one of: CRISC, CISM, CISSP, CISA; willingness to achieve additional certifications as needed.

Qualifications

Substitutions:

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• An associate’s degree from an accredited institution and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

Preferred Skills

• Seven (7) or more years of progressive IT risk, compliance, or cybersecurity governance experience within large, complex environments.
• Three (3) or more years in a supervisory/leadership capacity.
• Additional credentials (e.g., CGEIT, CCSP, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, PMP).
• Experience with federal critical infrastructure directives (TSA SD 1580/82-2022-01C, NIST SP 800-82).
• Exposure to operational technology (OT) environments and rail/transit systems.
• Record of thought leadership through conference speaking, publication, or standards body participation.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, results-driven approach.
• Analytical mindset and quantitative skills; comfort with ambiguity and rapid change.
• Demonstrated integrity, ethical judgement, and commitment to public service.
• Ability to inspire teamwork, inclusivity, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Job Conditions

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except if participating in an approved high school internship/co-op program.
• Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences.
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a diverse workforce team (or supervise, if required).
• Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if current student or recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records.
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and/or medical Clinic screening, potentially including physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
• Ability to work all shifts and/or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit/operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.
• Intern/co-op staff must be enrolled full or part-time in an accredited educational program and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for the entire duration of the internship/co-op. Additionally, interns/co-ops must have valid work authorization and U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting pre-employment screenings/pre-boarding, working in their positions, and throughout the duration of their program.