Director, Cybersecurity

Inari is the SEEDesign™ company. We embrace the diversity and complexity of nature in every aspect of our business to drive innovation – to push the boundaries of what is possible. Through our unrivaled technology platform, Inari uses predictive design and advanced multiplex gene editing to develop step-change products. We are taking a nature positive approach to unlock the full potential of seeds that will transform the food system. The results will lead to more productive acres delivering value creation for farmers and a more sustainable future for our planet.

Our success is dependent on great minds, collaborating to generate bright ideas and deliver exceptional outcomes. We have 200 employees, with research sites in Cambridge, MA (USA) and Ghent (Belgium), as well as a product development site in West Lafayette, IN (USA). We’ve deliberately built a team that brings diversity of thought to all aspects of our business, to generate new ideas, approaches, and ways of operating. And we've intentionally combined experience with potential, bringing agriculture industry experts with the desire to innovate together with bright minds from academia, human therapeutics, software, and consulting.

About the role

We are seeking a Director of Cybersecurity to own the strategy, operation, and governance of information security across Inari, ensuring our data, applications, systems, and infrastructure remain appropriately protected as the business and threat landscape evolve.

• Maintain, refine, and evolve a risk-based and data-driven cybersecurity strategy and roadmap aligned to Inari's business priorities
• Direct and contribute to ongoing evaluation, tuning, and optimization of security technologies and controls, including AI-powered security tooling, partnering with IT and Engineering to close gaps and reduce operational overhead
• Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and lead ongoing information security risk assessment and risk management processes
• Ensure consistent application of established policies and standards across technology projects, systems, services, and contracts, and update them as the organization and risk landscape change
• Monitor industry trends, emerging threats, and vulnerabilities, including those introduced by AI adoption, keep leadership informed of implications, and recommend proportionate mitigation strategies
• Continuously assess and refresh the security technology stack, retiring tools that no longer earn their keep and adopting solutions, including AI-driven capabilities, that reduce risk or operational burden
• Partner with senior leadership on ongoing risk assessment and risk management processes
• Partner with the business to identify opportunities where security capabilities can add and capture business value, including support for technology monetization efforts
• Serve as a key point of contact for the Board, providing regular reporting and assurance on the state of the cybersecurity program

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in information security, combining risk management, information security, and IT-related responsibilities
• Demonstrated success operating and maturing an established cybersecurity function, including metrics-driven continuous improvement, not just initial build
• Demonstrated success partnering with business functions to deliver security threat analysis and mitigation solutions
• Experience evaluating and securing AI/ML systems and applications, and understanding of AI-specific risk considerations
• Experience with software development and product security best practices
• Experience securing cloud computing and containerized environments
• Hands-on technical experience managing security tools with a deep understanding of networking and technology infrastructure
• Clear understanding of the evolving needs of a mature cybersecurity function and current information security best practices, standards, and frameworks
• Working knowledge of common information security management frameworks such as ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST CSF
• Knowledge of common technologies used to secure back-office environments (IAM, PKI, network controls)
• Bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or a related field
• Proven track record maintaining and improving information security policies, procedures, programs, and solutions over time
• Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the organization
• Ability and desire to continue expanding knowledge and skillset to remain knowledgeable of current Cybersecurity challenges
• Professional certification(s) desired (CISSP, CCISO, CISM, CISA, etc.)

Pay

The salary range for this position is $158,000 - $217,000. Whether you are full-time or part-time, Inari provides three different components of pay – base, short-term incentive, and long-term equity along with a one-time new hire stock option grant.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including both a Preferred Provider Network (PPO) and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a company-funded health savings account (HSA), vision, dental, and several flexible spending accounts (FSA), a host of voluntary benefits, and a robust wellness program. In addition, Inari offers a 401k plan with a company match and a flexible paid time off policy.