vCISO Principal Consultant

About the role

The vCISO/Principal Consultant serves as a strategic advisor to Clearwater clients, leading complex consulting engagements and contributing to the firm's growth through thought leadership, business development, and mentorship. They balance technical execution with strategic planning, ensuring alignment with client business goals and regulatory requirements. Distinct from the Principal Consultant, the vCISO/Principal Consultant typically acts in a leadership role for a portfolio of clients who have implemented a ClearAdvantage Program, acting as program leader and advisor responsible for overall delivery, strategy, and risk management.

The role is highly flexible, adapting to the needs of organizations ranging from small Health IT firms to fast-growing Physician Practice Management Groups. As a key client-facing expert, the vCISO/Principal Consultant drives successful outcomes, positions Clearwater as an industry leader, mentors junior staff, and refines internal methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor by guiding clients in developing long-term cybersecurity and compliance strategies and executing tactical plans.
• Build and maintain executive-level client relationships, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory needs.
• Act as the primary point of contact for complex engagements, managing expectations, providing insights, and delivering high-value recommendations.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to expand client engagements and contribute to business development efforts.
• Lead the execution of Clearwater's consulting services in compliance with Statements of Work (SOWs), methodologies, and client policies.
• Oversee key engagement processes, including Initial Engagement Meetings, Planning Sessions, Kickoff Meetings, and project completion presentations.
• Collaborate with internal teams to manage delivery of services, including project scope, risks, and timelines, ensuring successful outcomes.
• Provide oversight and quality assurance for deliverables, ensuring they align with client goals and regulatory frameworks.
• Effectively communicate project updates and potential risks to management and leadership.
• Develop and drive thought leadership initiatives, such as white papers, blog posts, and speaking engagements at conferences and webinars.
• Contribute strategic insights to Clearwater’s solution offerings, keeping them aligned with industry trends and client needs.
• Actively participate in industry forums and professional networks to enhance Clearwater’s market position.
• Provide strategic mentorship to consultants, senior consultants, and analysts, fostering their professional growth and development.
• Lead internal knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance the skills and capabilities of the consulting team.
• Collaborate with leadership to refine and optimize consulting methodologies and delivery processes.
• Proactively address team performance challenges and provide coaching to support project success.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of internal processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance service delivery.
• Ensure up-to-date project documentation and reporting within Clearwater's Professional Services Automation (PSA) tools.
• Provide feedback to leadership on operational challenges and propose actionable improvements.
• Meet all internal compliance requirements and follow all internal processes.
• Identify opportunities for follow-on engagements and additional services by understanding client needs.
• Work closely with Sales and Client Success teams to develop client-specific proposals and solutions.
• Support pre-sales efforts by contributing technical and strategic insights during client discussions.
• Maintain a billable hours target of 1,560 hours annually (equivalent to 75% utilization).
• Perform other duties within the scope of the role as assigned.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in Consulting, Cybersecurity, or a related role.
• BA/BS Degree preferred.
• Professional industry certifications like CISSP, CISA, CISM, etc., preferred.
• Deep knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST, HITRUST, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.
• Ability to implement, evaluate, and adapt focus area solutions to meet client needs.
• Capacity to analyze complex regulatory and technical challenges and develop tailored solutions.
• Insight into the effective design, implementation, and operation of an organizational security program.
• Strong project management capabilities, ensuring successful outcomes within timelines and budgets.
• Ability to effectively communicate with executive stakeholders and guide clients to achieve strategic goals.
• Strong problem-solving and risk mitigation abilities.
• Ability to develop and communicate impactful thought leadership materials that position the organization as an industry leader.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills at conferences, webinars, and client engagements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey complex concepts clearly to clients and internal teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the Digital Health/Health IT market.
• Familiarity with Cloud-based services in the Digital Health/Health IT market.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop junior team members.
• Conflict resolution, active listening, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to embrace Clearwater’s CLEAR core values (Commitment to Client Success, Lead with Accountability, Integrity & Collaboration, Excellence in All That We Do, Advance Colleague Success, Respect & Transparency) and culture.

Professional Development Expectations

• Pursue advanced certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or HITRUST Practitioner to enhance technical credibility.
• Expand expertise to include technical and strategic advisory capabilities.
• Actively contribute to internal mentorship programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Participate in professional organizations and industry conferences to stay ahead of evolving trends.

Pay

The base salary range for this role is $155,000–$175,000. Base salary is part of a total rewards package that includes merit-based salary increases, eligibility for a 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, and paid leaves in line with your work state. Total compensation, including base salary, will depend on candidate experience, skills, education, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan eligibility.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Flexible paid time off.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Paid sick time.