If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Office of Information Technology

Opening Date: March 24, 2026

Closing Date: April 07, 2026

Grade/Admin Unit: 33 Confidential

Job Class Code: MH33
Salary: $89,346.40 - $126,320.48*/Annually (*includes 10% recruitment and retention stipend)
Position Number: 025001421

Location: Augusta

Telework: Available

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

OVERVIEW:

Lead the next phase of cybersecurity maturity for the State of Maine. The Deputy Chief Information Security Officer serves as second-in-command for Information Security Office and leads a team of approximately 40 cybersecurity professionals dedicated to protecting Executive Branch systems, data, and critical services. Reporting directly to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), this role provides strategic, operational, and organizational leadership across the full cybersecurity lifecycle: govern, identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. This position serves as CISO in their absence and plays a central leadership role in advancing State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program initiatives, modernizing National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) aligned policies, strengthening workforce development through National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) framework alignment, leading secure procurement practices through cybersecurity-focused contract review, and building a high-performing security organization.

Hybrid Work Opportunity – This position has the potential to work from home up to 90% of the time with management approval.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

No two days are the same within Information Security Office (ISO). Core responsibilities include:

Refine, Develop, Lead and Execute Strategy-

• Serve as principal advisor and operational partner to the CISO.
• Translate enterprise cybersecurity strategy into executable roadmaps and measurable outcomes, and support the continuous review and update of the strategy to address evolving risks, technologies, and business priorities.
• Lead maturity advancement across governance, identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery capabilities.
• Directly leads a team of AISOs and supports the CISO in overseeing three additional managers.
• Act as CISO in their absence.
  

State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Leadership-

• Direct planning, implementation, and oversight of initiatives funded through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
• Coordinate with state agencies, municipalities, and partners to ensure grant deliverables strengthen cyber resilience statewide.
• Oversee reporting, compliance, and performance metrics tied to grant objectives.
• Align grant investments with long-term strategic security priorities.
  

Policy Modernization-

• Lead modernization of cybersecurity policies to align with NIST frameworks and evolving federal requirements.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with state and federal data protection laws.
• Integrate policy updates into operational practice through collaboration with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), Security Operations Center (SOC), Risk Management, Procurement, Attorney General’s Office, and State Auditor.
• Embed security requirements into procurement processes and vendor oversight.
  

Workforce Modernization and Team Development-

• Establish and lead a Cybersecurity Champion Program to embed security advocates across business units, building the program from inception through design, stakeholder engagement, training, and ongoing governance to strengthen security culture and extend operational reach.
• Advance workforce strategy using NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework principles.
• Develop role clarity, career pathways, and capability growth across ISO.
• Coach and mentor cybersecurity managers to expand leadership capacity.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  

Operational Oversight and Crisis Leadership-

• Provide executive oversight for incident response and crisis management.
• Guide response teams during significant security events.
• Remove barriers, mediate disputes, and resolve issues before executive escalation.
• Support budget development, grant proposals, and resource planning.
  

Project and Program Governance-

• Work with the Program Manager leading key security initiatives.
• Ensure timely delivery of risk-reducing projects that strengthen enterprise resilience.
• Provide informed recommendations to senior leadership based on risk assessments and threat intelligence.
  

WHY THIS ROLE STANDS OUT:

• Enterprise-Level Impact- Shape cybersecurity strategy and execution for the entire Executive Branch.
• Grant-Driven Innovation- Direct meaningful statewide improvements through strategic use of federal cyber grant funding.
• Policy Leadership- Modernize and operationalize NIST-aligned security policy across diverse agencies.
• Workforce Transformation- Mature and optimize one of the largest public-sector cybersecurity teams in the region.
• Mission-Driven Public Service- Protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems that serve Maine residents every day.
  

WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING IN INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICE:

• Generous telework flexibility
• Meaningful work protecting critical public services
• Collaborative, mission-focused leadership culture
• Investment in professional development and opportunities for growth
• Emphasis on innovation and continuous improvement
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, information technology, computer science, public administration, or related field, and
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in information security or cybersecurity roles, including substantial leadership or managerial responsibility.
  

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Experience leading large, diverse cybersecurity teams
• Demonstrated experience implementing or aligning programs with NIST frameworks
• Experience modernizing cybersecurity workforce programs using NICE framework concepts
• Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CGRC, PMP, or equivalent
• Lifelong learner

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic Leadership- Demonstrated ability to align cybersecurity initiatives with enterprise risk management and business objectives.
• Operational Excellence- Proven success in advancing security maturity across governance, architecture, operations, and response functions.
• Policy and Regulatory Expertise- Strong understanding of NIST frameworks, federal cybersecurity requirements, and state regulatory environments.
• Organizational Development- Experience building high-performing teams, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and coaching managers.
• Executive Communication- Ability to communicate complex technical and risk concepts clearly to senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborative Influence- Skilled at working across agencies, branches of government, and external partners to advance shared security objectives.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact recruiting.ggsc@maine.gov

The selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may be required) as a condition of employment.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.

• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.

• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.

• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).

• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 18.91% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.

• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.

• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.

• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.

• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.