Senior Cyber Program Manager

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The University of Southern California (USC) is advancing its cybersecurity posture with a renewed focus on resilience, cyber risk management, and threat-informed defense. As a world-class research institution, USC is building a culture of security that supports its academic and research mission in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

This role sits within a newly restructured cybersecurity organization that's leading this transformation. You'll join a team focused on scalable, proactive defense strategies, incident preparedness, and operational excellence-working alongside experts who are deeply committed to service, innovation, and impact.

If you're driven by purpose, thrive in complexity, and want to help shape the future of cybersecurity at a leading university, we invite you to bring your leadership to the table.

POSITION SUMMARY

As the Senior Cyber Program Manager you will be an integral leader of the cybersecurity department while also collaborating with stakeholders across the university ecosystem, and reporting to the Cyber Governance Senior Director. This is a full-time exempt position, eligible for all of USC's fantastic Benefits + Perks. This opportunity is remote.

The Senior Cyber Program Manager leads the delivery of complex, enterprise-level IT and cyber programs and projects. This position is responsible for driving program and project management deliverables for both internal and external stakeholders. The role oversees a comprehensive program and project plans - managing scope, schedules, and budgets - while guiding cross-functional project teams toward successful completion of deliverables. The Senior Cyber Program Manager actively demonstrates and promotes USC's values in action.

The Senior Cyber Program Manager will:

• Identifies and proactively resolves issues, creating strategies for risk mitigation and contingency planning and escalating disruptions and dependencies to departmental leadership, as necessary. Reports risks that may affect work progress and recommends mitigation strategies.

• Maintains understanding of current and future business needs, university-wide technology initiatives and leading-edge project management practices. Follows project management methodology, applying tools, service management frameworks, and technology strategy to all projects. Utilizes pertinent change control processes, developing project progress and compliance reports, and presents regular updates in project team meetings

• Establishes foundation for projects, working with sponsors to create robust, comprehensive project charters and baseline reports. Builds and sustains collaborative relationships with key stakeholders (e.g., staff, customers, partners) in administrative and academic units. Manages communications with project stakeholders and internal project teams. Collaborates with team members and management, implementing effective solutions to support the department's vision.

• Manages productivity and effectiveness of projects with varying complexities. Creates appropriate status reports and maintains accurate tracking logs to organize budget, time, scope and communication details. Drives continuous improvement, ensuring accurate, well-communicated scope and actionable schedules and budgets for each project.

• Aids the cultivation of a community-minded environment and a culture of belonging, trust and transparency, sharing information broadly, openly, and deliberately. Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with heterogeneous groups of peers, team members, and leadership. Actively embodies university values and behaviors (e.g., accountability, ethics, best-in-class customer service).

• Engage with stakeholders across the university to understand their needs and ensure alignment with business operations. Serve as a point of contact for the supported functions and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration.

• Maintains currency with technology, standards, and best practices. Supports process improvement efforts within the team and across the organization.

• Manage the budgeting process and financial planning for the supported functions. Oversee financial reporting, accounting, and procurement activities.

• Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

• Lead and manage projects related to business operations, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget

• Develop and implement business strategies to improve efficiency and effectiveness across HR, Finance, Communications, and Security functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Great candidates for the position of Senior Cyber Program Manager will meet the following qualifications:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in Program Management.

• A bachelor's degree in a related field or combined experience and education as substitute for minimum education.

• Proficiency with portfolio project management (PPM) tools (e.g., Planview, Smartsheet).

• Experience as a senior project or program manager in a technical environment (e.g., IT Infrastructure, enterprise architecture, data governance).

• Extensive experience developing high-performing teams, providing mentorship and stewardship to encourage career development and growth.

• Exceptional organizational and data analysis skills, balancing work and necessary resources and creating, preparing, and presenting reports to senior management.

• Experience planning, scheduling, and managing budgets, prioritizing between immediate needs and long-term

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Sharepoint).

• Ability to understand and translate business value, manage wide-ranging, cross-functional teams, and work with and guide managers, technical, and non-technical staff.

• Exemplary interpersonal skills, developing positive working relationships and strong rapport with team members and various stakeholders.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Exceptional candidates for the position of Senior Cyber Program Manager will also bring the following qualifications or more:

• 10 or more years of professional experience in Program Management

• A master's degree in business administration, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems or other related fields

• Experience in IT project management

• Proven ability to manage ambiguity and influence in a federated organization as an enthusiastic change agent

• Experience with higher education

• Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management

• Professional (PgMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), Agile Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL, and/or Organizational Change Management (OCM) certifications.

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC's Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The annual base salary range for this position is $184,482.55-$206,469. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support the well-being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents' health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC's comprehensive benefits here.

Join the USC cybersecurity team within an environment of innovation and excellence.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
Minimum Experience: 8 years in program management.
Minimum Skills: Proficiency with portfolio project management (PPM) tools (e.g., Planview, Smartsheet). Experience as a senior project or program manager in a technical environment (e.g., IT infrastructure, enterprise architecture, data governance). Extensive experience developing high-performing teams, providing mentorship and stewardship to encourage career development and growth. Exceptional organizational and data analysis skills, balancing work and necessary resources and creating, preparing, and presenting reports to senior management. Experience planning, scheduling, and managing budgets, prioritizing between immediate needs and long-term objectives. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Sharepoint). Ability to understand and translate business value, manage wide-ranging, cross-functional teams, and work with and guide managers, technical, and non-technical staff. Exemplary interpersonal skills, developing positive working relationships and strong rapport with team members and various stakeholders. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Preferred Education: Master's degree In Business Administration Or Computer Science Or Computer Information Systems Or in related field(s)
Preferred Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), Agile Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL, and/or Organizational Change Management (OCM) certifications.
Preferred Experience: 10 years
Preferred Skills: Experience in IT project management. Proven ability to manage ambiguity and influence in a federated organization as an enthusiastic change agent. Experience with higher education.