Technology and Personnel Security Compliance Manager, ITS, Acacia Center for Justice (Remote)

Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a non-profit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. Vera is an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice.  Vera is committed to securing equal justice, ending mass incarceration, and strengthening families and communities.

About Acacia Center for Justice:

The Acacia Center for Justice is a new non-profit created through a collaboration between the Vera Institute of Justice (“Vera”) and the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (“CAIR”) Coalition. The CAIR Coalition is a non-profit organization in the focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region. CAIR adheres to the fundamental belief that all people – no matter their story – deserve to be free, safe, supported, and have access to a just legal system. 

The objective of the Acacia Center for Justice (“Acacia”) is to expand on Vera’s work over the past twenty years in providing legal support and representation to immigrants facing deportation through the development, coordination and management of national networks of legal services providers serving immigrants across the country. Acacia’s goals are two-fold: to support immigrant legal services and defense networks to provide exceptional legal services to immigrants and to advocate for the expansion of these programs and the infrastructure critical to guaranteeing immigrants access to justice, fairness and freedom. Acacia will focus the collective power of both Vera and CAIR on delivering accountable, independent, zealous and person-centered legal services and representation to protect the rights of all immigrants at risk of deportation.

Please note: This career opportunity will begin as a position with the Vera Institute of Justice that will transition to Acacia Center for Justice on or before July 1, 2022.

Who you are:

The Technology and Personnel Security Compliance Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing a framework for technology security compliance for both Acacia’s and subcontractor information systems in accordance with government requirements. Incumbent will collaboratively set policy, identify risks, and resolve issues as part of managing the storage and transmission of information across both Acacia-managed and subcontractor-managed systems. The Technology and Personnel Security Compliance Manager will ensure that staff who work with government data have completed and passed the required trainings and been provided relevant documentation.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Partners with key stakeholders to gain an understanding of the current compliance and risk landscape. Creates a recommended framework for policies and requirements for technical infrastructure used by Acacia’s program staff and its network of subcontractors, adapting processes as appropriate and updating guidance as government requirements change.

• Communicates recommendations to internal ITS, program, and research teams as well as a network of subcontractors and consultants
• Update and disseminate policies as needed over the course of the contract

Partners with Associate Director ITS to develop and manage an organization-wide security protocol

• Collaborates with vendors and perform tasks related to Acacia’s IT security practice
• Identifies gaps and make recommendations on resolutions regarding practice, policy, or governance
• Modifies policies and disseminate documentation as needed over the course of the contract
• Manages the training for applications directly related to IT security

Conducts routine reviews of subcontractor systems to ensure policy compliance

• Serves as a lead resource and partner with subcontractors to measure compliance against recommended framework of hardware and software used to carry out contract work, reviewing for the security compliance all relevant systems and devices
• Documents audit results and track outcomes of risk resolution over the course of the contract
• Has full accountability for incident response and escalations as needed

Responds to requests on information and security requirements from government stakeholders (which may include: regular contract compliance checks, requests for documentation, special requests during contract transition periods, etc.).

What qualifications do you need?

Required:

• Strong knowledge of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework and standards, with applied government contract experience
• Certification for Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
• Prior experience developing solutions to security compliance risks
• Able to communicate and create IT security awareness clearly and effectively with staff of varying technical knowledge
• Familiarity with hybrid on-prem & cloud IT infrastructures
• A strong dedication to equity and justice
• Collaborative and team-oriented

Preferred:

• Bachelors degree + 6-9 years of relevant experience in an IT security and/or government contract compliance role, with recent experience leading ITS initiatives.  In lieu of a Bachelors degree, applicable work or life experience may be considered.
• Knowledge of government personnel security requirements

Additional eligibility requirements:

• In accordance with federal contracts, Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) security clearance may be required upon hire (for additional information: https://www.dcsa.mil/is/eqip/)

List of Required Software Applications:

• Familiarity with AWS cloud products preferred
• Familiarity with Docker/VM deployment preferred

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / Techn0logy and Personnel Security Compliance Manager, ITS, Acacia
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org