Overview
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a senior executive role within the University's ICT Leadership Team, responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that safeguards the institution's digital assets and infrastructure. This position leads to the development of a multi-year roadmap and risk management framework, ensuring alignment with the University's academic, research, and operational objectives. The role provides strategic oversight of cybersecurity operations, governance, compliance, and awareness programs, and involves active engagement with senior leadership, the Executive, the Senate, and the Audit & Risk Committee. The CISO plays a critical role in anticipating and mitigating emerging risks associated with evolving technologies, supply chain dependencies, and the global threat landscape.
Responsibilities
* Shape and lead the University's cybersecurity strategy at an enterprise level, influencing decision-making at the highest tiers of governance.
* Provide strategic oversight of cybersecurity operations, governance, compliance, and awareness programs.
* Engage with senior leadership and governance committees to align cybersecurity with academic, research, and operational objectives.
* Develop and maintain a multi-year cybersecurity roadmap and risk management framework.
About you (skills, capabilities and experience)
* Ability to communicate cybersecurity and risk-related concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including at board level.
* Extensive knowledge of business risk, risk assessment, and risk-based decision-making.
* Proven ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals.
* Strong prioritisation and execution skills in high-pressure environments.
* Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and collaborative skills.
* Deep understanding of cloud, SaaS, and IoT architectures and their implications for cybersecurity.
* Skilled in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and adaptive communication.
* Flexible and resilient in managing competing priorities and change.
Experience
* Minimum of 10 years in IT and/or business leadership, with at least 5 years in senior cybersecurity roles.
* Demonstrated success in leading enterprise-wide cybersecurity programs within large, complex organisations.
* Strong technical expertise across key security domains including firewalls, intrusion detection, encryption, identity and access management, and threat mitigation.
* Proven experience briefing executives, boards, and governance committees on cybersecurity risks and strategy.
* Extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets, large teams, and third-party service providers.
* A university contribution of 17% of your base salary to your superannuation fund (superannuation salary packaging options available).
* Relocation assistance and fitness centre benefits may be available as part of the remuneration package.
* Experience with compliance and governance frameworks relevant to higher education institutions.
Sponsorship / Work Rights for Australia
Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.
Term and Remuneration
The successful candidate will be offered a 5-year fixed term position on a full-time basis with a remuneration package commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience and qualifications. The appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a probation period for new appointees.
Pre-employment Checks
Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all required pre-employment or background checks to the University's satisfaction. Ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take necessary steps, including termination of employment.
EEO statement
At the University of Sydney, we are committed to diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We are recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including LGBTIQ+ communities.
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