We're Hiring!

Position Function:The Director of the Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI) serves as the chief executive
responsible for advancing statewide cybersecurity strategies through collaboration among
academia, industry, federal and state government, the Department of War, law
enforcement, and private-sector partners. Reporting to the Vice President for Research
and Economic Development, the Director provides strategic vision, executive leadership,
and operational oversight for a comprehensive university-led cybersecurity initiative,
positioning Mississippi as a leader in cybersecurity, technology innovation, workforce
development, applied research, and economic development.

The Director, working with the Mississippi State University Research and Technology
Corporation, also assists with executive oversight for the Mississippi Cyber &
Technology Center (MCTC), the operational headquarters of the MCI, and leads its
continued growth as a statewide hub for cyber operations, workforce development, digital
forensics, research, technology commercialization, and public-private collaboration.
Working collaboratively with university leadership, Keesler Air Force Base, government
agencies, military partners, institutions of higher education, and private industry, the
Director develops and advances a statewide cybersecurity ecosystem that strengthens
Mississippi's cyber capabilities while supporting national security, innovation, and
economic growth.

This position will be stationed at the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center in Biloxi,
MS.

Salary Grade:  20

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides strategic leadership for the Mississippi Cyber Initiative by establishing its long-term vision, strategic priorities, and operational objectives while ensuring alignment with
Mississippi State University's mission and the cybersecurity needs of the State of
Mississippi.
• Provides executive leadership for the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center (MCTC),
located in Biloxi, Mississippi, and assists with overseeing its activation, operation,
programming, and future expansion while recruiting industry partners, local, state and
federal agencies, and emerging technology companies that enhance the Center's
capabilities and economic impact.
• Serves as Mississippi State University's principal representative for statewide
cybersecurity initiatives by developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with
Keesler Air Force Base, the Mississippi National Guard, the Department of War, the
Mississippi Department of Public Safety, federal and state agencies, law enforcement
organizations, institutions of higher education, economic development organizations, and
private industry to strengthen cybersecurity readiness and statewide collaboration.
• Provides executive oversight for statewide cybersecurity education and workforce
development initiatives, including the Mississippi Cyber Ecosystem and Training Range,
by expanding educational partnerships, professional training, experiential learning
opportunities, and workforce programs that support government, military, academic, and
industry partners.
• Oversees the Mississippi Digital Forensics Laboratory and related digital evidence
initiatives, providing strategic leadership for services supporting law enforcement
agencies throughout Mississippi. In collaboration with the Mississippi Department of
Public Safety and other local, state, and federal partners, the Director advances
standardized digital forensic capabilities statewide through collaborative partnerships,
technical assistance, training, and innovative technologies that strengthen investigative
capacity and enhance public safety.
• Promotes multidisciplinary research and innovation by fostering collaboration among
faculty, government laboratories, industry, and strategic partners in cybersecurity,
artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, modeling and
simulation, critical infrastructure protection, and other emerging technologies, while
supporting technology commercialization and the pursuit of external funding.
• Provides strategic coordination across Mississippi State University's cybersecurity
enterprise by working closely with the Directors of the Center for Cyber Education, the
Center for Cyber Innovation, and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering
to identify collaborative opportunities, align strategic priorities, and deliver integrated
education, research, workforce development, and technical capabilities that advance the
mission of the Mississippi Cyber Initiative and the Mississippi Cyber & Technology
Center.
• Advances economic development initiatives by positioning the Mississippi Cyber &
Technology Center as a catalyst for business recruitment, technology investment,
innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-wage job creation while strengthening
partnerships with technology companies, defense contractors, and economic development
organizations.
• Provides executive oversight for organizational operations, including strategic planning,
personnel, budgets, facilities, performance measurement, and resource development
while ensuring responsible stewardship of university and externally funded resources and
fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and operational
excellence.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in
cybersecurity, law enforcement, digital forensics, public safety, national security, or a
related field.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-organizational initiatives and build
consensus among government, military, academic, and private-sector partners.
• Demonstrated experience managing personnel, budgets, strategic initiatives, and
externally funded programs.
• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Additional graduate studies, certifications, and/or credentials related to cybersecurity,
digital forensics, or a related area.
• Senior executive leadership experience within a federal, state, or local agency with
responsibilities related to cybersecurity, digital forensics, law enforcement, homeland
security, or national security.
• Experience leading statewide or regional cybersecurity initiatives involving multiple
governmental and private-sector partners.
• Previous participation in Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI) programs, exercises, training
events, or collaborative activities, demonstrating an understanding of the initiative's
mission and strategic objectives.
• Established relationships with key MCI stakeholders, including the Mississippi
Department of Public Safety, Keesler Air Force Base, the Department of War, the
Mississippi National Guard, federal and state agencies, institutions of higher education,
and industry partners.
• Demonstrated success developing strategic partnerships, securing external funding, and
advancing technology, workforce, research, and economic development initiatives.
• Active security clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate security
clearance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of cybersecurity, digital forensics, emerging technologies, national security, and workforce development trends.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic initiatives through collaboration among academic, industry, government, military, and law enforcement partners.
• Exceptional executive leadership, organizational management, and decision-making skills with the ability to lead complex, multi-organizational programs.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and consensus-building skills with stakeholders at the local, state, federal, and private-sector levels.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to effectively represent the University before executive leaders, elected officials, funding agencies, and external partners.
• Experience with strategic planning, budget development, personnel management, and stewardship of externally funded programs.
• Knowledge of research administration, technology commercialization, and economic development principles that support innovation and public-private partnerships.
• Ability to identify emerging opportunities, secure external funding, and translate strategic objectives into measurable outcomes.
• Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and operational excellence across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain appropriate security clearances and effectively operate in environments involving sensitive or controlled information, as required.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Requires lifting of IT devices, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor
facility.
• Frequent external imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions
influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a
few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are vital to the
position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or
stress on a regular basis.
• Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, and handling objects
with hands.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Link to apply: https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/jobs/search

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.