Cybersecurity Consultant

Kent ISD

Full time, 260 day year-round position

Non-Union Professional Grade 7, 8 hours per day

General Statement of Duties:

The Cybersecurity Consultant is responsible for driving regional cybersecurity maturity, providing guidance on managing security risks, and identifying sustainable funding mechanisms for Kent ISD and its partner districts. Acting primarily as an external advisor (approximately 75% of the role), this position assists constituent districts in implementing cybersecurity frameworks, establishing CIS Critical Security Controls, facilitating tabletop exercises, and maximizing state, federal, and consortium funding. Internally (approximately 25% of the role), the consultant supports the Lead Cybersecurity Engineer to optimize internal governance, oversee regional grant compliance, and represent the organization on state-level educational cybersecurity task forces.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field. Relevant industry certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, or CISA) are highly desirable.

1. Minimum of five (5) years of experience in information security, risk management, or IT auditing within an enterprise or public sector setting.
2. Proven experience identifying, writing, or managing technology-focused grants, or coordinating cooperative public procurement purchasing systems.

Prior experience working within an educational (K-12 or Higher Ed) environment is strongly preferred.

1. Technical & Financial Knowledge: In-depth familiarity with the CIS Controls environment, NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), and data privacy regulations (FERPA).
2. Understanding of educational funding mechanisms, including E-Rate guidelines regarding basic firewalls/internal connections, and the State and federal grant compliance standards.
3. Demonstrated experience creating, planning, and executing incident response tabletop simulations or crisis drill frameworks.

Exceptional interpersonal, consulting, and presentation skills; ability to translate complex technical vulnerabilities and fiscal grant requirements into clear, actionable business risks for executive leadership.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Partner with constituent districts to build deep understanding and adoption of industry-standard security frameworks, focusing on the implementation of CIS Critical Security Controls.
2. Facilitate cybersecurity self-evaluations, risk assessments, and readiness reviews alongside local district leadership.
3. Assist constituent districts develop Incident Response plans.
4. Design and facilitate localized cybersecurity tabletop exercises for constituent district leadership teams. Help districts safely simulate incident scenarios to test response plans, communication protocols, and operational continuity without disrupting active instruction.
5. Act as a critical regional liaison and strategic advisor to constituent districts during active security incidents; deliver structured triage guidance, response frameworks, and technical coordination support to help local leadership isolate threats, execute communication plans, and safely restore systems.
6. Support local districts during incident response as needed.
7. Actively identify, analyze, and communicate new funding or cost-savings opportunities for local districts, including state and federal grants (e.g., SLCGP), technology purchasing consortiums, and E-Rate eligible security resources.
8. Balance technical safeguards with the operational realities of a K-12 environment, prioritizing student learning and teacher support over technical convenience.
9. Deliver collaborative security training tailored to educational staff and administrators across partner districts.
10. Provide programmatic oversight, track milestones, and support compliance reporting for internal and regional cooperative Cybersecurity grant programs within the ISD ecosystem.
11. Assist in developing, reviewing, and modernizing internal cybersecurity governance practices, administrative procedures, and controls.
12. Support internal teams in measuring compliance against state, federal, and institutional guidelines, ensuring rigorous data privacy.
13. Collaborate with internal infrastructure, data services, and application development teams to embed cybersecurity safeguarding early into organizational workflows.
14. Ability to travel to partner districts across the State.
15. Maintain data confidentiality and FERPA compliance.
16. Effectively communicate, both written and in person, with Kent ISD and constituent district staff.
17. Periodically work after hours in support of testing and troubleshooting, as needed.
18. Collaboration with colleagues and vendors to achieve departmental or project outcomes.
19. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments with competing priorities, while maintaining attention to detail.
20. Consistently demonstrate professional judgment and discretion, seeking guidance as appropriate.
21. Commitment to quality customer service with both internal and external constituents.
22. Adhere to cybersecurity safeguards and protocols.
23. Regular and consistent employee attendance.
24. Adhere to departmental processes and procedures, as well as Board policies.
25. Other pertinent duties as assigned.

Benefits: Robust benefit package includes full medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid sick and vacation days; State of Michigan School Employment retirement program; Kent ISD is a participating employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF/ SAVE plan) for eligible Federal student loans.

Please note, due to the large number of applications, we are unable to attend to e-mail or telephone inquiries on application status.

The final candidate for this position will be required (at their cost) to furnish Kent Intermediate School District with a current Michigan State Police and FBI criminal records LiveScan check prior to our recommendation to hire.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the School Board may be considered. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.