AVI Foodsystems

Head of IT Security

AVI Foodsystems • $120K — $150K *
Akron, OH 44307In-Person
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in IT/Security with 5 years in a leadership role at a $1B+ organization
  • Proven expertise in securing hybrid cloud environments (AWS, Azure, Google)
  • Experience in safeguarding large-scale ERP migrations and data modernization
  • Bachelor's or Master's in a related discipline; CISSP, CISM, or CCSP preferred
  • Strong business-oriented communication skills for relaying cyber risks effectively to stakeholders

Responsibilities

  • Design a unified Zero Trust Framework for secure user and device access
  • Establish a security posture for AI lifecycle management
  • Develop a data-centric defense model to protect sensitive information
  • Build a unified identity strategy across cloud and on-premise environments
  • Oversee the integration of security measures during system modernization
  • Integrate security responses into service platforms to enhance workflow automation
  • Implement security testing for a portfolio of 150+ applications and APIs
  • Manage third-party security services for 24/7 monitoring

Benefits

  • A family culture and atmosphere
  • Health, dental, vision, and life insurance for full-time team members
  • 401(k) with generous company match
  • Paid vacations and holidays
  • Immense training and growth opportunities
Full Job Description
We are seeking a visionary Security Leader to architect and lead a comprehensive security strategy for a privately held organization. This is a pivotal role during a period of massive modernization as we transition legacy financial systems to advanced cloud ERP, centralize 150+ internal applications, and build a world-class Data & AI ecosystem.

The ideal candidate will move beyond "gatekeeping" to act as a business enabler, implementing a modern security fabric that spans multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, Google, etc.) and ensure our Technology, Data, and AI initiatives are secure by design.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Security Architecture: Hybrid Cloud & AI-Ready
  • Zero Trust Framework: Design and implement a unified identity and access model that treats all users and devices as untrusted until verified, regardless of location.
  • AI Security & Governance: Establish a security posture for the AI lifecycle, including model risk management, data privacy for LLMs, and protection against emerging AI-specific threats.
  • Data-Centric Defense: Architect a model focused on protecting the data itself-utilizing automated classification, persistent encryption, and masking-to ensure sensitive information remains secure as it moves through modern analytics pipelines.
  • Unified Identity Fabric: Build a seamless identity strategy across multi-cloud and on-premise environments to provide a single, secure point of control for the entire workforce.

Security Operations & Integration
  • Operational Modernization: Oversee the security integration of our move from legacy systems to modern platforms, ensuring financial data integrity and auditability in the cloud and across the value chain.
  • ITSM & SecOps Alignment: Integrate security incident response and vulnerability management directly into service platforms to automate workflows and reduce mean-time-to-resolution (MTTR).
  • Application & API Security: Secure a portfolio of 150+ internal applications by implementing automated security testing within CI/CD pipelines and enforcing standardized API security protocols.
  • Managed Services Oversight: Evaluate and manage 3rd-party security offerings (MDR/MSSP) to ensure 24/7 monitoring and response capabilities.

GRC (Governance, Risk, & Compliance)
  • Continuous Compliance: Shift from periodic audits to a continuous monitoring model that provides real-time visibility into our compliance posture.
  • Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM): Build a robust program to vet and monitor the security health of our growing ecosystem of SaaS and technology partners.
  • AI Ethics & Policy: Lead the development of internal policies regarding the ethical and secure use of Generative AI and automated decision-making systems.
  • Business Resilience: Develop and test enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plans that account for the interdependencies of cloud-based ERP and data platforms.

Professional Requirements
  • Experience: 5+ years in IT/Security, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within a $1B+ organization.
  • Cloud Mastery: Proven track record of securing complex, hybrid environments across AWS, Azure, and Google.
  • Business Transformation: Direct experience securing large-scale ERP migrations and data modernization projects.
  • Education/Certs: Bachelor's or Master's in a related field. CISSP, CISM, or CCSP preferred.
  • Leadership Style: A "Business-First" mindset-someone who can communicate complex cyber risks to ownership and executive stakeholders in terms of business impact.

Benefits:
  • A family culture and atmosphere
  • Competitive compensation
  • Health, dental, vision, and life insurance for full-time team members
  • 401(k) with generous company match
  • Paid vacations and holidays
  • Immense training and growth opportunities

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About AVI Foodsystems

AVI Foodsystems is a family-owned and operated company that provides food service solutions for businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and sports venues. The company was founded in 1960 by John Payiavlas and his wife, Marian, in Warren, Ohio. Today, AVI Foodsystems is headquartered in Wooster, Ohio and has over 13,000 employees across the United States. The company offers a wide range of services, including dining, catering, vending, and office coffee. AVI Foodsystems is committed to sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce waste and conserve energy. In 2019, the company was named one of the Top 50 Contract Foodservice Companies by Food Management Magazine.
Learn more about AVI Foodsystems
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Food & Beverages
Net Income
$10 million
5 Year Trend
+5%
Revenue
$500 million
NASDAQ
* Ladders Estimates

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