Full Job Description
Morgan Stanley is seeking a Strategic Programs Specialist to join the Firm's Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) Business Management Office. Global CIRT is a 24/7 operations organization with teams across key geographic locations responsible for cyber incident response, threat remediation, campaign assessments, and digital forensics. This role serves as a strategic partner to senior leadership, responsible for driving program governance, executive reporting, portfolio management, organizational communications, regulatory and audit oversight, training initiatives, and employee engagement programs. The successful candidate will lead cross-functional initiatives, establish governance frameworks, oversee Jira portfolio management, develop executive-level communications and CISO reporting, and ensure alignment of strategic priorities across the organization. This individual will play a critical role in enhancing operational excellence, strengthening governance practices, and delivering measurable business outcomes in support of the firm's cybersecurity mission.
The Director, Strategic Programs Specialist is responsible for leading the organization's program governance framework, executive reporting, strategic communications, regulatory and audit initiatives, portfolio management disciplines, and organizational engagement programs. This role serves as a key partner to senior leadership, driving visibility, accountability, and operational excellence across strategic initiatives while ensuring consistent execution against business objectives.
What you’ll do in the role:
Executive Reporting, Communications & Knowledge Management
• Lead the strategy, development, and delivery of executive reporting and leadership communications for senior stakeholders, including the CISO, CIO, and executive management teams.
• Own enterprise-wide communications and reporting programs, including executive dashboards, business reviews, leadership updates, organizational newsletters, and strategic messaging across weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting cycles.
• Govern and manage communication platforms (e.g., SharePoint, Confluence), ensuring timely, accurate, and impactful dissemination of organizational updates, reports, and key initiatives.
Portfolio Governance & Program Management
• Oversee enterprise portfolio governance processes, ensuring strategic initiatives are aligned to organizational priorities and measurable business outcomes.
• Drive program health reviews, KPI management, milestone tracking, dependency management, and escalation processes across the portfolio.
• Establish and maintain governance standards, reporting frameworks, and program management best practices.
Jira Governance & Operational Excellence
• Own Jira governance, data quality, portfolio transparency, and reporting standards across programs and teams.
• Partner with program owners and leadership to improve workflow management, delivery metrics, and portfolio visibility.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on governance maturity, operational efficiency, and reporting automation.
Regulatory, Audit & Compliance Management
• Coordinate regulatory commitments, audit deliverables, management action plans, and remediation activities.
• Partner with stakeholders to track compliance obligations, mitigate risks, and ensure timely closure of findings.
• Develop executive oversight reporting and governance mechanisms supporting regulatory and audit readiness.
Training & Organizational Development
• Lead strategic training and capability development programs aligned to organizational priorities.
• Establish governance and measurement frameworks to evaluate training effectiveness and adoption.
• Coordinate cross-functional learning initiatives that strengthen operational readiness and team effectiveness.
Employee Engagement & People Programs
• Own and evolve employee engagement initiatives, including People First programs, quarterly team pulse program, recognition efforts, leadership forums, and organizational culture initiatives.
• Partner with leadership to enhance employee experience, strengthen communication channels, and support talent development objectives.
• Measure and report on engagement outcomes, ensuring programs drive meaningful and measurable impact.
Success Measures
• Enhanced executive visibility into strategic initiatives, risks, and business performance.
• Consistent governance and reporting standards across the portfolio.
• Improved regulatory and audit execution with timely closure of commitments.
• Increased portfolio transparency through effective Jira governance and KPI management.
• Strong employee engagement, communication effectiveness, and organizational alignment.
• Successful delivery of strategic programs with measurable business outcomes.
What you’ll bring to the role:
• Exceptional executive communication and writing skills, including CISO/CIO-level reporting, presentations, and leadership communications.
• Advanced program and portfolio management experience across multiple strategic initiatives.
• Advanced Jira administration, governance, reporting, dashboard development, and portfolio oversight.
• Strong regulatory, audit, risk, and compliance management experience.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into executive insights.
• Proven ability to develop executive dashboards, KPIs, scorecards, and performance metrics.
• Exceptional attention to detail, quality control, and executive-ready deliverables.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Experience leading organizational communications, employee engagement, and change management initiatives.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint, reporting and knowledge management tools (SharePoint, Confluence).
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic programs from planning through execution and measurable outcomes.
Salary range for the position: $90,000 and 135,000 per year. The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award. The successful candidate may be eligible to participate in the relevant business unit’s incentive compensation plan, which also may include a discretionary bonus component. Morgan Stanley offers a full spectrum of benefits, including Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Dependent Day Care Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Sick Leave consistent with state and local law, Parental Leave and 20 Vacation Days annually), 10 Paid Holidays, 401(k), and Short/Long Term Disability, in addition to other special perks reserved for our employees. Please visit mybenefits.morganstanley.com to learn more about our benefit offerings.