At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.
Job Description:
Director, Operations and Strategy, Risk and Security
Parsons is looking for an exceptional operations and strategy leader to join our Risk and Security organization. In this role, you will serve as the strategic and operational partner to the Chief Security and Risk Officer, running the rhythm of the business and directing an integrated function spanning the PMO, its Security Culture and Awareness program, BISO engagements, and Shared Services. You will translate enterprise strategy into an executable roadmap, orchestrate cross-functional delivery, and provide leadership with clear visibility into priorities, performance, and resource trade-offs. This role blends the discipline of a business operations executive with the influence, judgment, and cross-functional orchestration the Risk and Security organization needs to move fast and deliver measurable value.
This candidate will enjoy a hybrid work arrangement out of either our Chantilly or Centreville, Virginia office.
What You'll Be Doing:
Strategy
Serve as a strategic advisor and operational partner to the Risk and Security leadership team, working closely with the CSRO to advance strategic priorities.
Drive the leadership rhythm of business, including planning and coordination for key engagements with business partners and other relevant stakeholders.
Lead and facilitate meetings with senior executives, drive security outreach and awareness efforts, and prepare executive briefings, decision memoranda, and board- or committee-ready materials while tracking commitments and follow-through.
Translate enterprise and security strategy into a multi-year roadmap, annual operating plan, and measurable operational initiatives.
Roadmap Management
Lead enterprise intake and portfolio governance for Risk and Security initiatives, operating stage gates, prioritization, and value realization practices
Manage program controls, delivery health, interdependencies, resource capacity, milestone tracking, and executive reporting
Standardize delivery approaches across waterfall, agile, and hybrid execution models where appropriate
Elevate decisions based on risk, outcomes, constraints, and business value
Security Culture and Awareness
Direct the enterprise security culture and awareness program
Oversee awareness campaigns, role-based training, and phishing, smishing, and vishing simulation programs
Partner with the Human Risk Management function to translate human risk insights into targeted awareness and behavior change initiatives
Measure behavior change and awareness effectiveness and report outcomes to leadership
Executive Planning
Direct the BISO function as the bridge between the Risk and Security organization and the business lines it supports
Embed security and risk requirements into business unit planning, initiatives, and decision-making
Translate enterprise security priorities into business-relevant guidance and carry business-line context back into the security organization
Provide executive visibility into business-line security posture, risk acceptance, and remediation progress
Operating Model Management
Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cost transparency for the Risk and Security organization
Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and tooling and platform investments, and identify optimization opportunities
Direct data and reporting operations, executive dashboards, and reporting automation
Drive business enablement, documentation standards, and operational discipline across the function
Change, Communications, and Special Programs
Lead organizational change management for strategic Risk and Security programs to drive adoption and value realization
Shape executive messaging for leadership updates, all-hands communications, and enterprise change initiatives
Lead special programs sponsored by the CSRO, including operating model redesign, transformation, and M and A or security integration support
What Required Skills You'll Bring:
Strategic planning and operating model design
Portfolio, program, and PMO governance expertise
Executive presence and organizational leadership
Organizational design and operating model development
Exceptional executive communication and executive storytelling
Strong stakeholder influence and cross-functional facilitation skills
Financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and cost transparency
Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive matters
Ability to convert ambiguity into structure, action, and measurable outcomes
Enterprise governance
Financial acumen
Risk-based prioritization
What Desired Skills You'll Bring:
Prior experience in a business operation, strategy and operations, or transformation role supporting senior executives
Familiarity with security awareness and human risk management programs
Experience with BISO or business-facing security engagement models
Experience with vendor management and tooling oversight across platforms such as ServiceNow, Jira and JSM, PPM suites, and GRC platforms
Experience with M and A diligence, Day 1 planning, and integration governance
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Risk Management, Business Administration, or a related field required; equivalent practical experience may be considered
Master's degree preferred, such as an MBA, MIS, Cybersecurity, or Risk Management discipline
Experience:
10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in cybersecurity, enterprise risk, technology, strategy, business operations, or related functions, including experience leading cross-functional organizations.
Experience partnering directly with C-suite executives to develop strategy, governance, operational planning, executive communications, and organizational execution.
Demonstrated success building operating models, governance forums, executive reporting, and portfolio management disciplines
Experience supporting senior executives in a business operations, strategy and transformation role strongly preferred
Preferred Certifications:
ITIL 4 Managing Professional or Strategic Leader
PMP, PMI-ACP, or SAFe, or an equivalent Agile certification
Prosci or equivalent organizational change management certification
Security certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or CRISC are a plus
Security Clearance Requirement:
NoneThis position is part of our Corporate team.For over 80 years, Parsons Corporation, has shaped the future of the defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets. Our employees work in a close-knit team environment to find new, innovative ways to deliver smart solutions that are used and valued by customers around the world. By combining unique technologies with deep domain expertise across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure, transportation, smart cities, and more, we're providing tomorrow's solutions today.Salary Range: $148,300.00 - $266,900.00We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.
Skills Required
- Strategic planning and operating model design
- Portfolio, program, and PMO governance expertise
- Executive presence and organizational leadership
- Organizational design and operating model development
- Exceptional executive communication and executive storytelling
- Strong stakeholder influence and cross-functional facilitation skills
- Financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and cost transparency
- Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive matters
- Ability to convert ambiguity into structure, action, and measurable outcomes
- Enterprise governance and risk-based prioritization
- Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, IT, Risk Management, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent practical experience)
- 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in cybersecurity, enterprise risk, technology, strategy, business operations, or related functions
- Experience partnering directly with C-suite executives on strategy, governance, operational planning, and executive communications
- Demonstrated success building operating models, governance forums, executive reporting, and portfolio management disciplines
- Hybrid work arrangement out of Chantilly or Centreville, Virginia office
- Familiarity with security awareness and human risk management programs
- Experience with BISO or business-facing security engagement models
- Experience with vendor management and tooling oversight (e.g., ServiceNow, Jira/JSM, PPM suites, GRC platforms)
- Experience with M&A diligence, Day 1 planning, and integration governance
- Master's degree (MBA, MIS, Cybersecurity, or Risk Management) preferred
- Preferred certifications: ITIL 4, PMP/PMI-ACP/SAFe, Prosci, CISSP/CISM/CRISC
Parsons Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Parsons Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by Parsons Corporation.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement programs are framed as a major value driver, with an ESOP alongside a 401(k) match and additional stock-purchase options contributing meaningfully to total rewards. This structure is positioned as especially attractive for employees who value long-term wealth-building over immediate cash.
-
Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as broad and choice-rich, with multiple plan types (PPO, HDHP, and some HMO networks) plus dental, vision, EAP, and wellness resources. The availability of different plan designs and national-carrier coverage supports varied employee needs.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off offerings are portrayed as competitive, including PTO, holidays, flexible schedules such as a 9/80 option for eligible roles, and floating holidays in the U.S. Paid parental leave of 160 hours is also highlighted as a meaningful component of the overall package.
Parsons Corporation Insights
What We Do
Parsons is a digitally enabled solutions provider with a focus on making the world safer, smarter, healthier, more sustainable, and more connected. Founded in 1944, Parsons primarily serves the defense, security, and infrastructure markets. Uniquely qualified to deliver cyber/converged security, technology-based intellectual property, and other innovative services, the corporation delivers state-of-the-art solutions to federal, regional, and local government agencies as well as to private industrial customers worldwide. Parsons has a reputation for inclusion and diversity and has been named to the Ethisphere Institute’s list of World’s Most Ethical Companies for 10 consecutive years. Parsons facilitates a culture of innovation by encouraging collaboration among its employees and providing opportunities for career growth. With offices around the globe, people of varied talents and backgrounds, and a wide range of exciting projects, the possibilities at Parsons are endless. For more about Parsons, visit www.parsons.com. Mission: Delivering innovative infrastructure, defense, and security solutions to enable a more sustainable, safer, smarter, and more connected world.
