Executive Vice President, Advocacy and Strategic Engagement

Your Future. Secured. ISC2 is a force for good. As the world’s leading nonprofit member organization for cybersecurity professionals, our core values — Integrity, Advocacy, Commitment, Inclusion and Excellence — drive everything we do in support of our vision of a safe and secure cyber world. Our globally recognized, award-winning portfolio of certifications provide an independent and globally recognized endorsement of cybersecurity knowledge, skills and experience for all career levels. Our charitable arm, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, enables ISC2 and our members to serve the public by educating the most vulnerable about cyber risks and empowering access to enter and thrive in the cyber profession.

When you join ISC2, you’ll demonstrate your commitment to an inclusive and equitable environment. Your support of the unique perspectives and experiences shared by our global cybersecurity workforce and profession will be recognized. We invite you to take an active role in helping us create a true sense of belonging across our organization — an environment of authenticity, trust, empowerment and connectedness that empowers all of our successes.

The EVP, Advocacy and Strategic Engagement is responsible for designing and advancing ISC2’s global strategy for advocacy, strategic engagement, and external affairs. This role serves as a senior ambassador for ISC2’s mission across a network of partners, government entities, major employers, academic institutions, chapter leaders, and thought leaders in the global marketplace. The EVP will help define how ISC2 engages on major issues at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, digital trust, public policy, professional development, and workforce strategy. The role is responsible for shaping and leading the organization’s global advocacy agenda, developing high-impact strategic partnerships, strengthening ISC2’s external visibility and thought leadership, and advising the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on external positioning, emerging issues, and long-term influence.

Responsibilities

• Architects and advances an enterprise-wide global advocacy and strategic engagement strategy aligned to ISC2’s organizational priorities.
• Serves as a catalyst for the synthesis and prioritization of key issues, positions, and strategies related to organizational objectives and enterprise priorities.
• Advances the growth and strategic position of ISC2 by establishing and maintaining effective formal and informal links with major constituencies, including relevant government departments and agencies, major employers, key industry leaders, academic institutions, nonprofit and NGO decision-makers, chapter leaders and members, and other thought leaders and stakeholders.
• Serves as an ISC2 champion and ambassador in the exchange of knowledge and views, ensuring that ISC2 has the appropriate range of relationships, support, and programs to achieve desired outcomes.
• Shapes ISC2’s point of view and public voice on cybersecurity workforce development, AI governance, digital trust, certification and skills pathways, and the future of the profession.
• Leads the development of strategic partnerships that expand ISC2’s influence, reach, and mission effectiveness globally.
• Helps position ISC2 as a leading convener on issues at the intersection of cyber workforce, AI, and digital trust.
• Supports ISC2’s effort to develop new markets with an eye toward increased footprint, impact, engagement, and the delivery of market-appropriate programs and global operations.
• Provides strategic advice and guidance to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team and keeps them aware of opportunities and developments across public policy, industry, academia, standards, and the global cybersecurity ecosystem.
• Advises on emerging issues including AI security, digital trust, cyber workforce resilience, standards, and related global technology governance issues.
• Supports the CEO in interface with the Board of Directors and external stakeholders as it relates to the portfolio and refinement of ISC2’s long-term strategy.
• Represents ISC2 with credibility in senior forums, coalitions, public conversations, and major industry gatherings.
• Drives accurate and disciplined operating protocols, including clear targets, KPIs, and accountability across the function.
• Prepares, gains acceptance for, and monitors implementation of the annual portfolio budget to ensure financial targets are met.
• Develops a diverse and inclusive, high-performing, accountable team of employees and consultants necessary to accomplish ISC2’s mission and objectives.
• Serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, acting as a champion of ISC2’s employee culture, leading by example, and committed to developing future employee leaders.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Behavioral Competencies

• Demonstrated skills in complex decision-making, problem-solving, and planning.
• Strong analytical thinking, strategic judgment, and innovation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and commitment to building diverse and inclusive teams that drive results and create effective, engaged, and motivated teams.
• Strong systems thinking and relationship management skills, including superior ability to influence stakeholders.
• Superior communication, negotiation, diplomacy, and public speaking skills.
• Strong executive presence and comfort representing the organization in high-profile external settings.

Management Responsibility

• Employee Development - Provides feedback, coaches employees appropriately, takes a mentoring role, challenges and develops employees, and creates growth opportunities.
• Employee Management - Defines responsibilities, motivates employees, delegates well, rewards appropriately, and builds a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success leading external engagement, strategic partnerships, advocacy, public policy, technology policy, digital trust, cybersecurity, or related functions.
• Strong credibility at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, digital trust, workforce, public policy, and institutional strategy.
• Experience engaging senior leaders across government, industry, academia, nonprofit, and multistakeholder environments.
• Experience shaping thought leadership, public positioning, convenings, or cross-sector initiatives preferred.
• Exceptional interpersonal, networking, and stakeholder management skills, with emphasis on verbal communication and interfacing with a diverse array of people.
• Familiarity with global cybersecurity public policy issues, standards, legal and regulatory schemes, and profession trends preferred.
• Experience within a global nonprofit, professional organization, technology company, advisory firm, or similarly complex institution preferred.
• Strong computer and technical skills including MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), internet, and web applications.
• ISC2 credential familiarity or direct connection to the cybersecurity profession is a plus.

Education and Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent senior executive experience preferred.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in external affairs, public policy, strategic partnerships, technology policy, cybersecurity, digital trust, workforce, or related fields.
• Experience operating across multiple sectors, such as government, industry, academia, or nonprofit, strongly preferred.
• Experience leading global teams and working across multiple time zones strongly preferred.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, including overnight and international travel.
• In-person meetings will be required.
• Work normal business hours and extended hours when necessary, with flexibility across time zones.
• Regular use of office equipment such as a computer/laptop and monitor computer screens.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other computer components.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic as protected by applicable law. Job candidates will not be obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest as part of the hiring process.