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Mississippi State University Careers
Director, Mississippi Cyber Initiative
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What they do
A Director of Training and Development is responsible for managing all staff training and professional development programs for an employer or organization. Decides the training requirements of the organization and designs training programs that address staff needs. May also be partially responsible for determining the strategic goals of the organization. Supervises training managers and training staff and evaluates training impact.
$129,751 / year median in Mississippi
+10% projected growth
Job Description
Director, Mississippi Cyber Initiative 511006 Biloxi, MS Mississippi - Not located on main campus 440900 - Vice President for Research Professional Full-Time 12-Month Opening on: Jul 27 2026 Add to favorites View favorites
Position Function:
The Director of the Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI) serves as the chief executive responsible for advancing statewide cybersecurity strategies through collaboration among academia, industry, federal and state government, the Department of War, law enforcement, and private-sector partners. Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, the Director provides strategic vision, executive leadership, and operational oversight for a comprehensive university-led cybersecurity initiative, positioning Mississippi as a leader in cybersecurity, technology innovation, workforce development, applied research, and economic development. The Director, working with the Mississippi State University Research and Technology Corporation, also assists with executive oversight for the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center (MCTC), the operational headquarters of the MCI, and leads its continued growth as a statewide hub for cyber operations, workforce development, digital forensics, research, technology commercialization, and public-private collaboration. Working collaboratively with university leadership, Keesler Air Force Base, government agencies, military partners, institutions of higher education, and private industry, the Director develops and advances a statewide cybersecurity ecosystem that strengthens Mississippi's cyber capabilities while supporting national security, innovation, and economic growth. This position will be stationed at the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center in Biloxi, MS.Salary Grade :
20 Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides strategic leadership for the Mississippi Cyber Initiative by establishing its long-term vision, strategic priorities, and operational objectives while ensuring alignment with Mississippi State University's mission and the cybersecurity needs of the State of Mississippi.
- Provides executive leadership for the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center (MCTC), located in Biloxi, Mississippi, and assists with overseeing its activation, operation, programming, and future expansion while recruiting industry partners, local, state and federal agencies, and emerging technology companies that enhance the Center's capabilities and economic impact.
- Serves as Mississippi State University's principal representative for statewide cybersecurity initiatives by developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with Keesler Air Force Base, the Mississippi National Guard, the Department of War, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, federal and state agencies, law enforcement organizations, institutions of higher education, economic development organizations, and private industry to strengthen cybersecurity readiness and statewide collaboration.
- Provides executive oversight for statewide cybersecurity education and workforce development initiatives, including the Mississippi Cyber Ecosystem and Training Range, by expanding educational partnerships, professional training, experiential learning opportunities, and workforce programs that support government, military, academic, and industry partners.
- Oversees the Mississippi Digital Forensics Laboratory and related digital evidence initiatives, providing strategic leadership for services supporting law enforcement agencies throughout Mississippi.
- Promotes multidisciplinary research and innovation by fostering collaboration among faculty, government laboratories, industry, and strategic partners in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, modeling and simulation, critical infrastructure protection, and other emerging technologies, while supporting technology commercialization and the pursuit of external funding.
- Provides strategic coordination across Mississippi State University's cybersecurity enterprise by working closely with the Directors of the Center for Cyber Education, the Center for Cyber Innovation, and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering to identify collaborative opportunities, align strategic priorities, and deliver integrated education, research, workforce development, and technical capabilities that advance the mission of the Mississippi Cyber Initiative and the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center.
- Advances economic development initiatives by positioning the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center as a catalyst for business recruitment, technology investment, innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-wage job creation while strengthening partnerships with technology companies, defense contractors, and economic development organizations.
- Provides executive oversight for organizational operations, including strategic planning, personnel, budgets, facilities, performance measurement, and resource development while ensuring responsible stewardship of university and externally funded resources and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree and ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in cybersecurity, law enforcement, digital forensics, public safety, national security, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-organizational initiatives and build consensus among government, military, academic, and private-sector partners.
- Demonstrated experience managing personnel, budgets, strategic initiatives, and externally funded programs.
- Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Additional graduate studies, certifications, and/or credentials related to cybersecurity, digital forensics, or a related area.
- Senior executive leadership experience within a federal, state, or local agency with responsibilities related to cybersecurity, digital forensics, law enforcement, homeland security, or national security.
- Experience leading statewide or regional cybersecurity initiatives involving multiple governmental and private-sector partners.
- Previous participation in Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI) programs, exercises, training events, or collaborative activities, demonstrating an understanding of the initiative's mission and strategic objectives.
- Established relationships with key MCI stakeholders, including the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Keesler Air Force Base, the Department of War, the Mississippi National Guard, federal and state agencies, institutions of higher education, and industry partners.
- Demonstrated success developing strategic partnerships, securing external funding, and advancing technology, workforce, research, and economic development initiatives.
- Active security clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate security clearance.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Comprehensive knowledge of cybersecurity, digital forensics, emerging technologies, national security, and workforce development trends.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic initiatives through collaboration among academic, industry, government, military, and law enforcement partners.
- Exceptional executive leadership, organizational management, and decision-making skills with the ability to lead complex, multi-organizational programs.
- Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and consensus-building skills with stakeholders at the local, state, federal, and private-sector levels.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to effectively represent the University before executive leaders, elected officials, funding agencies, and external partners.
- Experience with strategic planning, budget development, personnel management, and stewardship of externally funded programs.
- Knowledge of research administration, technology commercialization, and economic development principles that support innovation and public-private partnerships.
- Ability to identify emerging opportunities, secure external funding, and translate strategic objectives into measurable outcomes.
- Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and operational excellence across multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to obtain and maintain appropriate security clearances and effectively operate in environments involving sensitive or controlled information, as required. Working Conditions and Physical Effort
- Requires lifting of IT devices, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
- Frequent external imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are vital to the position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.
- Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, and handling objects with hands.