Cybersecurity Operations Manager chez City of Tacoma, WA

About the Department

The City of Tacoma's Information Technology Department is seeking a Senior Technology Manager to lead the Cybersecurity Operations team. This role reports to the City’s Chief Information Security Officer and is responsible for supervising a team of cybersecurity analysts who deploy, manage, and monitor security tools, respond to incidents, and proactively identify and mitigate threats to the organization. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with deep technical knowledge of security operations and a proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop team members.

We offer flexible hybrid work (about 90% remote); however, teleworkers must reside in Washington State within two hours of their onsite work location. You’ll be supported by leadership that trusts your judgment and work in a culture where equity, accessibility, and continuous learning are minimum expectations. If you’re proactive, curious, and confident navigating both technology and local government, this is a place where you can make a lasting impact. 

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and develop a cybersecurity team through coaching, performance reviews, and goal setting.
• Manage task assignments, scheduling, and 24/7 coverage (as needed) including on-call rotations.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented team culture.

Security Operations

• Oversee selection, deployment, maintenance, and use of security tools (SIEM, EDR, email security, etc.) in hybrid cloud/on-prem environment.
• Lead incident investigations, incident response, threat hunting, and proactive analysis of security events.
• Drive improvements to controls and processes based on risk and threat intelligence.

Program Management & Collaboration

• Align security initiatives with IT, compliance, and risk teams; support audits and regulatory efforts (e.g., NIST, ISO, CIS Controls, etc.).
• Track metrics and report on team performance, incident trends, and control effectiveness.
• Contribute to policy development, risk assessments, and security architecture reviews.

Position Duties

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in information technology or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
6 years of progressively responsible information technology and project management experience in the area of assignment including 1 year as a technology supervisor, manager or subject-matter expert.

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements Obtained Upon Hire: 
North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection certification (NERC-CIP)

Criminal Justice Information Services certification (CJIS)
 
 *Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and standards – including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800 series publications, and CIS Critical Security Controls.
• Strong leadership and team management skills – ability to lead operations teams, delegate effectively, mentor staff, and foster professional growth.
• Expertise in security monitoring and incident response – skilled in detecting, analyzing, and responding to threats and complex cyber incidents.
• Ability to design and implement security solutions – proficiency in researching, evaluating, and architecting technical controls that meet regulatory, operational, and business requirements.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills – capable of engaging with internal stakeholders, partners, and vendors to promote a security-first culture.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills – adept at evaluating risks, monitoring performance metrics, and identifying trends to improve cybersecurity effectiveness.
• Commitment to continuous learning – ability to stay current with emerging security technologies, tools, and best practices.

Other Qualifications

This recruitment is being managed by Kim Susee, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on LinkedIn!

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details: 

Hourly Rate: $76.10 - $107.16

Annual Salary: $158,288.00 - $222,892.80

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

The Department

The Information Technology Department supports the City’s technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, application development, and innovation efforts across all City departments. The Cybersecurity Operations Team is part of the IT Department’s Information Assurance line of business and is responsible for protecting the City’s digital assets through the use of best practice controls and methodologies.

A Commitment to Equity & Diversity
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Application Process

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process. Applicants who have the strongest backgrounds related to the responsibilities of this position may be invited to participate in the interview process, which may include a work problem. Appointment is subject to passing a background check. 

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.