Director of Information Technology and Security

Acara Solutions is partnering with a global manufacturing client seeking a Director of Information Technology Security to lead and manage its enterprise-wide security strategy. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for overseeing global IT/security operations, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, and fostering a culture of security throughout the organization.

Location: Richardson, TX or Maple Grove, MN

Compensation & Benefits:

Competitive base salary

Performance bonus of up to 25%

Full benefits package including RSUs and 401(k)

Travel: Up to 30% (primarily U.S.)

Key Responsibilities:

Security Strategy & Culture

Develop and lead the global security strategy aligned with business objectives

Promote security awareness and best practices throughout the organization

Mentor and lead a global IT/security team of ~30 professionals

Incident Response & Threat Management

Own and evolve the incident response program, including post-incident analysis

Use analytics to detect threats and improve threat detection capabilities

Governance, Risk & Compliance

Ensure full compliance with ITAR, DFAR, NIST, and CMMC regulations

Maintain and evolve security policies and procedures to meet regulatory standards

Conduct regular security assessments and audits

Technology & Innovation

Evaluate and implement modern security tools and practices

Drive continuous improvement in security technology adoption

Vendor Management

Oversee relationships with key third-party vendors

Keep the CIO/CISO informed on emerging trends and vendor performance

Required Skills / Qualifications:

10+ years of experience in IT, with at least 7 years focused on information security and risk management

5+ years of experience in a senior or director-level security leadership role

Strong background in manufacturing environments

Hands-on experience with ITAR, DFAR, NIST, and CMMC frameworks and compliance

Demonstrated success leading global or distributed security teams

Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Skills / Qualifications:

Master's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or a related field

CISSP, CISM, or other relevant industry certifications

Experience leading security initiatives in Aerospace and Defense sectors

Familiarity with Zero Trust architecture or other modern security frameworks

Proven success in developing and scaling security programs in fast-growing or M&A-heavy environments

Experience presenting to executive boards and shaping enterprise security policy

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.