Information Security Officer - Principal Manager I

Overview

The Information Technology office is seeking a Principal Manager I to serve as the Information Security Officer (ISO) for the Judicial Council and the broader Judicial Branch.

This senior‑level role reports directly to the Chief Information Officer and leads the Judicial Council’s Information Security Services Program. This position is responsible for protecting branchwide information systems, strengthening cybersecurity practices, and advising Judicial Council leadership, committees, and California courts on security matters.  

The ISO sets the strategic direction for information security, oversees the Security Operations Center (SOC), and ensures consistent, high‑quality security services across the Judicial Council, Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and Trial Courts. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, establishing and enforcing security frameworks, developing and training of security staff, managing risk and compliance programs, and leading major security initiatives across on‑premises and cloud environments.

This role supervises major security programs and projects, including the design, implementation, and deployment of key technologies and strategic initiatives. Additionally, the ISO ensures secure and cohesive operations across on‑premises and cloud environments, providing leadership on cloud governance, architecture, and risk mitigation.

As the Judicial Council’s cybersecurity advisor and subject matter expert, the ISO represents the branch in executive discussions, committees, and public forums and provides expert guidance to leaders and external partners.

The Judicial Council
The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to reside within the State of California and travel to office and court locations throughout the state as business needs dictate.

Responsibilities

•    Provides security leadership and acts as a security subject matter expert advising to the Judicial Council, the judicial branch and judicial branch committees.
•    Oversight of security governance, privacy, compliance and risk management.
•    Oversight of the development and delivery of the information security office’s programs and services.
      o    Incident response program
      o    Disaster recovery, business continuity, and cybersecurity resiliency
      o    Security risk assessments, and vulnerability management
•    Oversees the development of security policies.
•    Promotes security awareness and accountability.
•    Supervises the information security program staff.
•    Develops and manages the information security office budget and financial portfolio.
•    Oversees the procurement of security products and services.
 

 Other Duties and Responsibilities:
•    Attends weekly management staff meetings.
•    Attends annual technology roadmap sessions.
•    Attends semi-annual Judicial Council all-staff meetings.
•    Attends semi-annual Information Technology all staff meetings.
•    Attends quarterly status meetings with various key vendors and state partners.
 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of professional analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience. An additional four (4) years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor’s degree.
Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

OR

Master’s degree in a directly related field for the assigned discipline and three (3) years of professional-level analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience.

Desirable Qualifications:
Educational
•    Degree in information technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field.

Experience
•    5-10 Years of progressive responsibility in IT and Information Security roles
•    Proven leadership in developing and implementing security policies, frameworks, and incident response plans
•    Cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CISM, CASP+, CISA)
•    Cybersecurity framework experience (NIST SP 800-53, CJIS compliance, ISO 27001)
•    Knowledge of regulatory requirements and frameworks (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DCSS, SOC 2)
•    Experience with security technologies such as SIEM, IDS/IPS, endpoint protection, firewalls and DLP systems
•    Proficiency in security protocols (SSL/TLS, IPsec), authentication mechanisms, and encryption techniques.
•    Experience with 
      o    Zero Trust Architecture
      o    AI Risk Governance
      o    Cloud security governance across cloud platforms (i.e. Azure, AWS, GCP).

Soft Skills
•    Leadership and team management. Ability to guide cross-functional teams and manage vendor relationships.
•    Communication skills. Clearly convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and executives.
•    Strategic thinking. Align security initiatives with organizational goals and business strategy.
•    Analytical skills. Assess threats, vulnerabilities, and risks effectively.
•    Problem-solving. Respond to security incidents with poise and develop effective solutions.
•    Collaboration and partnership.  Maintain positive working relationships with other business units and internal/external partners.
 

How To Apply

This position requires the submission of our official application, responses to the supplemental questions, and a resume. This position will remain open until filled.

To complete the online application, please click the Apply for Job button.

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260.

Other Information

Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment authorization to work in the United States will be required.

Pay and Benefits

$10,475 - $15,713 per month

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:
•    Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
•    14 paid holidays per calendar year
•    Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
•    1 personal holiday per year
•    Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
•    CalPERS Retirement Plan
•    401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
•    Employee Assistance Program
•    Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
•    FlexElect Program
•    Pretax Parking
•    Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
•    Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
•    Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility

Supplemental Questions

To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following questions. Please indicate for which employer you performed these functions. Your answers should not exceed a total of three pages.

1.    Describe the largest security program you have managed. Please include:
      a.    The size of organization (small, medium, large).
      b.    Number of employees.
      c.    Security program’s scope and mission.
      d.    How many people did you supervise directly?
      e.    What was your security operating budget?

2.    Developing and updating policies is an essential responsibility of this position. Describe and provide examples of the security policies that you have developed.