Cyber & Digital Resilience Systems Engineer (Western Balkans)
CRDF Global
**Position Summary**
As a central part of its national security strategy, the US government is investing in protecting the critical infrastructure of our allies globally. In support of this strategy and building on our 25 years as a leader in global threat reduction, CRDF Global is implementing large-scale cybersecurity programs in crucial geostrategic regions across Europe & Eurasia (including Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkans, and Central Asia). CRDF Global is seeking a
**Western Balkans**
**Cyber & Digital Resilience Systems Engineer**
to serve as a thought leader and solution design specialist to support the organization in delivering effective, adaptive, and innovative Cybersecurity programming in Europe and Eurasia.
The ability to communicate effectively and to interact with subject matter experts in the government, academic, non-profit, and private sectors is essential.
***The ideal candidate will have spent 8-10 years in progressively more responsible technical positions, and will have transitioned into project and program management, design, and solutioning.***
This position most closely aligns with the Cybersecurity Architect under the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF), and NICE Framework Work Role “Program Management” (work role OG-WRL-010, OPM Code 801).
***This position will require relocation to or residence in North Macedonia, Albania, or Montenegro and will require substantial travel across the Western Balkans region.***
**Major Responsibilities**
**Technical Leadership:**
- Serve as a leading technical specialist on Cybersecurity through strategy development in the Western Balkans, and programming recommendations for CRDF Global support to local governments
- Provide expert technical knowledge on evolving European Union cybersecurity standards, guidelines, risks, and trends in targeted regions of programmatic work
**Program Design and Implementation:**
- Provide technical leadership in the design, planning, and implementation of cybersecurity projects. Develop and present high quality technical program concepts to diverse audiences.
- Develop frameworks and tools for the design, implementation, and evaluation of specific technical components
- Provide guidance to ensure that program implementation adheres to appropriate technical standards and guidelines, particularly EU / NIS2 and that programs are technically sound
**Portfolio Development:**
- Contribute to discussions with CRDF leadership in developing new business opportunities and required capabilities to expand our cybersecurity footprint throughout Europe and Eurasia
- Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with donor/client organizations, in-country partners (CERTs, universities), relevant U.S. and foreign government agencies, and other organizations
- Present at external events, including conferences and seminars, representing CRDF Global
- Leverage regional and technical expertise to support CRDF Global’s other program portfolios
**Requirements:**
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
- 8+ years of progressively responsible work experience in information security/cybersecurity or a related field in support of government clients
- Demonstrated knowledge of current cybersecurity policies, trends, issues and challenges in a global context, including threat actors, recent vulnerabilities and breaches of note, mitigation strategies, and security policy frameworks
- Established international knowledge and relationship network, particularly in Europe and Eurasia
- Strong conceptual skills combined with the ability to take ambitious ideas and to break them into manageable, specific sets of objectives. Ability to plan and successfully implement creative and ambitious programs in a complex environment
- Demonstrated ability in successful change management
- Experience in solution design/proposal development and budgeting
- Advanced conversation and presentation skills that can influence senior decision makers
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to engage and influence a wide range of individuals from varied backgrounds at all levels within their organizations
- Willing and able to travel internationally
- Fluency in spoken and written English
**Preferred:**
- Master’s degree in computer science or related field
- Fluency in a relevant regional language such as Albanian, Serbo-Croatian is strongly preferredf
- Industry certification(s), such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Knowledge of foreign assistance programs, particularly in the European Union
*CRDF Global offers a competitive salary and benefits package.*
*CRDF Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). CRDF Global provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran, age, or disability status.*
As a central part of its national security strategy, the US government is investing in protecting the critical infrastructure of our allies globally. In support of this strategy and building on our 25 years as a leader in global threat reduction, CRDF Global is implementing large-scale cybersecurity programs in crucial geostrategic regions across Europe & Eurasia (including Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkans, and Central Asia). CRDF Global is seeking a
**Western Balkans**
**Cyber & Digital Resilience Systems Engineer**
to serve as a thought leader and solution design specialist to support the organization in delivering effective, adaptive, and innovative Cybersecurity programming in Europe and Eurasia.
The ability to communicate effectively and to interact with subject matter experts in the government, academic, non-profit, and private sectors is essential.
***The ideal candidate will have spent 8-10 years in progressively more responsible technical positions, and will have transitioned into project and program management, design, and solutioning.***
This position most closely aligns with the Cybersecurity Architect under the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF), and NICE Framework Work Role “Program Management” (work role OG-WRL-010, OPM Code 801).
***This position will require relocation to or residence in North Macedonia, Albania, or Montenegro and will require substantial travel across the Western Balkans region.***
**Major Responsibilities**
**Technical Leadership:**
- Serve as a leading technical specialist on Cybersecurity through strategy development in the Western Balkans, and programming recommendations for CRDF Global support to local governments
- Provide expert technical knowledge on evolving European Union cybersecurity standards, guidelines, risks, and trends in targeted regions of programmatic work
**Program Design and Implementation:**
- Provide technical leadership in the design, planning, and implementation of cybersecurity projects. Develop and present high quality technical program concepts to diverse audiences.
- Develop frameworks and tools for the design, implementation, and evaluation of specific technical components
- Provide guidance to ensure that program implementation adheres to appropriate technical standards and guidelines, particularly EU / NIS2 and that programs are technically sound
**Portfolio Development:**
- Contribute to discussions with CRDF leadership in developing new business opportunities and required capabilities to expand our cybersecurity footprint throughout Europe and Eurasia
- Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with donor/client organizations, in-country partners (CERTs, universities), relevant U.S. and foreign government agencies, and other organizations
- Present at external events, including conferences and seminars, representing CRDF Global
- Leverage regional and technical expertise to support CRDF Global’s other program portfolios
**Requirements:**
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
- 8+ years of progressively responsible work experience in information security/cybersecurity or a related field in support of government clients
- Demonstrated knowledge of current cybersecurity policies, trends, issues and challenges in a global context, including threat actors, recent vulnerabilities and breaches of note, mitigation strategies, and security policy frameworks
- Established international knowledge and relationship network, particularly in Europe and Eurasia
- Strong conceptual skills combined with the ability to take ambitious ideas and to break them into manageable, specific sets of objectives. Ability to plan and successfully implement creative and ambitious programs in a complex environment
- Demonstrated ability in successful change management
- Experience in solution design/proposal development and budgeting
- Advanced conversation and presentation skills that can influence senior decision makers
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to engage and influence a wide range of individuals from varied backgrounds at all levels within their organizations
- Willing and able to travel internationally
- Fluency in spoken and written English
**Preferred:**
- Master’s degree in computer science or related field
- Fluency in a relevant regional language such as Albanian, Serbo-Croatian is strongly preferredf
- Industry certification(s), such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Knowledge of foreign assistance programs, particularly in the European Union
*CRDF Global offers a competitive salary and benefits package.*
*CRDF Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). CRDF Global provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran, age, or disability status.*
