Senior Director – Information Technology, Digital Security

Committee to Protect Journalists

Lead IT and Digital Security initiatives at CPJ, a non-profit defending press freedom globally. Oversee technology strategy, data governance, and information security functions.

Posted 5/23/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $174,832 - $196,686 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Cloud

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

CPJ is hiring a Senior Director - Information Technology & Digital Security to provide strategic leadership across the organization's technology infrastructure, data governance, and information security functions.
Develop and execute a unified strategy that safeguards sensitive information, strengthens operational resilience, and supports CPJ's global mission to defend press freedom.
Oversee core systems and platforms, establish and enforce organization-wide standards, guide data architecture and lifecycle management, and provide unified technology and security leadership across CPJ's distributed, global operating model.
Working closely with CPJ leadership and regional teams, oversee vendor relationships and ensure systems, controls, and governance structures support the organization's long-term effectiveness and duty of care to staff and journalists.
Evaluate CPJ's core technology platforms against security and operational needs, drive the implementation of CPJ's data governance and retention frameworks, and strengthen the organization's digital security and safety function.
Establish governance structures, standards, and organizational culture that will reduce risk to CPJ's staff, journalists, and integrity of its work.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum 10 years of progressive management and leadership experience in technology, data governance, and/or information security roles.
Ideally, in a nonprofit, press freedom media, or human rights context.
Demonstrated experience developing and leading enterprise-wide technology or information security strategy within a distributed or multi-regional organization.
Experience managing outsourced IT providers and complex SaaS ecosystems.
Strong understanding of cloud-based infrastructure, identity and access management, endpoint security, and enterprise collaboration platforms.
Experience working with enterprise CRM or structured data platforms (e.g., Salesforce or comparable systems) in a governance or oversight capacity.
Experience with organization-wide data governance policies, including data classification, access controls, retention standards, and stewardship models.
Understanding of data architecture principles, system integration, and information lifecycle management.
Ability to interpret data models, architecture diagrams, and governance documentation to assess areas of integrity, risk, and compliance.
Experience developing and implementing information security programs, including incident response frameworks and compliance mechanisms.
Familiarity with risk assessment methodologies for mission-driven or international organizations.
Understanding of cross-border data storage considerations, jurisdictional exposure, and privacy implications in international operations.
Experience translating technical risk into clear decision-making and organizational policy.
Demonstrated ability to balance security, usability, and operational realities in complex operating environments.
Ability to lead complex, matrix-managed teams, set standards and ensure adoption across decentralized teams and regions.
Experience working across cultures, time zones, and international contexts.
Ability to work with compassion and professionalism, maintaining confidentiality and trust.
Proactive approach to work, with experience working independently.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work with a high degree of confidentiality.
Ability to work calmly and professionally in high-pressure situations, when rapid response is sometimes required.
Excellent written communication skills.
Fluency in English.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Benefit packages are specific to the hiring location.
More specific information will be provided as part of the interview process.
If this position is hired outside of the United States, it will ultimately be managed by an Employer of Record (EOR) firm that is engaged by CPJ for the purpose of employing international staff.
Benefits will be consistent with those typically offered by the EOR firm in the country of hire.

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Hard Skills & Tools

data governanceinformation securitycloud-based infrastructureidentity and access managementendpoint securitydata architecturesystem integrationinformation lifecycle managementincident response frameworksrisk assessment methodologies

Soft Skills

leadershipcommunicationinterpersonal skillsproactive approachability to work independentlyability to work under pressurecompassionprofessionalismconfidentialitycross-cultural collaboration