Information Technology Specialist 5 - Cybersecurity Training & Outreach Specialist

About the Department

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.

The Department of Management (DOM), Division of Information Technology (DoIT), is seeking a dynamic Cybersecurity Training & Outreach Specialist to lead statewide efforts in building a strong, security-first culture. In this pivotal role, you will design innovative awareness programs, develop engaging training experiences, and collaborate closely with agencies to ensure the workforce is prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to evolving cyber threats. This position blends education, outreach, compliance, and technology—leveraging- AI tools, behavioral insights, and industry best practices—to strengthen cybersecurity resilience across the state.

What You Will Do

• Lead and maintain the State of Iowa’s cybersecurity awareness and training strategy. 
• Coordinate and deploy statewide security awareness campaigns on core cyber risks. 
• Identify engaging training content, including e-learning, workshops, simulations, and gamified exercises. 
• Align all training activities with the NIST SP 800-50 learning lifecycle. 
• Integrate AI tools to enhance training development, communication, reporting, and workflow efficiency. 
• Deliver specialized, role-based cybersecurity training mapped to NICE SP 800-181 work roles. 
• Update training content to reflect emerging threats, technologies, and attack trends. 
• Coordinate statewide onboarding and recurring security training with agency partners. 
• Ensure all training content meets ADA Title II accessibility requirements. 
• Develop metrics, dashboards, and executive reports to measure training impact and risk trends. 
• Support audits, risk assessments, compliance activities, and continuous program improvement.

What We Are Seeking

• A strategic, forward-thinking communicator who can lead statewide cybersecurity awareness efforts and influence secure behaviors across a diverse workforce.
• A creative training developer skilled at producing engaging, accessible, and role--specific cybersecurity learning experiences.
• A data driven professional who uses metrics, analytics, and dashboards to evaluate program impact and guide continuous improvement.
• An adaptable specialist who stays ahead of emerging threats and leverages AI and modern technologies to enhance training, outreach, and operational efficiency.
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), or other information security, training and outreach certifications are highly desirable.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment
• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings options (RIC)
• Flexible Spending Accounts

Why Work with Us?

At the Iowa Department of Management (DOM), we help government agencies across the state perform at their best by managing financial resources, technology, and information. Our mission is rooted in service—we provide efficient, innovative, and strategic solutions that empower agencies to fulfill their goals.

We’re guided by four core values:

• Integrity – We act with honesty and accountability.
• Teamwork – We collaborate to achieve shared success.
• Service – We are committed to excellence in public service.
• Partnership – We build strong relationships to drive results.

Working Arrangement

This position occasionally requires onsite work in Des Moines, IA. Employees meeting all expectations of their work responsibilities may request fully remote work and develop a hybrid/remote schedule collaboratively with their manager.

Please note, candidates for this position must reside in the state of Iowa at the time of starting the role.

Background Check Requirements

• After a conditional offer of employment has been made, and as the final step in the hiring process, candidates for this position will be subject to a background investigation, which may include but may not be limited to a verification of a candidate’s education, previous employment/work history, contact of personal references, motor vehicle records, and a criminal history check (including through Federal, State, or Local criminal justice agencies).
• Information gathered as part of such background investigation will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by Iowa Code section 22.7, 8B.4A, and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; provided that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such information shall be available to candidates upon request.

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the Federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Position Duties

717 Security Administration
6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in building and maintaining skillset and knowledge base for security issues that impact information technology systems.  Applicants may refer to themselves as Security Administrator.  System Administrator is not the same. 

AND

727 Risk Assessment
6 months experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in analyzing and identifying risks and the corresponding potential impact to information and information technology systems.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

 2) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in computer science, computer applications, software engineering, computer engineering, management information systems, business analytics, or cyber security, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security. 

3) All of the following (a and b): 

a. Three years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and 

b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

4) All of the following (a and b):

a. Five years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and 

b. Either of the following: 

i. Certification from an authorized educational institution/major computer or software producer in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a; or 

ii. Eighteen semester hours from an accredited college or university in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a. 

5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes six months of full-ime work as an Information Technology Specialist 4.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.