OPT Information Security Specialist Jobs

Employment Status:

Full time (29-40 Hrs)

Type of Employment:

Staff

# of openings:

1

Location:

ASU-Jonesboro

Proposed Salary Range:

$60,000.00

Closing:

5/19/26

Please note: All postings close at 12 A.M. CST on the closing date. A-State participates in E-Verify.

Position Summary:

The Security Operations Center (SOC) Coordinator provides oversight, mentorship, and technical guidance for Arkansas State University’s student-led Security Operations Center. This role serves as the primary liaison between student analysts, ITS Leadership, and relevant campus stakeholders. This position will report to the Director of IT Security and operates as a member of the IT Security team.

The coordinator is responsible for managing day-to-day SOC operations, developing student skills through structured training and supervision, and ensuring consistent incident handling, documentation, and escalation procedures. While students perform much of the hands-on monitoring and analysis, the SOC Coordinator maintains accountability for operational quality, continuity, and adherence to university policies.

This role is governed by state and federal laws and institutional policies.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Security Operation Center Oversight

• Serve as the primary resource for student analysts.
• Establish and maintain SOC operating procedures, and workflows for student analysts.
• Manage student analyst scheduling and attendance.
• Ensure security monitoring, alert triage, and incident handling activities are performed in accordance with university standards.
• Serve as the escalation point for security incidents identified by student analysts.

Student Supervision and Development

• Recruit, onboard, and supervise student SOC analysts.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to support student learning and professional development.
• Develop and deliver training materials, labs, and exercises related to SOC operations, tools, and processes.
• Evaluate student performance and provide feedback aligned with academic and program expectations.

IT Security Operations

• Serve as an operational extension of the University IT Security team while supporting SOC activities.
• Participate directly in university incident response, investigations, and containment activities as required.
• Coordinate incident escalation, communication, and resolution between student analysts and IT Security leadership.
• Contribute to IT Security projects and initiatives beyond the student-led SOC, as directed by IT Security leadership.
• Perform other duties assigned related to university-wide cybersecurity initiatives.

Collaboration and Institutional Engagement

• Serve as a liaison between the student-led SOC, IT Security team, academic partners, external partners, and other campus stakeholders.
• Collaborate with faculty to align SOC activities with academic programs, internships, and experiential learning.
• Collaborate with external partners to ensure SOC objectives are in alignment with both University and partner goals.

Documentation & Process Adherence

• Document work, resolutions, and device actions within the ticketing system (e.g., TeamDynamix).
• Follow and contribute to institutional standards, SOPs, and incident management documentation.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to SOC workflows and Incident Response processes.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Working knowledge of modern security operation center workflows, practices, and standards.
• Familiarity with common security operation center tools (e.g., CrowdStrike, Proofpoint, Microsoft Defender).
• Strong technical documentation skills for incident records, procedures, and reports.
• Effective mentoring and coaching skills to support student learning and development.
• Ability to communicate technical security concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Organizational and time-management skills to balance operational security responsibilities with student supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information responsibly.

General Days/Hours:

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Additional hours as requested and/or needed.

Regular and reliable attendance.

Other:

Please note: all position postings close at 12:00 A.M. CST on the position closing date.

Minimum Qualifications:

• The formal education equivalent of an earned bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Two (2) years of experience working in a Security Operations Center or a comparable security environment preferred.
• One or more entry-level or intermediate industry-recognized IT or cybersecurity certification(s) preferred.

OR

• The formal education equivalent of an earned associate's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Four (4) years of experience working in a Security Operations Center or a comparable security environment preferred.
• One or more entry-level or intermediate industry-recognized IT or cybersecurity certification(s) required.

AND

• The ability to pass a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) background check and obtain CJIS clearance.

Other job-related Education and/or Experience may be substituted for all or part of these basic requirements, except for certification or licensure requirements, upon approval or the qualifications review committee.