Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO)

Job Opportunity at NtivaAre you looking for limitless career opportunities with a company that values growth, innovation, and teamwork? At Ntiva, we're more than a Managed Services Provider, we're a community dedicated to helping each other, our clients, and their businesses thrive both personally and professionally. Ntiva is a culture of people who are passionate about the work…and each other.Our clients view us as an essential part of their teams, relying on us for strategic guidance, fast solutions to complex challenges, and proactive support. With strategic locations across the U.S. and leadership from our founder, Steven Freidkin, we're on the front lines of a fast-paced industry, facing cybersecurity threats and rapid technology changes together.If you thrive in a dynamic, supportive environment and enjoy going above and beyond, we'd love to meet you. Come explore one of our many opportunities and grow with us!How you'll make an impactAs a vCISO, you will serve as a fractional security leader and trusted advisor to Ntiva's GovCon clients, owning the direction of their security program while staying close enough to the work to move it forward. You will lead security and compliance strategy for both prospective and existing clients across the defense industrial base regulatory landscape (CMMC, NIST 800-171/172, DFARS, and the frameworks around them), translate those requirements into practical, prioritized roadmaps, and provide the ongoing assurance clients need to stay defensible over time — not just at a point-in-time assessment. You will support new-business pursuits, strengthen and expand current relationships, and work closely with Sales, Account Management, Engineering, and Delivery teams to align security initiatives with client business objectives. In this role you will help shape Ntiva's go-to-market approach for security and compliance services, mature the GovCon service stack, and ensure a consistent, scalable, and high-quality client experience across delivery, compliance, and advisory.Location and work expectationsThis is a hybrid role with approximately 10% on-site work at client locations. We are seeking candidates located in either the Chicago or Kansas City areas. The specific allocation of remote versus onsite requirements may fluctuate based on business needs.Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm CSTWhat you will be doingServe as the fractional security leader for a portfolio of GovCon clients, setting security program direction, building and maintaining multi-year security roadmaps, and reporting risk and progress to client leadership in clear business terms.Lead client risk management: conduct and interpret risk assessments, maintain risk registers, and drive risk-based prioritization of remediation and security investment.Own ongoing compliance assurance across client programs, continuous control monitoring, periodic reassessment, and evidence maintenance, keeping SPRS scores, SSPs, and POA&Ms current and defensible between formal assessments.Lead CMMC Level 2 and NIST 800-171 readiness for clients: scope the environment, direct gap assessments, and guide remediation from findings through validated closure. (Ntiva prepares and maintains clients for certification; it is not a C3PAO and does not perform the certifying assessment.)Technically validate control implementation, review configurations across identity, endpoint, network, cloud (Microsoft 365 / Azure), and logging to confirm NIST 800-171 controls are actually in place and effective, not just documented on paper.Advise on security architecture and tooling, identity, endpoint, network/firewall, and logging/monitoring, partnering with Engineering and Delivery on designs and controls that make compliance scalable and sustainable.Provide security leadership during events and incidents: guide client response, oversee containment and remediation, and ensure applicable reporting obligations (e.g., DFARS View phone number on click.appcast.io) are met.Develop and maintain client security governance, policies, standards, and procedures aligned to NIST 800-171 and client contractual requirements.Support Sales and Account Management as the senior security voice in prospective and existing client discussions, including client calls, strategy sessions, and proposal development.Escalate critical security and compliance risks to GovCon leadership with clear business impact and recommended actions.Contribute to Ntiva's security and compliance go-to-market strategy and to the standardization, documentation, and maturity of the GovCon service stack.You'll be successful in this role if you have experience in/with:5+ years in cybersecurity, security consulting, or IT compliance with a strong technical foundation, including client-facing advisory experience serving as the senior security voice for client leadership.Hands-on experience leading CMMC Level 2 / NIST 800-171 readiness engagements end to end, scoping, control assessment, POA&M management, remediation tracking, and evidence and audit documentation.Strong hands-on command of the security stack, identity and access management (Microsoft Entra ID / Azure AD, MFA, conditional access), endpoint protection (EDR/MDR), network and firewall controls, SIEM/log management, vulnerability management, and email security.Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and Azure security, including government cloud (GCC / GCC High), FIPS-validated encryption, and CUI protection as they apply to DFARS and NIST 800-171.Ability to read and evaluate system configurations and technically validate that controls are implemented and effective, not just documented on paper.Ability to translate technical risk into business-level guidance for client executives and working knowledge of risk management within a managed-services delivery model.Background in IT consulting, managed services (MSP), cybersecurity, or compliance advisory services.Experience supporting GovCon clients and navigating federal regulatory requirements (CMMC, DFARS, NIST 800-171).Experience accurately tracking and documenting billable time in a client-facing consulting or managed-services environment.Strong documentation and communication skills for both technical and executive audiences.Bonus points forTechnical security certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Microsoft SC-200 / SC-300 / SC-100, or Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500).CISSP, CISM, or an equivalent senior security certification.CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP/RPA), CCP, or CCA designation.Hands-on experience implementing or hardening Microsoft 365 GCC High / Azure Government environments.Experience working with or for an IT/Managed Service Provider (MSP).Scripting or automation experience (e.g., PowerShell) for security configuration and validation.Experience participating in or preparing clients for C3PAO assessments.Experience building or maturing a security program from the ground up.Experience supporting sales cycles, including proposal development and compliance-focused client discussions.Experience contributing to go-to-market strategy, service standardization, and cross-functional enablement, including developing repeatable messaging, playbooks, and training for security and compliance programs.Required language skillsAbility to communicate professionally, in English, both written and orallyAbility to write business correspondence and process proceduresAbility to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, and the general publicBenefits and perks include medical, dental and vision coverage for employee and family, 401k + company-matched contributions, group term life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage, short-term and long-term disability coverage, health savings account options / PPO options, employee assistance program, paid time off (PTO) + volunteer time off (VTO) + 8 paid holidays + 3 floating holidays, education reimbursement program, generous employee referral program, dynamic recognition and rewards, clear promotion and advancement tracks, and work with industry-leading talent.The base pay range for this position is expected to be between $100,000 and $140,000 per year. The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position also includes medical benefits, 401(k) eligibility, and PTO. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an