Director of IT & Cybersecurity

About Crunchbase

Crunchbase is a predictive solution that provides intelligence on private companies, powered by the unique combination of live private company data, AI, and market activity from over 80 million users. We predict private market movements that matter to help investors, dealmakers, and analysts make the right decisions.

We are committed to fostering a positive, diverse, and inclusive culture by hiring for potential and embracing individuals with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets. We value transparency and openness, believing that an inclusive environment strengthens our teams and enhances our products.

Crunchbase has a remote-first approach, and is open to hiring in residents of these states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Maine.

Our inclusive remote-first culture, competitive pay, and employee wellness benefits set us apart!
About the Role:

The Director of IT & Cybersecurity at Crunchbase is responsible for defining and leading the company's enterprise technology strategy, cybersecurity management, compliance programs, and organization-wide AI enablement initiatives. This role oversees internal IT operations, security, enterprise systems, and employee technology management while ensuring scalable, secure, and efficient operations across the organization.

This leader will play a critical role in shaping how Crunchbase operates in an AI-enabled environment by driving enterprise adoption of AI technologies, automation, and modern operational practices across business functions. The Director will partner cross-functionally to identify opportunities to modernize workflows, improve decision-making, increase organizational efficiency, and reduce operational risk through practical AI implementation.

In addition, this role owns the company's cybersecurity posture, risk management framework, and compliance programs, overseeing adherence to SOC 2, SSPA, and other applicable security and regulatory standards.

This role requires a strategic and hands-on leader who can balance operational excellence with long-term transformation initiatives while building scalable systems, governance models, and high-performing teams.
What You'll Do:

• IT Infrastructure & Operations
  
  • Define and lead the company's IT strategy, ensuring internal systems, infrastructure, and technology operations operate efficiently and scale effectively
  • Establish long-term operational roadmaps for enterprise systems, endpoint management, networking, collaboration platforms, and employee technology experience
  • Drive modernization and optimization of internal technology ecosystems through automation, integration, and operational design
  • Lead strategic planning for IT architecture, business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience
  • Establish operational standards, governance models, and lifecycle management practices across enterprise technology systems
  • Own the enterprise vendor inventory and third-party risk management process, including approved use cases, security review status, contractual/security terms, renewal tracking, subprocessors where applicable, and ongoing monitoring for material changes.
  • Ensure internal technology operations support organizational productivity, security, and long-term business objectives
• Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance Management
  
  • Define and lead the company's enterprise cybersecurity and risk management strategy
  • Establish scalable security governance frameworks, policies, and operational controls that protect company systems, data, and users
  • Establish proactive monitoring and response practices for emerging cybersecurity risks, including AI supply-chain threats, SaaS/vendor security issues, identity risks, and vulnerabilities affecting enterprise tools and employee workflows.
  • Oversee enterprise compliance and certification programs and other applicable security and regulatory standards
  • Evaluate and manage security, privacy, and compliance risks associated with AI tools, agentic workflows, model/tooling updates, integrations, browser agents, coding assistants, and third-party AI vendors.
  • Partner with executive leadership to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate operational and cybersecurity risks
  • Lead organizational security strategy across identity management, endpoint security, access governance, incident response, and third-party risk management
  • Establish and enforce consistent login, authentication, session timeout, and mobile access policies across enterprise systems, including documented exceptions and periodic review.
  • Ensure the company maintains audit readiness and operational compliance through scalable controls, processes, and documentation practices
  • Own the process for ensuring new vendors, tools, and material vendor changes are captured in vendor inventories, reviewed through applicable security/compliance workflows, and accurately reflected in compliance systems such as Vanta or equivalent platforms.
  • Drive company-wide security awareness and risk management practices that strengthen organizational resilience
• AI Transformation & Operational Enablement
  
  • Define and lead the company's enterprise AI enablement strategy, driving adoption of AI technologies across business functions to improve operational scale, efficiency, and decision-making
  • Partner with executive leadership to identify high-impact opportunities for AI, automation, and intelligent workflow transformation across the organization
  • Establish ongoing governance for AI tools and agentic systems, including monitoring of model updates, feature changes, permission changes, data handling changes, security advisories, and impacts to approved use cases.
  • Drive modernization of internal systems and workflows through AI-powered tooling, automation, and process redesign
  • Evaluate and implement emerging technologies that improve organizational effectiveness and reduce operational friction
  • Partner cross-functionally to ensure AI initiatives align with business priorities, security standards, and long-term operational strategy
  • Promote organization-wide AI fluency and enablement through tooling, education, and operational guidance
• Employee Technology & Workplace Support
  
  • Define the strategy for employee technology experience across a distributed workforce, ensuring scalable, secure, and efficient operational support
  • Oversee initiatives that improve employee productivity, onboarding experiences, collaboration, and operational enablement through technology and automation
  • Oversee operational support for remote employees and a small onsite office environment, ensuring alignment with company standards and business continuity needs
• Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
  
  • Define the strategic roadmap for enterprise technology, cybersecurity, and internal operational systems
  • Serve as a key cross-functional leader partnering with Product, Engineering, Finance, Legal, People, and executive leadership to align technology investments with company priorities
  • Lead organizational planning for enterprise systems, operational scalability, security posture, and AI transformation initiatives
  • Build, mentor, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and operational excellence
  • Oversee departmental planning, budgeting, vendor strategy, and resource allocation
  • Provide executive-level insights and recommendations related to operational risk, cybersecurity, compliance, and enterprise technology strategy
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Team Oversight: Directly supervise a team to oversee their day-to-day activities and ensure alignment with goals and standards.
• Performance Management: Conduct regular performance reviews, set clear objectives, and provide constructive feedback to foster professional development and high-quality work.
• Hiring and Training: Play an active role in hiring new team members, as needed. Develop and implement training programs to enhance team skills and knowledge.
• Conflict Resolution: Act as a mediator in resolving any interpersonal or professional conflicts within the team, ensuring a positive and productive work environment.
• Resource Management: Allocate resources effectively, including managing work schedules, balancing workloads, and ensuring the team has the necessary tools and information to perform their roles efficiently.

What We're Looking For:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, or related functions
• 5+ years of experience leading technical, operational, or security organizations
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise technology strategy, operational transformation, or organization-wide AI enablement initiatives
• Experience owning cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management programs in a SaaS or technology environment
• Experience partnering with executive leadership on operational planning, technology strategy, and organizational scaling initiatives
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, ITIL, Security+, or similar) preferred
• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise technology strategy and organizational transformation initiatives
• Strong understanding of enterprise AI adoption, automation strategy, and operational enablement practices
• Experience establishing governance models and risk frameworks for security, compliance, and emerging technologies
• Ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment across business and technical organizations
• Proven ability to scale operational systems, processes, and teams in high-growth or evolving environments
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational leadership
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, and cross-functional operational initiatives
• Strong understanding of workplace operations, facilities management, and employee support environments

Compensation Package:

The total compensation is $206,000 - $242,000. We also offer equity in the form of stock options on top of that as the total compensation package.
What Crunchbase Offers:

At Crunchbase, we're building a culture where talented people can grow, innovate, and make an impact. We invest in our team so everyone has the support, tools, and trust to do meaningful work and thrive - personally and professionally.
Here's what you can expect:

• Competitive compensation and equity - rewarding you for your contributions and ownership mindset
• Remote-first flexibility - work primarily from home within our list of approved states, with opportunities for in-person collaboration
• Comprehensive health benefits for you and your family, including medical, dental, and vision coverage (PPO, HDHP, and HMO options)
• Continuous learning support through generous reimbursement for professional development and skills growth
• 401(k) and Roth plans with an annual financial adviser check-in to help you plan your future
• Wellness resources - including a monthly stipend to support physical and mental health
• Work-from-home enablement - internet stipend and home office setup allowance
• Charitable giving match through our Town Hall awards and community impact initiatives
• A mission-driven, transparent team of creative thinkers and builders passionate about helping companies connect and grow

At Crunchbase, we value team members who are passionate and enthusiastic about what we're building here. We believe there is no "perfect" candidate, and want to encourage applying even if all the requirements listed aren't met. If you're passionate about Crunchbase and looking to learn and grow, then we look forward to reviewing your application!

Crunchbase does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, veteran status, military obligations, or marital status. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Every day our team is honored to work with entrepreneurs and innovators from every corner of the globe, and we aim to build a team that reflects the diversity of our customers. Each individual at Crunchbase brings their own perspectives, work experiences, lifestyles, and cultures with them, and we believe that a more diverse team creates more innovative products, provides a better service to its customers, and helps us all grow and learn as individuals.

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Department Corporate Role IT Locations Multiple locations Remote status Fully Remote Yearly salary $206,000 - $242,000