Director, Cybersecurity Role at Asset Living, Dallas TX

Director, Cybersecurity at Asset Living — Dallas, TX

Asset Living, a nationally recognized third-party real estate management firm founded in 1986, is hiring a Director, Cybersecurity to lead its enterprise security program from Dallas, TX. This full-time leadership role, posted on September 21, 2026, sits at the intersection of strategic governance and operational execution within a serverless, cloud-first Microsoft 365 environment.

Ranked among the NMHC top 50 professionals and recognized as one of the nation's Best and Brightest Places to Work, Asset Living manages a diverse portfolio spanning multifamily, single-family home rentals, affordable housing, build-to-rent, active adult, and student housing divisions. The organization's rapid growth and expanding footprint make cybersecurity leadership a mission-critical function.

Strategic Mandate

The successful candidate will drive the centralization and standardization of the cybersecurity program, establishing a scalable security operating model aligned with NIST CSF 2.0 and CIS Controls v8.1. This leader is responsible for constructing a multi-year cybersecurity roadmap that accommodates mergers and acquisitions, evolving risk landscapes, and business objective alignment.

A core component of the role involves maximizing the value of native Microsoft security capabilities alongside MSSP partnerships to build a telemetry-driven security ecosystem. The Director will establish clearly defined roles, responsibilities, escalation paths, and accountability across internal teams and MSSP partners to ensure effective security operations, service delivery, and continuous improvement.

Core Responsibilities

• Build and manage internal cybersecurity team roles, processes, and strategic MSSP partnerships.
• Leverage deep Microsoft 365 Defender and Azure expertise to optimize security telemetry, visibility, and threat response.
• Lead enterprise cyber-attack preparedness through incident response playbooks, tabletop exercises, and recovery testing.
• Oversee EDR, ITDR, MDR, SIEM, vulnerability management, and cloud posture capabilities.
• Drive enterprise identity and access governance via Entra ID SSO, SCIM-based provisioning, and periodic access reviews.
• Manage continuous threat exposure through network vulnerability scanning, external penetration testing, and dark web monitoring.
• Oversee email firewall optimization including DMARC policy and network firewall IDS/IPS management.
• Deliver monthly executive reporting on security posture and risk mitigation effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Relevant education in Cybersecurity, Information Security, Computer Science, IT, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
• Eight or more years of progressive IT and cybersecurity experience.
• Three or more years in a cybersecurity leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading cybersecurity transformation initiatives aligned to NIST CSF 2.0 and CIS Controls frameworks.

Application Guidance for Cybersecurity Leaders in Real Estate

Candidates targeting a Director, Cybersecurity role within the real estate management sector should emphasize specific competencies that distinguish them in this industry context. Real estate firms increasingly face threats targeting tenant data, financial transaction systems, and smart-building infrastructure. Highlight any experience securing property management platforms such as Yardi, RealPage, or Entrata, as familiarity with these ecosystems demonstrates immediate operational value.

From a hard-skills perspective, showcase hands-on achievements with Microsoft Defender XDR, Sentinel, and Entra ID governance rather than simply listing certifications. If you have implemented SCIM-based automated provisioning or migrated legacy IAM systems to Entra ID SSO, describe the measurable outcomes. Candidates who have negotiated and managed MSSP contracts should detail service-level improvements achieved.

On the soft-skills dimension, this role demands executive-level communication. Prepare to discuss how you have translated complex technical risk into business language for non-technical leadership teams. The real estate industry's blend of corporate offices, distributed property sites, and third-party vendor relationships requires a leader who can articulate security trade-offs to operations executives and property managers alike.

Professionals in this field commonly network through platforms such as ISC2, ISACA local chapters, and the Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center. Engaging with these communities signals industry commitment. Additionally, ensure your LinkedIn profile reflects keywords such as NIST CSF 2.0, cloud-first security operations, and MSSP governance, as internal recruiters frequently source candidates through targeted searches.