The Company
About Guardian:
Guardian is the carve-out of Coherent’s (NYSE:COHR) Aerospace & Defense business. Guardian designs and manufactures optical and laser systems, primarily for military end-markets and systems, including military airplanes, satellites and weapons systems (including directed energy laser systems) amongst other cutting-edge applications. The business has approximately 550 employees and 11 major sites, of which ~6 are manufacturing sites.
Guardian reports in two segments, Optics and Lasers. The Optics segment designs and builds highly-engineered optical components including lenses, mirrors, windows, filters, thermal imaging optics, and other components used in a diverse array of military applications and select commercial applications.
Guardian Laser segment designs and produces advanced laser components and systems, including counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) lasers designed to defeat drones, and high-power directed energy systems. It also supplies components for commercial laser applications including medical & life sciences lasers for surgery, diagnostics & research.
The company’s footprint spans 11 sites across the United States including locations in Philadelphia, Connecticut and California.
To learn more about Guardian, visit: https://www.coherent.com/aerospace-defense
About Advent International:
Advent is a leading global private equity investor committed to working in partnership with management teams, entrepreneurs, and founders to help transform businesses. With 16 offices across five continents, Advent oversees more than USD $94 billion in assets under management* and has made over 430 investments across 44 countries.
Since its founding in 1984, Advent has developed specialist market expertise across our five core sectors: business & financial services, consumer, healthcare, industrial, and technology. This approach is bolstered by their deep sub-sector knowledge, which informs every aspect of their investment strategy, from sourcing opportunities to working in partnership with management to execute value creation plans. The fund brings hands-on operational expertise to enhance and accelerate businesses.
As one of the largest privately-owned partnerships, their 675+ colleagues leverage the full ecosystem of Advent’s global resources who bring hands-on operational expertise to help enhance and accelerate businesses. This includes their Portfolio Support Group, insights provided by industry expert Operating Partners and Operations Advisors, as well as bespoke tools to support and guide their portfolio companies as they seek to achieve their strategic goals.
Advent has a strong track record of investing in the national security sector, including past and current investments in Cobham (2020), Ultra Electronics (2022) and Maxar Technologies (2023). The firm will leverage its global network, operating expertise, and long-term investment horizon to support the company’s strategic initiatives.
To learn more about Advent, visit: http://www.adventinternational.com/
The Opportunity
The Director of Cyber Security is responsible for leadership of Guardian’s cybersecurity program as the organization undergoes a transformation journey as part of the spinout from Coherent.
The Director of Cyber Security is a dynamic leader with experience in securing high-value manufacturing facilities and leading program growth. The Director of Cyber Security will also play an integral leading role in transformation of the organization, directing internal and outsourced security staff to build-out cybersecurity solutions, building out the cybersecurity function, and bridging technical knowledge with business acumen into key areas across the organization.
Reporting To: Chief Information officer
Location:
Although Guardian’s headquarters is located near Los Angeles in Murietta, California, there is significant gravity (including the CEO) on the East Coast and several other prominent manufacturing sites. The Director of Cyber Security can be based anywhere in the United States provided the person can travel to the sites as required and attend important company meetings as required. The manufacturing footprint is primarily on the East and West Coast.
Responsibilities:
Establish and maintain a comprehensive organizational-wide information security program to ensure that information and assets are adequately protected against current, future, internal, and external threats. This security should always be compliant with US Aerospace & Defense requirements and regulations.
Forge strong alliances with the business, IT and quality leadership to ensure all requirements to maintain existing certifications and validations of all systems covered by the existing Computer Systems Validation (CSV) program are strictly monitored and maintained
Provide in-depth cybersecurity expertise and guidance on execution throughout build-out of product development, Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) critical infrastructure
Manage the selection, build-out, and successful implementation of vendor managed services and related solutions across cybersecurity domains (e.g., endpoint security, network security, identity and access, SOC, backup, incident response)
Stay ahead of all federal cyber programs and general privacy rules and regulations (e.g., CMMC)
Facilitate implementation of changes to regulations or new regulations alongside Legal team across key business areas
Define, implement, and review cybersecurity governance and risk management processes, metrics, and results, with focus on continuous improvement
Promote cybersecurity training and awareness program across the organization
Lead response and resolution of data security breaches related to company products and services
Interface and collaborate with other departments (e.g., IT, validation, legal) to support further build-out of an effective cybersecurity program
Identify opportunities to implement IT and OT security controls that mitigate the chance of ransomware attacks or similar incidents
Consult with the business on security needs for company products going into customer networks
Serve as a primary subject matter expert in cybersecurity matters, including interfacing with Client audit/diligence requests and other external-facing matters
Support IT in strategy, development, testing, and maintenance of incident response and disaster recovery plans
Ensure audit trails, system logs and other monitoring data sources are reviewed periodically and are in compliance with policies and audit requirements
Achieve results through leading as a visionary, architect, catalyst, and coach
Develop a best-in-class cyber security team composed of internal and partner resources
Travel, domestic and international, may be as much as 50%
The Candidate
Skills:
Ability to work across multiple time-zones and geographical areas supporting security initiatives across multiple manufacturing sites around the United States
Ability to manage ongoing multiple workstreams, and responsive to critical situations and changing priorities
Excellent written and communication skills
Self-motivated and entrepreneurial spirit
Willingness to learn and adapt to a dynamic environment
Experience:
10+ years of experience in cybersecurity with experience with Operational Technology and/or Critical Infrastructure
5+ years of supervisory experience, particularly managing a small team and outsourced cybersecurity personnel
Demonstrated experience in managing the resolution of a cyber event (ransomware, data breach, etc.)
Knowledge:
Bachelor’s degree in a major science or engineering discipline (e.g., Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Software, IT) or related field
CISSP, HCISSP, or CISM certification or equivalent
Working knowledge of cybersecurity control frameworks, such as ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, and CMMC
Working knowledge in cybersecurity pertaining to government contractors and manufacturing industries, and the computer systems validation process preferred
Advanced knowledge of securing Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) critical infrastructure, including manufacturing systems and equipment
