Job Description
About the position
Southern Company’s Cybersecurity organization is committed to reducing risk
using a threat-informed approach, enhancing the cyber resilience of Southern
Company while delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the
communities we serve.
Position Overview:
Southern Company, a major U.S. energy firm, is seeking a cybersecurity
professional to reduce risk as part of the Cybersecurity Assurance Team. This
hybrid role reports directly to the Company’s Senior Manager for Cybersecurity
Assurance. This position is an analyst role responsible for assessing cyber
security risk across multiple business units, managing compliance programs
linked to applicable Federal cyber security directives/regulations, managing
third party penetration testers, and engaging externally with key industry
partners/organizations both as advocate and educator. The analyst will combine
solid business knowledge, strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, and
close familiarity with Federal requirements to reduce cybersecurity and business
risk over time. Up to 20% travel may be required.
In-office presence four days a week is expected either in Atlanta or
Birmingham.
- Responsibilities
- Serve as the lead in performing and coordination of cyber security assessments throughout the company.
- Department of War (DoW) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
- Department of Homeland Security Safety Act
- NIST Cyber Security Framework
- DoW Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204.7012, Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting andDFARS 252.204.7021 contractor compliance with the cybersecurity maturitymodel certification level requirements (Nov 2025)
- Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Culture of Security
- Adversarial assessments (penetration tests)
- Perform analysis of assessment findings
- Perform or coordinate related remediation by technology stewards and/or recommend investments to address identified cybersecurity gaps/risk
- Manage CUI compliance program with and all required reporting for DFARS 252.204‑7021, Contractor Compliance with the CMMC Level Requirements
- Consult/collaborate with inside and external Counsel regarding CUI requirements
- Respond to requests from prime contracting officers on matters relating to CUI scope
- Manage External Enclave used for sharing Controlled Unclassified Information with business and Federal partners, including the enforcement of all requiredconfiguration(s), compliance attestations, reporting, and licensing
- Perform Department of War Cyber Incident Reporting as required
- Serve as the Cyber Liaison for the Company’s Federal Energy Services group
- Keep senior leadership apprised of pending state regulations pertaining to cybersecurity and impacting utilities; provide Southern Company response toproposed state legislation
- Provide briefings to senior leadership and external stakeholders in a way that links technical and business risk to drive prioritization of effort andinvestment decisions
- External Engagement/executive support (NOTE: Requires face to face meetings and travel, up to 20%)
- Interact with external organizations such as state Public Service Commissions, State representatives, other utilities, trade organizations,and federal partners in representing Southern Company’s cyber securitypractice.
- Represent Southern Company by presenting or speaking at various federal conferences
- Influence the utility industry’s creation, adoption and implementation of information security practices by participating in industry forums, events,and committees
- Participate in the EEI Peer Review process
- Lead cross-functional efforts for monitoring and maintaining compliance of security controls associated with Federal projects
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key business stakeholders; collaborate closely with solution owners from the business and TechnologyOrganization, seeking to understand business imperatives while educating themas needed regarding relevant requirements and controls
- Support cross-functional teams to investigate, analyze, and make recommendations to leadership on current cybersecurity strategy
- Provide internal cybersecurity expertise by defining and influencing appropriate policies, technologies, processes and controls to reduce risk
- Maintain current knowledge of information security concepts, technologies, and adversary tactics
- Requirements
- CMMC Certified Professional (CCP) certification
- 8+ years of experience in infrastructure or network engineering, security operations, security risk analysis, cybersecurity governance, or securityarchitecture
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent applicable experience
- One or more of the following certifications: CISSP, CCSP, CISM, CASP, GCIP, GCCC
- Familiarity with: NARA CUI registry,FAR 52.204-21 Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor InformationSystemsNIST SP 800-171 Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information inNonfederal Systems and OrganizationsDOD Manual 5200.01 Volumes 1-3
- Must pass both Insider Threat Program background checks and North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)Personnel Risk Assessment
- Demonstrated ability to manage a program/process/project across multiple teams in multiple disciplines
- Demonstrated critical, independent thinking; demonstrated ability to conceive and present creative solutions
- Knowledge and understanding of information security concepts and best practices
- Working, hands-on familiarity with federal cyber security requirements and environments
- Demonstrated experience in working with senior stakeholders across various lines of business
- Nice-to-haves
- Able to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance
- Prior experience desired promoting security as a business enablement function using documentation, metrics, and strong verbal communication
- Strong technical consulting experience: ability to understand business requirements and present appropriate solutions to a non-technical audience
- Energy industry experience
- CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA) certification
- Working familiarity with information security frameworks (e.g. COBIT, NIST, OWASP, NIST CSF, CIS, MITRE ATT&CK)
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