Solutions Director - Critical Infrastructure (Part-time, contract position)

SoundThinking is seeking a dynamic and mission‑driven Director, Critical Infrastructure Security (Utilities), Contract position, to help utilities and other critical infrastructure operators strengthen their physical security, resilience, and operational readiness across the United States. The primary focus of this role is the utility sector—including electric, water, wastewater, and energy infrastructure—but the mandate extends broadly across critical infrastructure environments where asset protection, continuity of service, and public safety intersect. This leader will partner closely with executive, operational, and security stakeholders to develop and operationalize risk‑based security strategies aligned with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CISA guidance for critical infrastructure protection, including Presidential Policy Directive‑21–driven principles around all‑hazards risk management, asset prioritization, resilience, and incident response coordination. The role requires fluency navigating complex, regulated environments, including an understanding of mandatory physical security and compliance requirements in the electric sector under NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards and the regulatory and enforcement oversight role played by FERC, as well as the evolving federal expectations placed on water, pipeline, and other critical infrastructure operators through DHS, EPA, and TSA frameworks. Acting as a consultative and trusted advisor, the Director will position and drive adoption of SoundThinking’s public safety technologies—including ShotSpotter gunshot detection, ShotSpotter Perimeter, and the SafetySmart Platform—as integral components of a broader, layered security and risk management strategy, integrating seamlessly with existing and emerging technology ecosystems such as CCTV, fixed and mobile sensors, drones/DFR, access control, and monitoring platforms to help customers protect critical assets, safeguard personnel, meet governance and compliance expectations, and enhance situational awareness across increasingly complex threat landscapes.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

The Director, Critical Infrastructure Security (Utilities) will operate as both a market‑builder and trusted security advisor, driving early adoption of SoundThinking solutions while helping utilities and critical‑infrastructure operators translate risk into actionable, compliant security programs.

Market Development & Revenue Leadership

• Identify, engage, and convert strategic early‑adopter utility and critical‑infrastructure customers, establishing SoundThinking as a credible partner in physical security and resilience.
• Build and maintain a qualified sales pipeline of $500K+ within the first 3 months and $2M+ within the 6 months contract period, with clear line‑of‑sight to close and expansion opportunities.
• Generate sustained pipeline growth over the first 1-6 months through disciplined account targeting, executive‑level engagement, and consultative opportunity development.
• Partner closely with Sales, Solutions, and Product teams to shape early market feedback, refine value propositions, and influence roadmap priorities for the utility sector.

Strategic Security Advisory & Program Development

• Lead the development and execution of risk‑based physical security strategies and multi‑year roadmaps for electric, water, wastewater, energy, and related critical‑infrastructure operators.
• Conduct security posture reviews, threat and vulnerability assessments, and operational readiness evaluations, prioritizing recommendations based on risk, regulatory exposure, feasibility, and customer operating realities.
• Advise customers on aligning security programs with DHS and CISA guidance, Presidential Policy Directive‑21 principles, and recognized critical‑infrastructure protection practices, including governance, resilience planning, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate working fluency in regulated utility environments, including NERC CIP physical‑security requirements, FERC oversight expectations, and evolving federal guidance affecting water, pipeline, and energy operators.

Solution Positioning & Operational Integration

• Position and integrate SoundThinking solutions—including ShotSpotter, ShotSpotter Perimeter, and the SafetySmart Platform—as core components of a layered security architecture spanning detection, response coordination, investigation, and deterrence.
• Collaborate with customer stakeholders to define concepts of operations (CONOPS), SOPs, escalation paths, and response protocols that improve response time, situational awareness, interagency coordination, and operational confidence.
• Ensure SoundThinking technologies integrate seamlessly with existing and emerging customer ecosystems (e.g., CCTV, access control, fixed and mobile sensors, DFR/drone programs, monitoring centers, and analytics platforms).
• Serve as a credible executive‑level advisor to security, operations, and compliance leaders, helping customers operationalize technology investments into measurable risk‑reduction outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with utility executives, security leaders, operational leaders, and external partners (including public safety and community stakeholders) to drive alignment and sustained adoption.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams (Sales, Customer Success, Product, Engineering, Legal/Compliance, Marketing) to shape customer engagement strategies, proposals, deployments, and long-term outcomes.
• Represent the company at utility and critical infrastructure industry events, briefings, and customer forums; actively engage attendees to promote solutions and thought leadership on critical infrastructure security.
• Provide comprehensive status updates and detailed reports to senior management regarding customer plans, security program progress, opportunities, risks, and key performance indicators.
• Preferably, experience using AI tools to streamline research, threat/environment scanning, stakeholder preparation, program documentation, and executive-ready communication to improve speed and quality of outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications

The ideal candidate for Director, Critical Infrastructure Security (Utilities) will possess a distinguished track record of leadership in security, risk management, and protective operations, with extensive exposure to utilities and critical infrastructure environments. Candidates should demonstrate at least eight years of progressively responsible experience in complex, regulated, or enterprise organizations—public sector, government, military, or large commercial settings—where they have developed, implemented, and overseen security programs and operational risk mitigation initiatives.

• Sector-specific expertise is paramount. Applicants should have a deep understanding of electric, water, wastewater, gas, or energy utilities, including field operations, control centers, stakeholder engagement, and safety culture. Leadership or advisory roles in high-consequence operational security, emergency management, intelligence, or protective services are highly valued. Prior U.S. Federal Law Enforcement or military service (with direct responsibility for protective operations or critical asset security).
• Demonstrated commercial acumen is required. Candidates must have direct ownership of revenue targets, quotas, or pipeline growth tied to compensation, with a proven ability to build qualified pipelines, advance opportunities, and influence executive-level buying decisions—especially in long-cycle, enterprise, or government-adjacent environments.
• Experience operating in early-adopter or emerging markets, where use cases and budgets must be actively shaped, is essential.
• Technical and advisory strengths are critical. The successful candidate will be adept at integrating technology-enabled security solutions (such as sensors, detection systems, monitoring platforms, and analytics) within broader operational programs.
• They should be able to develop or influence concepts of operations (CONOPS), standard operating procedures (SOPs), response protocols, and multi-year security roadmaps.
• Familiarity with DHS/CISA guidance, critical infrastructure protection frameworks, and recognized resilience practices is expected. Superior written and verbal communication skills are required, including executive-level briefing, translating complex risk into actionable business strategies, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration.
• Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree or possess equivalent professional experience. Relevant certifications (CPP, PSP, CBCP, PMP, CISSP, GIAC, or comparable credentials) are preferred but not required.
• Proficiency with CRM and productivity tools (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft 365), prior experience with AI tools to enhance workflow and research, and disciplined documentation practices are expected.
• This role requires a willingness to travel approximately 50–60% within the United States.

All candidates must demonstrate commercial accountability or revenue-adjacent ownership. The Company reserves the exclusive right to modify, adjust, delete, add, or otherwise change the above requirements at any time.

SoundThinking provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, SoundThinking complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.  SoundThinking maintains a drug-free workplace policy.

SoundThinking expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SoundThinking’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact SoundThinking at [email protected] for assistance.