Deputy CISO and Cybersecurity Architect

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has retained Kirby Partners to support its search for a Deputy CISO and Cybersecurity Architect.

Lurie Children’s is the largest pediatric provider in the region, with a legacy of excellence spanning over 140 years. Lurie Children’s brings together more than 70 specialties and the brightest minds in medicine, focused on delivering compassionate, expert care for every child.

The hospital is the pediatric teaching arm of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and one of the few children’s hospitals in the country to have its own research center devoted to pediatric diseases, the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. More than 750 researchers conduct studies that lead to advancements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

The Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities serves as the center for its community-focused programs. The institute works with community-based organizations and leaders, combining clinical knowledge with community expertise to create evidence-based initiatives that help communities thrive.

Expansion plans have begun to develop a low-acuity pediatric hospital in Chicago’s western suburbs. The proposed hospital will be designed to meet the needs of a growing population of families in the region. Plans include a pediatric emergency department, surgery suites, inpatient beds, and key pediatric subspecialties such as oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and orthopedics, among others. The new facility would be Lurie Children’s first inpatient hospital outside its main location in Streeterville, Chicago.

Awards & recognition

• One of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals and the #1 in Illinois, recognized in all 11 pediatric specialties (2025-2026).
• The only pediatric hospital in Illinois to have earned its 6th Magnet Designation.
• On Forbes’ list of America’s Best Midsize Employers.
• One of Newsweek’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.

Position Overview

The Deputy CISO and Cybersecurity Architect is a newly created position that reports to the CISO. This role will be responsible for building out the organization’s cybersecurity engineering and architecture department.

The Deputy CISO provides executive leadership for the hospital’s cybersecurity transformation, as well as the enterprise security architecture. This role owns the target-state security design, multi-year roadmap, and prioritization, and will lead the development of a scalable, sustainable, and internally owned security program. The position serves as the CISO’s principal deputy for security strategy and architecture, ensuring that security capabilities align with clinical operations, digital initiatives, and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will have a highly technical background, will be a skilled communicator, and will be able to quickly establish trust and credibility with frontline staff, stakeholders, and executive leaders.

Responsibilities:

• Lead development and governance of the enterprise cybersecurity target-state architecture and transformation roadmap
• Establish and mature a scalable, internally owned security operating model and delivery capability
• Serve as the technical lead to senior risk leaders, providing the technical guidance and risk-modeling required for executive decision-making, define and enforce security architecture standards across cloud, on-prem, identity, network, endpoint, application, and data environments, and drive the technical execution of security initiatives, ensuring they are architecturally sound and sustainable
• Partner with IT, Digital, Clinical, and Infrastructure leadership to embed security into technology delivery and operations. Serve as executive decision authority for security architecture, risk tradeoffs, and technical strategy
• Support executive and board-level communications on security strategy, risk posture, and transformation progress
• Ensure alignment with healthcare regulatory and compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, NIST, PCI)
• Build and mature internal security architecture and engineering capabilities, including roles, skills, and operating processes
• Establish metrics and reporting for the overall cyber program, security maturity, risk identification, risk reduction, and program performance

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in cybersecurity leadership, security architecture, or security transformation roles
• Deep knowledge of enterprise security architecture, cloud security, identity and access management, detection and response, and network/endpoint security
• Proven ability to lead large-scale, multi-year security modernization programs
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills, including board and senior leadership engagement
• Demonstrated ability to translate business and clinical needs into practical, risk-based security strategies
• Experience operating in healthcare or highly regulated environments preferred
• Knowledge of relevant frameworks and regulations, including NIST, HIPAA, and PCI
• Ability to build and lead high-performing technical and architectural teams
• Strategic, systems-level thinking combined with hands-on technical credibility
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CCSP) preferred
• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Relevant experience and certifications will be considered in lieu of a degree

Location:

• While relocation to Chicago is preferred, the role offers flexibility and can be fully remote with travel covered to support an in-person presence, as needed.

Compensation:

• Based on experience and qualifications, the salary range is $180,960 – $298,584.

About Chicago, Illinois

Mega metropolitan city

Located on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in northeast Illinois, Chicago is the third-largest city in the U.S. and one of the most unique and vibrant cities. Chicago offers a rich history, stunning architecture, and world-class museums, theaters, galleries, and restaurants.

Scenic green spaces

Chicago is nicknamed “the city in a garden” because it has over 600 parks and green spaces. The Lake Michigan waterfront is one of the city’s most cherished geographic assets, offering numerous recreational opportunities, such as boating, jet skiing, and kayaking.

Bike-friendly and walkable city

More Chicago residents are choosing biking as a safe and affordable way to get around the city. The growth in biking is due to the city’s investment in increasing and improving its bike infrastructure.

Procedure for Candidacy

Final candidates should expect two interviews with Kirby Partners recruiters (including a video conference interview). You may be asked to complete our “Executive Profile” and submit references to be considered for presentation to the search committee.