Job Description

Part‑Time / Fractional Incident Response (IR) Retainer Lead

Engagement Type: Part‑Time / Fractional / On‑Demand
Availability: 24/7/365 On‑Call (Rotation-Based)
Response SLA: ≤ 4 hours from client notification
Location: Remote (U.S.‑based only)
Reporting To: Program Manager / vCISO / Cybersecurity Program Lead

Role Overview

The Incident Response (IR) Retainer is a experienced cybersecurity practitioner responsible for leading and executing incident response engagements for higher‑education clients under a pre‑contracted incident response retainer model.

This role is activated on demand when a client experiences a cybersecurity incident. Upon activation, the IR Retainer assumes technical and operational leadership for incident triage, containment, investigation, recovery support, and post‑incident reporting, in alignment with NIST SP 800‑61 and higher‑education regulatory requirements (FERPA, GLBA, NYS SHIELD Act).

The role is fractional in nature, with hours consumed only upon incident activation, and requires the ability to respond rapidly, communicate clearly with executive and non‑technical stakeholders, and produce high‑quality incident documentation suitable for leadership, legal, compliance, and regulatory audiences.

Key Responsibilities

1. Incident Activation & Triage

Serve as the primary Incident Response Lead upon retainer activation.
Respond to client notification and initiate incident response activities within 4 hours (SLA requirement).
Conduct an initial Triage Meeting (≤ 60 minutes) with client stakeholders to:
Establish response objectives, scope, and priorities
Confirm affected systems, data types, and potential impact
Define communication protocols and escalation paths
Determine required response resources and engage supporting IR practitioners as needed.

2. Incident Containment & Investigation

Lead execution of incident containment activities to prevent further impact while preserving forensic evidence.
Perform or oversee:
Network isolation and access control changes
Log analysis and system forensic review
Identification of attack vectors, timeline, scope of compromise, and affected data
Coordinate closely with client IT teams to align technical actions with institutional operations and academic mission needs.
Ensure all investigative actions follow proper chain‑of‑custody and evidentiary standards.

3. Ongoing Communications & Stakeholder Management

Provide regular status updates throughout the incident lifecycle:
Frequency calibrated to severity (hourly for active incidents; daily for extended investigations)
Communicate incident status in a manner suitable for:
IT leadership
Legal counsel
Executive leadership
Compliance and privacy officers
Support the client in understanding regulatory and breach notification considerations, while respecting that final determination remains with the client.

4. Recovery & Restoration Support

Advise and support safe system restoration and recovery activities.
Recommend and prioritize security hardening actions to prevent recurrence.
Assist with coordination of service restoration and validation activities.
Provide guidance aligned to NIST SP 800‑61 recovery best practices and higher‑education operational constraints.

5. Post‑Incident Deliverables

Produce executive‑ready and audit‑defensible post‑incident artifacts, including:

Detailed Findings Report
Comprehensive documentation of incident scope, root cause, timeline, affected systems, and evidence
Delivered within approximately 10 business days of incident containment
Detailed Recommendations Report
Risk‑prioritized remediation guidance tied to identified findings
Findings Presentation
Virtual presentation to institutional leadership summarizing conclusions and recommendations
Transition Meeting
Structured handoff session to support remediation planning, IRP updates, monitoring enhancements, and program improvements

All deliverables must meet professional consulting standards and be suitable for executive, legal, compliance, and regulatory review.

Required Qualifications

Experience

6+ years of hands‑on cybersecurity incident response experience
Demonstrated leadership of real‑world security incidents (ransomware, data breaches, credential compromise, third‑party incidents)
Prior experience in higher education, healthcare, or regulated environments strongly preferred

Technical Skills

Deep knowledge of:
NIST SP 800‑61 (Incident Handling)
Incident triage, containment, investigation, and recovery techniques
Experience with:
Log analysis (SIEM platforms)
Endpoint and network forensics
Cloud and hybrid environments (e.g., Microsoft 365, Azure, on‑prem systems)

Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge

Strong understanding of incident response implications related to:
FERPA
GLBA Safeguards Rule
NYS SHIELD Act
Applicable breach notification frameworks

Certifications (Preferred)

One or more of the following (or equivalent):
CISSP
CISM
GCIA / GCIH / GCED
Incident Response or Digital Forensics certifications

Professional Attributes

Ability to remain calm, decisive, and structured under high‑pressure situations
Strong executive communication skills (written and verbal)
Capable of translating technical findings into clear business and risk language
High degree of professionalism, discretion, and judgment
Comfortable working independently while coordinating with broader response teams

Engagement Characteristics

Fractional / On‑Demand Role: Hours are consumed only upon incident activation
On‑Call Responsibility: Participation in a documented on‑call rotation
U.S.‑Based Only: All work performed from within the United States
Remote Execution: Secure communications and client‑approved collaboration tools

Job Description

Part‑Time / Fractional Incident Response (IR) Retainer Lead

Role Overview

Key Responsibilities

1. Incident Activation & Triage

Serve as the primary Incident Response Lead upon retainer activation.
Respond to client notification and initiate incident response activities within 4 hours (SLA requirement).
Conduct an initial Triage Meeting (≤ 60 minutes) with client stakeholders to:
Establish response objectives, scope, and priorities
Confirm affected systems, data types, and potential impact
Define communication protocols and escalation paths
Determine required response resources and engage supporting IR practitioners as needed.

2. Incident Containment & Investigation

Lead execution of incident containment activities to prevent further impact while preserving forensic evidence.
Perform or oversee:
Network isolation and access control changes
Log analysis and system forensic review
Identification of attack vectors, timeline, scope of compromise, and affected data
Coordinate closely with client IT teams to align technical actions with institutional operations and academic mission needs.
Ensure all investigative actions follow proper chain‑of‑custody and evidentiary standards.

3. Ongoing Communications & Stakeholder Management

Provide regular status updates throughout the incident lifecycle:
Frequency calibrated to severity (hourly for active incidents; daily for extended investigations)
Communicate incident status in a manner suitable for:
IT leadership
Legal counsel
Executive leadership
Compliance and privacy officers
Support the client in understanding regulatory and breach notification considerations, while respecting that final determination remains with the client.

4. Recovery & Restoration Support

Advise and support safe system restoration and recovery activities.
Recommend and prioritize security hardening actions to prevent recurrence.
Assist with coordination of service restoration and validation activities.
Provide guidance aligned to NIST SP 800‑61 recovery best practices and higher‑education operational constraints.

5. Post‑Incident Deliverables

Produce executive‑ready and audit‑defensible post‑incident artifacts, including:

Detailed Findings Report
Comprehensive documentation of incident scope, root cause, timeline, affected systems, and evidence
Delivered within approximately 10 business days of incident containment
Detailed Recommendations Report
Risk‑prioritized remediation guidance tied to identified findings
Findings Presentation
Virtual presentation to institutional leadership summarizing conclusions and recommendations
Transition Meeting
Structured handoff session to support remediation planning, IRP updates, monitoring enhancements, and program improvements

All deliverables must meet professional consulting standards and be suitable for executive, legal, compliance, and regulatory review.

Required Qualifications

Experience

6+ years of hands‑on cybersecurity incident response experience
Demonstrated leadership of real‑world security incidents (ransomware, data breaches, credential compromise, third‑party incidents)
Prior experience in higher education, healthcare, or regulated environments strongly preferred

Technical Skills

Deep knowledge of:
NIST SP 800‑61 (Incident Handling)
Incident triage, containment, investigation, and recovery techniques
Experience with:
Log analysis (SIEM platforms)
Endpoint and network forensics
Cloud and hybrid environments (e.g., Microsoft 365, Azure, on‑prem systems)

Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge

Strong understanding of incident response implications related to:
FERPA
GLBA Safeguards Rule
NYS SHIELD Act
Applicable breach notification frameworks

Certifications (Preferred)

One or more of the following (or equivalent):
CISSP
CISM
GCIA / GCIH / GCED
Incident Response or Digital Forensics certifications

Professional Attributes

Ability to remain calm, decisive, and structured under high‑pressure situations
Strong executive communication skills (written and verbal)
Capable of translating technical findings into clear business and risk language
High degree of professionalism, discretion, and judgment
Comfortable working independently while coordinating with broader response teams

Engagement Characteristics

Fractional / On‑Demand Role: Hours are consumed only upon incident activation
On‑Call Responsibility: Participation in a documented on‑call rotation
U.S.‑Based Only: All work performed from within the United States
Remote Execution: Secure communications and client‑approved collaboration tools

V Group Inc. is an IT Services company which supplies IT staffing, project management, and delivery services in software, network, help desk and all IT areas. Our primary focus is the public sector including state and federal contracts. We have multiple awards/ contracts with the following states: NY, NJ, PA, MD, NC, SC, GA, FL, CA, DE, IL, MI, OH, OR, TX, VA, and WA.

If you are considering applying for a position with V Group, or in partnering with us on a position, please feel free to contact me for any questions you may have regarding our services and the advantages we can offer you as a consultant.

Please share my contact information with others working in Information Technology.

Website: www.vgroupinc.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/v-group/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VGroupIT

Twitter: www.twitter.com/vgroupinc

Pay: $40.00 - $70.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

V Group Inc.

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Part‑Time / Fractional Incident Response (IR) Retainer Lead