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
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
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
