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VP of Cyber

McLean, VA

About Us

Red Cell Partners is an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies that are bringing revolutionary advancements to market in three distinct practice areas: healthcare, cyber, and national security. United by a shared sense of duty and deep belief in the power of innovation, Red Cell is developing powerful tools and solutions to address our Nation’s most pressing problems. 

Red Cell is seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President of Cyber. This individual will be pivotal in the incubation, strategic direction, and growth of our cybersecurity portfolio companies. The VP of Cyber will work closely with the Practice President – George Barnes – and the rest of the Red Cell cyber team to evaluate emerging technologies, conduct due diligence on potential ventures, provide operational leadership, and drive strategic initiatives.  

The VP of Cyber must embody the Red Cell values: operating with urgency, collaborating effectively, holding themselves and the team accountable, acting with integrity, and demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit. The ideal candidate will be a highly accomplished and results-oriented leader with a strong and proven background in commercial cybersecurity, a deep understanding of the cyber landscape, and a passion for building and scaling innovative businesses. 

Preference for ability to work 3-4 days per week from the Red Cell Tysons Corner office, with relocation assistance available. Red Cell is open to remote arrangements for the right candidate.

What We’re Looking For:

  • Experience in a Startup or High-Growth Environment: A thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with early-stage ventures and scaling operations. 
  • Extensive Expertise in Commercial Cybersecurity: A deep and current understanding of cybersecurity principles, best practices, policies, and market trends within a business context. 
  • Strategic Thinker: Ability to analyze complex situations, identify key drivers, and develop and execute effective, forward-looking strategies. 
  • Executive Communication Skills: Exceptional ability to communicate and present clearly and effectively with diverse audiences, including technical experts, business leaders, external partners, boards of directors, and C-suite executives.  
  • Proven Problem Solver: Ability to diagnose complex problems quickly, develop creative and effective solutions, and drive implementation 
  • Strategic Planning and Implementation: Experience in developing and implementing strategic plans, process improvement, and program management. 
  • Technical Proficiency in Cyber Solutions: Demonstrated expertise in the technical aspects of cyber solutions, including hands-on experience with relevant tools and platforms. 

Responsibilities:

As the VP of Cyber, you will support the Cyber Practice President in providing leadership, strategic guidance, and networking in support of future Practice growth and commercial success of existing cyber portfolio companies, while also managing the day-to-day operations of the Cyber Practice.  

  • Practice Strategy & Growth Management 
    • Idea Generation & Due Diligence: Develop, source and evaluate new cyber concepts, ideas, and technologies via thorough assessment of market viability, competitive landscape, technical feasibility and evaluation of strategic fit with Red Cell's broader strategy. 
    • Strategic Planning: Oversee the development and constant improvement of Red Cell's Cyber Practice strategy to account for the evolving cybersecurity landscape, including emerging threats, technologies, and market trends. 
    • Market Opportunity Assessment: Identify and assess potential market opportunities for new cyber ventures through ongoing market intelligence gathering, engagement with Red Cell’s network of experts and advisors, and evaluation of new and emerging technologies.  
    • Cyber Ecosystem & Strategic Partnership Development: Drive Red Cell's advancement as a leader in the Cyber venture ecosystem by expanding our presence and driving stakeholder engagement through building relationships with strategic partners in academia, industry, government, and venture capital. 
    • Strategic Operations Management: Develop and monitor OKRs and KPIs to drive operational efficiency and strategic goal achievement across the Practice and incubations. Manage operations personnel priorities, oversee the Practice budget, and strategically leverage advisors and SMEs to ensure seamless execution. Develop processes, procedures, and best practices for critical Practice operations.  
  • Practice Portfolio Management 
    • Company Development & Strategic Guidance: Provide operational and strategic guidance and support to newly formed cyber companies within the Red Cell ecosystem. Advise incubation leadership on business strategy, growth positioning, and Red Cell’s standard operating procedures.  
    • Infrastructure & Scaling Support: Assist in building and scaling company infrastructure - , including team development, process implementation, and technology adoption - to support rapid growth.  
    • Business Strategy & Go-to-Market Execution: Collaborate with incubation founders and leadership teams to develop and execute business plans, operational strategies, and go-to-market strategies tailored to each company's market positioning.  
    • Process Management & Cross-Functional Coordination: Manage all activities and deliverables within Red Cell’s discovery and incubation process (i.e., pipeline phases) in support of the Head of Operations. Coordinate all business-related activities with Red Cell’s platform team and departments (i.e., legal, finance, marketing, HR, etc.) for ongoing management of incubation companies as well as the seamless integration of new companies and partners. 

Requirements: 

  • Eligible to work in the United States
  • Able to obtain a U.S. DoD security clearance
  • 15+ years of Business Operations, Project Management, Product Management, or Leadership experience in the Cyber industry
  • Experience in the commercial cybersecurity industry, to include specific expertise in one or more cybersecurity domains (e.g., cloud security, network security, data privacy, threat intelligence).
  • Operational and financial acumen  
  • Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher  

Bonus Points: 

  • Strong and established network within the cybersecurity industry.
  • Experience within a venture capital, private equity, or technology incubator environment.
  • Experience managing, understanding or working with federal contracting and/or the federal acquisition process.
  • Technical skills, such as product management, data analysis, or scripting.  
  • Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., MBA, Master's in Cybersecurity, or related field).
  • Experience with cloud security and AI initiatives.  

Benefits: 

  • Career track opportunity with potential for rapid advancement with strong performance as the firm grows  
  • 100% employer paid, comprehensive health care including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.  
  • Paid maternity and paternity for 14 weeks at employees' normal pay.  
  • Unlimited PTO, with management approval.  
  • Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.  
  • Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives available.  
  • Mental health benefits available through Tara Mind.  

    

Salary Range: $250,000-$300,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors. 

 

We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer: You’ll receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

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