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The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) is a globally focused, US incorporated non-profit association, bringing together incident response and security teams from around the globe. FIRST runs different
programs including training courses and capacity building, standards development, conferences, meetings and cyber security information sharing with the goal to build Security Incident Response Team (SIRT) communities. FIRST has
approximately 600 member teams in nearly 100 countries and continues to grow. Our primary mission is to enable our members around the world to work collaboratively and facilitate maturity in global incident response capability.
Capacity building is considered to be one of the primary pillars mitigating the increasingly serious effects of cyber crime or malicious state operations. Many organisations, such as the UN or the GFCE, call for states to support
capacity building and also explicitly call for the creation of SIRTs.
It is proposed that FIRST should hire a Community and Capacity Building Manager (CCBM). The CCBM to be hired is not expected to be a subject matter expert on incident response, but should be familiar with the FIRST/InfoSec
community.
The main responsibilities of the role are
- Build up a curriculum
- The CCBM will be responsible for creating a modular curriculum covering the areas of expertise needed for successful SIRT communities. This will include technical tracks but also more policy or
soft factor focusing components.
- It is not expected that the CCBM will create content but should coordinate subject matter experts to build the curriculum.
- The curriculum should include both “in person” and remote (video) modules.
- While a plan for the full curriculum should be drafted early on it is expected to take 12 - 36 month to create all the training materials.
- Conduct Capacity building events
- The CCBM should find suitable opportunities to conduct events. They shall organise and conduct such events, together with the FIRST events team.
- FIRST remains committed to work with volunteers but may move to a model where there is a mix of both volunteers and contracted trainers.
- The CCBM shall coordinate the effort to make this a positive event for students and trainers.
- Community building
- The CCBM engages in community building activities, be this scoped geographically or content related
- Solicit and maintain capacity building materials.
- Work with third parties and FIRST volunteers to create and maintain content
- Scout areas and fields of importance to the wider IR community
- Work with members to assess their training needs
- Fundraising
- The CCBM shall actively raise funds to finance the Community and Capacity building program.
- The aim of the program is that it should become self-sustaining within 12-18 months.
- If possible long term agreements with granting agencies should be established.
- Successfully manage the full life cycle of capacity building initiatives, operational plan activities and projects, including the pursuit of prospects:
- Create a long term strategy and execution plan for the program
- Strengthen and coordinate FIRST's collaboration with think-tank institutions, universities, and research centres by negotiating, coordinating, and maintaining relationships with governmental, non-governmental and private enterprises for the establishment of partnerships, fundraising and programme-related issues and events. Organize and assess contributions from experts, donors, governments, and institutions, determining which efforts bolster the achievement of overall programme objectives.
- Coordinate and manage volunteers and others.
- Oversee coordination, execution, and monitoring of budget and regular programmes and projects.
- Design, implement, monitor and deliver programmes and projects.
- Coordinate activities, programmes and projects rollout and the use of tools and apply innovative methods to enhance programme development.
- Optimize reusability of content, tools and delivery methods to allow easy scaling of capacity building projects.
- Report on programme achievements and document best practices and lessons learnt.
- Improve internal working methods, collaboration, and organization:
- Advise institutions, NGOs and other major stakeholders on the broad policies and requirements for programmes and project formulation, implementation, and coordination.
- Lead regular monitoring and review exercises covering programmes and projects progress, resource utilization and performance of volunteers and contractors. Lead efforts to ensure that the objectives and requirements of programmes and projects deliver quantifiable and impactful results, while ensuring compliance with FIRST's Vision and mission. Share findings with management and apply them to work methods.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing collaborations and identify and propose new collaboration opportunities. Represent the organization in discussions related to capacity and community building. Attend local, national, regional, and international conferences, seminars, congresses, and workshops as a speaker in the sphere of competence to generate debate and discussion.
- Carry out any additional activities that may be required to ensure the success of FIRSTs community and
capacity building program.
Requirements
- Knowledge of the Incident Response or Cyber security community.
- Significant experience of capacity building
- Some travel, mostly international.
- Ability to speak at international conferences as a subject matter expert
- Optionally, the candidate should have first-hand experience in working in a SIRT.
Qualifications
- Bachelor or Advanced Degree, or equivalent experience
- Experience with project management
- Solid, hands-on budget management skills, including preparation, analysis, decision making, and reporting
- Experience working with and managing a force of volunteer contributors
- Strong public speaking and presentation abilities
- The ability to communicate to different stakeholders and cultures.
- Business fluent in English
We will treat your application as confidential within the FIRST board. At a later stage we may consult with others, after informing you and getting your agreement.
