MassCyberCenter

Massachusetts Cyber Jobs Board Launched

New Career Site Complements Workforce Development Programs, as 20 Mass. Students Graduate from Spring Mentorship Program

 

WESTBOROUGH – The MassCyberCenter at the MassTech Collaborative has launched a new cybersecurity jobs board, the first career site solely dedicated to cybersecurity jobs in Massachusetts. The new portal offers jobs seekers opportunities at various career stages, ranging from internships and analyst roles to senior executive-level positions. The board also spotlights the importance of cybersecurity across all sectors in Massachusetts, with jobs available at cybersecurity vendors and end user organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, state and municipal governments, health care institutions, universities, defense firms, and utilities.

 

The new jobs board aims to help address the cybersecurity talent gap and complements the MassCyberCenter’s Cybersecurity Mentorship Program, which matches diverse college students in Massachusetts with industry mentors to advance their careers in the field.  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and CompTIA have documented the shortage of cybersecurity talent nationwide and in Massachusetts with their Cyberseek database.

 

“The MassCyberCenter’s new jobs board will help us market the extensive career opportunities that exist right here in Massachusetts in this rapidly-evolving industry, with a special focus on engaging students graduating from our two- and four-year colleges and universities,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “Thanks to MassCyberCenter’s efforts to strengthen the cybersecurity talent pipeline, we can maintain the Commonwealth’s competitive edge in this field and support this important industry’s growth long into the future.”

 

The new, searchable jobs board can be found at https://jobs.masscybercenter.org/. Organizations interested in posting their jobs on the board can submit their details at https://masscybercenter.org/cybersecurity-jobs-board-interest-form. Only open jobs and internships within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be considered for inclusion on the jobs board. 

 

“Career opportunities in cybersecurity are only going to grow. Our goal over the next year is to work with our partners in higher education and the corporate community to spread the word about these jobs to workers, and also to showcase these opportunities for students thinking about cybersecurity as a profession,” said Stephanie Helm, the Director of the MassCyberCenter. “Our Cybersecurity Mentorship Program includes students who never imagined a career in cybersecurity, but a teacher or mentor introduced them to this important tech sector, and now many of these students are transitioning into careers with leading Massachusetts companies.”

 

In late May, the MassCyberCenter wrapped up the spring edition of its Cybersecurity Mentorship Program, graduating 20 students from 11 Massachusetts colleges who were each paired with mentors from leading companies in the state. During the program, student mentees attended sessions focused on cybersecurity soft skills, digital forensics, and careers at Rapid7, one of the Massachusetts-based cybersecurity companies participating in the Program. Students also worked with their mentors on cybersecurity-related projects, presenting their final reports during a Project Showcase event in late May.

 

Initially launched as a pilot in September 2020, the Cybersecurity Mentorship Program brought on 22 industry mentors during spring 2021, who met regularly with the students, providing guidance on their projects and also insights into pathways to a cybersecurity career.  Since its inception last fall, the Cybersecurity Mentorship Program has graduated 28 students with the support of 27 mentors from 17 companies.

 

“The MassCyberCenter’s Cybersecurity Mentorship Program provided an easy way to connect with a mentee vetted for her passion, knowledge, and drive to further explore the field,” said mentor Lodrina Cherne, a Principal Security Advocate at Boston-based Cybereason. “Spending time with my mentee each week made it easy to catch their infectious excitement about the work I do every day at my company.”

 

Secretary Curt Wood of the Executive Office of Technology Services and Support (EOTSS), who serves as the Chief Information Officer for Massachusetts, provided keynote remarks at the Project Showcase events.

 

“As a Commonwealth we need to do everything we can to promote the entry of diverse talent into our workforce,” said Secretary Wood. “This is a priority for the Baker-Polito Administration, as a more diverse, well-trained, and motivated workforce will be better equipped to defend the Commonwealth, our municipalities, and our leading organizations against the cybersecurity threats that exist. As someone who has benefitted from mentors throughout my career, I encourage cyber professionals across the state to get engaged with this valuable program or with mentoring opportunities locally.”

 

The next Cybersecurity Mentorship Program session is slated to start in Spring 2022.If you are interested in participating as a mentor or mentee in the future, please complete the Interest Form to receive updates on when applications open for the Spring 2022 cycle.

 

Learn more at www.masscybercenter.org.