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Vice President, Cyber Defense

Fannie Mae · Financial Services · 5,001-10,000 employees

Washington, DC · Hybrid · full_time

CLI Career Level

VP-equivalent

Low confidence

Opportunity Score

81/100

Strong

Moderate confidence

Executive Fit

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Career Level and Opportunity Score describe the role itself. Executive Fit is the only figure that depends on your profile.

First seen Sep 17, 2026 · Last verified 2 hours ago · Sourced from LinkedIn — VP / Head of Security (US)

CLI Take

Scope matches the title

CLI reads this as a VP-equivalent mandate, consistent with how the employer has titled it. CLI's analysis of the posting describes a strategic build or transformation mandate. The reporting line and team size are not disclosed and remain the main open questions before pursuing it.

Why this role scores the way it does

81/100 — strong opportunity quality. CLI reads this as a VP-equivalent mandate. Strongest signal: CLI's analysis of the posting describes a strategic build or transformation mandate. 5 of 10 dimensions are not disclosed, which lowers confidence rather than the score.

Career level read

VP-equivalent — The employer lists this as “Vice President, Cyber Defense”. CLI reads it as VP-equivalent because the role shows 5,001-10,000 employee organization.

Low confidence

What makes it attractive

  • CLI's analysis of the posting describes a strategic build or transformation mandate.
  • Employer profile: 5,001-10,000 employee organization, government ownership, public, revenue over 10b.
  • Title and described scope are broadly consistent.

What to probe before applying

  • No material concerns identified in the posting.

Scoring components · Strong

Compensation versus comparable roles55 · weight 15%

The employer discloses a base range, but there is no comparable set to benchmark it against yet.

Reporting levelNot disclosed · excluded from the score

Reporting line: not disclosed.

Functional and geographic scopeNot disclosed · excluded from the score

Scope: no enterprise, global or multi-unit remit is described.

Quality of the mandate100 · weight 12%

CLI's analysis of the posting describes a strategic build or transformation mandate.

Executive and board exposureNot disclosed · excluded from the score

Executive and board exposure: not disclosed.

Role authority versus title70 · weight 10%

Title and described scope are broadly consistent.

Company scale and trajectory100 · weight 10%

Employer profile: 5,001-10,000 employee organization, government ownership, public, revenue over 10b.

Team ownershipNot disclosed · excluded from the score

Team size: not disclosed.

Budget ownershipNot disclosed · excluded from the score

Budget ownership: not disclosed.

Risk signals100 · weight 5%

No adverse signals identified in the posting.

Dimensions the employer does not disclose are excluded and the remaining weights are rebalanced, so missing information lowers confidence rather than the score.

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Compensation

$250,000 – $350,000 base salary, disclosed by employer

Sample size not yet sufficient for a market comparison

See the full benchmark bands by level and region

The mandate

The Vice President, Cyber Defense is a senior executive tasked with defining and executing Fannie Mae's enterprise cybersecurity strategy, specifically overseeing Threat Detection and Response, Cyber Incident Management, and cyber protection. This leader must strengthen the organization's ability to anticipate, disrupt, and respond to threats while driving modernization and automation across a complex on-prem and multi-cloud environment.

This executive leader oversees the Threat Detection and Response, Incident Management, and cyber protection organizations. The role involves partnering with business and risk leaders to drive modernization initiatives and ensure the scalability of cybersecurity applications across the enterprise.

Domains and regulation

  • Cyber Defense
  • Incident Response
  • Threat Intelligence
  • Cloud Security
  • Infrastructure Security
  • GRC
  • Application Security
  • Identity

Requirements

Must have

  • Significant progressive leadership experience in cybersecurity, technology, or technology risk in large, complex enterprises.
  • Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale Cyber Defense, Security Operations, Incident Response, Threat Intelligence, or Detection Engineering.
  • Proven experience developing and executing cybersecurity strategies and major transformation programs.
  • Demonstrated leadership during significant cyber incidents, including communication with senior executives.
  • Deep understanding of modern adversary behaviors, including AI-driven attacks and threats to cloud, identity, and third-party ecosystems.
  • Experience operating within a highly regulated environment and working with Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Audit stakeholders.

Preferred / bonus

  • Nothing listed as optional.

Only must-have items are scored as hard constraints in Executive Fit.

Likely challenges

Not stated in the posting: Specific reporting line (title of the executive this role reports to) is not disclosed beyond 'manager'.; Specific team size or headcount not disclosed.; Specific board-level reporting requirements are not explicitly stated, though executive communication is required..

About Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored enterprise that provides liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S. housing market by purchasing mortgages from lenders. It operates in the secondary mortgage market, managing trillions of dollars in assets and supporting millions of homeowners and renters. For a security leader, the organization represents a critical component of national financial infrastructure operating under strict federal oversight and regulatory requirements.

Industry
Financial Services
Headcount
5,001-10,000 employees
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
Founded
1938
Ownership
Government · OTCQB:FNMA
Funding
Publicly traded
Revenue
Over $10B

Full company profile for Fannie Mae →

View original job description
Playing an essential role in the U.S. economy, Fannie Mae is foundational to housing finance. Here, your expertise can help fuel purpose-driven innovation that expands access to homeownership and affordable rental housing across the country. Join Fannie Mae to grow your career and help people find a place to call home.Job DescriptionThe Vice President, Cyber Defense is a senior cybersecurity executive responsible for helping define and execute Fannie Mae's enterprise cybersecurity strategy. This leader will oversee a broad portfolio of cybersecurity capabilities and programs designed to protect the organization's information assets, technology platforms, business operations, customers, and reputation.The VP will set the strategic direction for the Threat Detection and Response, Cyber Incident Management, and cyber protection organizations. Strengthen our comprehensive cyber threat detection capabilities through a combination of internal and external resources. Oversee cyber incident response and management programs to address specific vulnerabilities and enable expeditious remediation. Ensure the relevance, viability and scalability of cybersecurity applications and systems. This executive will play a critical role in protecting the organization's assets, customers, reputation, and continued ability to operate. The successful candidate will strengthen the enterprise's ability to anticipate and disrupt threats, respond decisively when incidents occur, and continuously adapt to an evolving cyber environment.This executive will partner closely with business, technology, and risk leaders to strengthen the organization's security posture, drive modernization initiatives, enhance cyber resilience, ensure cybersecurity technologies implemented at Fannie Mae remain viable, scalable, and aligned to business needs, drive process optimization and efficiency through automation and enhanced technologies and platform capabilities, and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and industry requirements.The VP will foster a culture of security, operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement while leveraging data, automation, and emerging technologies to improve cybersecurity outcomes across the enterprise.Key ResponsibilitiesDrive successful detection and containment of cybersecurity events that threaten the security of Fannie Mae Systems.Ensures the availability of comprehensive cyber threat detection capabilities while leveraging external technical, forensic, and investigative resources as needed.Directs strategic intelligence activities to identify cyber threats and vulnerabilities relevant to Fannie Mae.Oversee cyber incident response and management programs, partnering with leaders across the organization to address specific vulnerabilities.Oversee the development and operationalization of strategies for maturing the enterprise cyber security posture to meet or exceed industry standards in a complex, on-prem/multi-cloud environment.Provides oversight of cybersecurity risk management activities, including audits, reviews and assessments of our cyber security program and manages audit issue remediation.Partners with corporate risk functions to ensure alignment of efforts and effective implementation of adopted frameworks as well as compliance with policies, standards and regulatory requirements with Lead cybersecurity governance and control health monitoring sustainment program to gauge cyber response readiness by orchestrating table-top exercises and coordinating critical patch procedures as well as provide support for executive Information Security initiatives.Applies an understanding of cloud security technologies and models (AWS shared responsibility model, SaaS, etc.) to ensure the relevance, viability and scalability of cybersecurity applications and systems. Provides leadership and direction in the innovation of bleeding edge cybersecurity technology.Provide leadership and direction in the adoption of best-in-class cybersecurity technologies.Drive process improvement through strategic continuous improvement plans; transform legacy manual processes using modern automation and technology.Effectively manage and coordinate changes by communicating cyber strategies, plans, and operational risks in business terms, working with key stakeholders to align priorities and ensure seamless and consistent execution.Candidate QualificationsRequired ExperienceSignificant progressive leadership experience in cybersecurity, technology, or technology risk, with substantial experience leading cybersecurity organizations in large, complex enterprises.Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale Cyber Defense, Security Operations, Incident Response, Threat Intelligence, Detection Engineering, or closely related cybersecurity capabilities.Proven experience developing and executing cybersecurity strategies and major transformation programs across complex technology environments.Demonstrated leadership during significant cyber incidents, including the ability to make consequential decisions under pressure and communicate effectively with senior executives.Deep understanding of modern adversary behaviors and attack techniques, including AI-driven attacks, as well as threats targeting identity, endpoints, networks, applications, cloud environments, data, and third-party ecosystems.Strong knowledge of security operations, detection and response, threat intelligence, threat hunting, digital forensics, incident management, security engineering, and enterprise security architecture.Experience operating within a highly regulated environment and working effectively with Risk, Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Audit, and regulatory stakeholders.Demonstrated success building, developing, and retaining high-performing technical organizations and senior leadership teams.Exceptional executive communication skills, including the ability to translate highly technical cybersecurity matters into business risk, strategic choices, and executive decisions.Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, information technology, or a related field.Preferred ExperienceCybersecurity leadership experience within a large financial institution, critical infrastructure provider, systemically important organization, or other highly regulated enterprise.Experience modernizing a large-scale Security Operations or Cyber Defense organization.Strong knowledge of cloud-native and hybrid technology environments and the defensive challenges associated with large-scale technology transformation.Experience integrating offensive security, threat intelligence, and defensive capabilities to create a threat-informed defense program.Experience applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced analytics, and automation within cybersecurity operations.Familiarity with leading cybersecurity frameworks and methodologies, including NIST CSF, NIST incident response guidance, MITRE ATT&CK, and related industry standards.Advanced degree in cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, business, or a related discipline.Relevant professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GIAC, or comparable credentials.Target Pay Range: $250,000 - 350,000QualificationsEducation:The future is what you make it to be. Discover compelling opportunities at Fanniemae.com/careers.For most roles, employees are expected to work onsite on a regular basis at their designated office location. In-office work cadence is determined by your manager. Proximity within a reasonable commute to your designated office location is preferred unless the job is noted as open to remote.Fannie Mae is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, marital or parental status, or any other protected factor. Fannie Mae is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment, unless to do so would cause undue hardship to the company. If you need assistance using our online system and/or you need a reasonable accommodation related to the hiring/application process, please complete this form.The hiring range for this role is set forth below. Final salaries will generally vary within that range based on factors that include but are not limited to, skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and other relevant qualifications. This position is eligible to participate in a Fannie Mae incentive program (subject to the terms of the program). As part of our comprehensive benefits package, Fannie Mae offers a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle, and other benefits and perks that enhance an employee's physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being. See more here.

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