Job description

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today. The Role This executive leader represents Lumen at the federal level on national security, emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, disaster response, continuity of operations, cyber resilience, and secure network policy. The role serves as a senior liaison to Executive Office of the President of the United States stakeholders, DHS/CISA, DoD, the Intelligence Community, and the departments and agencies that comprise the National Communications System. The leader integrates external policy influence, executive government engagement, cleared program execution, security and compliance oversight, and internal coordination to ensure Lumen is positioned as a trusted provider of critical infrastructure and secure network capabilities. The Main Responsibilities • Represent Lumen in federal national security, emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, cyber resilience, and continuity-of-operations planning and response activities. • Support Lumen CEO and senior leadership engagement with the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and related advisory or public-private partnership activities. • Serve as the primary senior liaison to key federal stakeholders, including DHS/CISA, DoD, Intelligence Community, White House stakeholders, and other national security agencies. • Provide executive oversight for cleared programs, classified environments, personnel security, facility clearances, and program accreditation processes. • Ensure alignment with federal security requirements and frameworks, including NISPOM, ICDs, CMMC, DoD IL5/IL6 readiness, and other mission-critical compliance expectations. • Coordinate with CEO, CRO, CFO, Legal, Public Policy, Public Sector, Security, Product, Network/Technology, and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) stakeholders to maintain one integrated federal security posture. • Partner with Public Policy and Government Affairs to shape U.S. policy related to cybersecurity, AI, critical infrastructure, resilience, funding programs, and regulatory frameworks. • Support federal business growth by shaping strategic opportunities, aligning offerings to agency missions and technical requirements, and participating in capture strategy for large federal deals. • Serve as Lumen’s executive point of coordination during major cyber, national security, or critical infrastructure events, including response activities with federal agencies. What We Look For in a Candidate Required • 15+ years of experience in communications, technology, national security, public sector, or critical infrastructure sectors, preferably spanning network operations, cybersecurity, regulatory, government relations, disaster preparedness, or corporate policy. • 5+ years of increasing responsibility in national security, emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, cleared programs, or a related field. • Deep experience working with U.S. Federal Government, DoD, Intelligence Community, DHS/CISA, or national security agencies. • Proven ability to operate at executive level across government and industry, influence policy or regulatory outcomes, and build consensus among divergent stakeholders. • Strong understanding of federal acquisition and contracting, security clearance processes, classified environments, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure policy. • Demonstrated success leveraging internal resources across product, network/technology, security, legal, compliance, public policy, and public sector teams to achieve external goals. • Excellent oral and written communication skills, negotiating skills, executive presence, and ability to analyze complex issues and distill them into summary format. • Ability to direct or manage resources not directly under one’s immediate control and act consistently with corporate policies and objectives in dynamic, fluid, or potentially stressful circumstances. • Undergraduate degree in engineering, management, security, disaster recovery, public policy, or related field. • Eligible for a Top-Secret security clearance; active TS or TS/SCI clearance preferred. • High degree of flexibility and mobility for federal engagement, operational response, continuity of operations, and continuity of government support, including potential travel or work outside normal business hours. Preferred • Advanced degree, MBA, law degree, or related post-graduate degree. • Active DoD/DHS TS or TS/SCI clearance. Organizational Placement • Reports to: Chief Security Officer • Maintains tight alignment with Public Sector Sales, Legal, Government Affairs, Product, Network/Technology, Security, and Compliance. Compensation This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. Location Based Pay Ranges $211,163 - $281,551 in all states. Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process. Learn more about Lumen's: Benefits Bonus Structure Requisition #: 343503 Life at Lumen Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win. To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit: jobs.lumen.com Background Screening If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Equal Employment Opportunities We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training. Privacy Notice Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data. To review Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit: jobs.lumen.com Disclaimer The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions. In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.

Requirements

Must-haves

At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.
The Main Responsibilities
• Represent Lumen in federal national security, emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, cyber resilience, and continuity-of-operations planning and response activities.
• Support Lumen CEO and senior leadership engagement with the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and related advisory or public-private partnership activities.
• Serve as the primary senior liaison to key federal stakeholders, including DHS/CISA, DoD, Intelligence Community, White House stakeholders, and other national security agencies.
• Provide executive oversight for cleared programs, classified environments, personnel security, facility clearances, and program accreditation processes.
• Ensure alignment with federal security requirements and frameworks, including NISPOM, ICDs, CMMC, DoD IL5/IL6 readiness, and other mission-critical compliance expectations.
• Coordinate with CEO, CRO, CFO, Legal, Public Policy, Public Sector, Security, Product, Network/Technology, and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) stakeholders to maintain one integrated federal security posture.
• Partner with Public Policy and Government Affairs to shape U.S. policy related to cybersecurity, AI, critical infrastructure, resilience, funding programs, and regulatory frameworks.
• Support federal business growth by shaping strategic opportunities, aligning offerings to agency missions and technical requirements, and participating in capture strategy for large federal deals.
• Serve as Lumen’s executive point of coordination during major cyber, national security, or critical infrastructure events, including response activities with federal agencies.
What We Look For in a Candidate
5+ years of increasing responsibility in national security, emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, cleared programs, or a related field.
Deep experience working with U.S. Federal Government, DoD, Intelligence Community, DHS/CISA, or national security agencies.
Proven ability to operate at executive level across government and industry, influence policy or regulatory outcomes, and build consensus among divergent stakeholders.
Strong understanding of federal acquisition and contracting, security clearance processes, classified environments, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure policy.
Demonstrated success leveraging internal resources across product, network/technology, security, legal, compliance, public policy, and public sector teams to achieve external goals.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, negotiating skills, executive presence, and ability to analyze complex issues and distill them into summary format.

Nice-to-haves

Eligible for a Top-Secret security clearance; active TS or TS/SCI clearance preferred.
Advanced degree, MBA, law degree, or related post-graduate degree.
Active DoD/DHS TS or TS/SCI clearance.
Organizational Placement
Reports to: Chief Security Officer
Maintains tight alignment with Public Sector Sales, Legal, Government Affairs, Product, Network/Technology, Security, and Compliance.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

Platform: eightfold
Effort: medium