Specialist Cybersecurity Risk & Compliance Analyst

About the position Southern Company’s Cybersecurity organization is committed to reducing risk using a threat-informed approach, enhancing the cyber resilience of Southern Company while delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the communities we serve. Position Overview: Southern Company, a major U.S. energy firm, is seeking a cybersecurity professional to reduce risk as part of the Cybersecurity Assurance Team. This hybrid role reports directly to the Company’s Senior Manager for Cybersecurity Assurance. This position is an analyst role responsible for assessing cyber security risk across multiple business units, managing compliance programs linked to applicable Federal cyber security directives/regulations, managing third party penetration testers, and engaging externally with key industry partners/organizations both as advocate and educator. The analyst will combine solid business knowledge, strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, and close familiarity with Federal requirements to reduce cybersecurity and business risk over time. Up to 20% travel may be required. In-office presence four days a week is expected either in Atlanta or Birmingham.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead in performing and coordination of cyber security

assessments throughout the company.

• Department of War (DoW) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
• Department of Homeland Security Safety Act
• NIST Cyber Security Framework
• DoW Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204.7012,

Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting and DFARS 252.204.7021 contractor compliance with the cybersecurity maturity model certification level requirements (Nov 2025)

• Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Culture of Security
• Adversarial assessments (penetration tests)
• Perform analysis of assessment findings
• Perform or coordinate related remediation by technology stewards and/or

recommend investments to address identified cybersecurity gaps/risk

• Manage CUI compliance program with and all required reporting for DFARS

252.204‑7021, Contractor Compliance with the CMMC Level Requirements

• Consult/collaborate with inside and external Counsel regarding CUI

requirements

• Respond to requests from prime contracting officers on matters relating to

CUI scope

• Manage External Enclave used for sharing Controlled Unclassified Information

with business and Federal partners, including the enforcement of all required configuration(s), compliance attestations, reporting, and licensing

• Perform Department of War Cyber Incident Reporting as required
• Serve as the Cyber Liaison for the Company’s Federal Energy Services group
• Keep senior leadership apprised of pending state regulations pertaining to

cybersecurity and impacting utilities; provide Southern Company response to proposed state legislation

• Provide briefings to senior leadership and external stakeholders in a way

that links technical and business risk to drive prioritization of effort and investment decisions

• External Engagement/executive support (NOTE: Requires face to face meetings

and travel, up to 20%)

• Interact with external organizations such as state Public Service

Commissions, State representatives, other utilities, trade organizations, and federal partners in representing Southern Company’s cyber security practice.

• Represent Southern Company by presenting or speaking at various federal

conferences

• Influence the utility industry’s creation, adoption and implementation of

information security practices by participating in industry forums, events, and committees

• Participate in the EEI Peer Review process
• Lead cross-functional efforts for monitoring and maintaining compliance of

security controls associated with Federal projects

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key business stakeholders;

collaborate closely with solution owners from the business and Technology Organization, seeking to understand business imperatives while educating them as needed regarding relevant requirements and controls

• Support cross-functional teams to investigate, analyze, and make

recommendations to leadership on current cybersecurity strategy

• Provide internal cybersecurity expertise by defining and influencing

appropriate policies, technologies, processes and controls to reduce risk

• Maintain current knowledge of information security concepts, technologies,

and adversary tactics

Requirements

• CMMC Certified Professional (CCP) certification
• 8+ years of experience in infrastructure or network engineering, security

operations, security risk analysis, cybersecurity governance, or security architecture

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent applicable experience
• One or more of the following certifications: CISSP, CCSP, CISM, CASP, GCIP,

GCCC

• Familiarity with:

NARA CUI registry, FAR 52.204-21 Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems NIST SP 800-171 Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations DOD Manual 5200.01 Volumes 1-3

• Must pass both Insider Threat Program background checks and North American

Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Personnel Risk Assessment

• Demonstrated ability to manage a program/process/project across multiple

teams in multiple disciplines

• Demonstrated critical, independent thinking; demonstrated ability to

conceive and present creative solutions

• Knowledge and understanding of information security concepts and best

practices

• Working, hands-on familiarity with federal cyber security requirements and

environments

• Demonstrated experience in working with senior stakeholders across various

lines of business Nice-to-haves

• Able to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance
• Prior experience desired promoting security as a business enablement function

using documentation, metrics, and strong verbal communication

• Strong technical consulting experience: ability to understand business

requirements and present appropriate solutions to a non-technical audience

• Energy industry experience
• CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA) certification
• Working familiarity with information security frameworks (e.g. COBIT, NIST,

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