Information System Security Officer and Personnel Security Specialist

Role: Information System Security Officer and Personnel Security Specialist

Company: Arch Systems

Client: Federal

Type: Full-time

Location: Remote (Need candidates local to MD)

Position Description

The Information System Security Officer and Personnel Security Specialist provides integrated support for both system security compliance activities and personnel security operations across the organization. The specialist ensures that all information systems, personnel, and operational processes meet federal security, suitability, and clearance requirements. This position supports compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, NIST controls, agency specific directives, and all personnel vetting requirements issued by federal investigative authorities.

Core Responsibilities

1. Information System Security Officer Responsibilities

The specialist serves as the primary Information System Security Officer for assigned systems. This includes maintaining the security posture of information systems and ensuring compliance with NIST Special Publication 800 53, system security plans, continuous monitoring requirements, and any agency specific policies. The specialist works closely with system owners, administrators, developers, and program leadership to ensure that all required security controls are implemented, tested, validated, and documented.

The specialist performs risk assessments, reviews vulnerability scans, validates corrective actions, and ensures that Plans of Action and Milestones are tracked and completed. The specialist maintains all security documentation including the System Security Plan, Contingency Plan, Incident Response Plan, and configuration baseline. The specialist participates in internal and external audits and supports agency Authorization and Assessment activities.

The specialist also provides ongoing security awareness, security training coordination, and ensures that security incidents are reported and managed in accordance with federal guidelines.

2. Personnel Security Specialist Responsibilities

The specialist manages all aspects of personnel vetting, suitability, and security clearance processes for company employees and subcontractors. This includes initiation, review, and submission of background investigation packages, review of personnel forms for accuracy, coordination of fingerprints, verification of citizenship requirements, and maintenance of suitability and clearance records.

The specialist serves as the primary liaison to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and other agency vetting offices. The specialist tracks investigation status, interim determinations, adjudications, reinvestigation cycles, and continuous vetting notifications. The specialist ensures that all personnel security actions are properly documented and that sensitive information is maintained in secure filing systems.

The specialist also monitors employee compliance with reporting requirements for foreign contacts, financial issues, arrests, and other conditions that may affect clearance eligibility. The specialist performs annual certifications, conducts clearance briefings and debriefings, manages visit requests, and ensures badge issuance and retrieval for personnel supporting government facilities.

3. Integrated Security and Compliance Functions

The specialist coordinates personnel vetting requirements with system level access controls to ensure that individuals have only the access they are permitted to receive based on their clearance and suitability level. The specialist ensures proper onboarding and offboarding procedures including account provisioning, disabling of access, and recovery of badges and equipment.

The specialist works closely with program managers, human resources, and corporate leadership to ensure that the organization maintains full compliance with federal requirements, contract clauses, and agency directives.

Qualifications

In depth knowledge of NIST Special Publication 800 53, agency security control requirements, and federal system authorization processes
Experience performing ISSO duties in a federal environment
Experience managing personnel security and clearance processes including eQIP, fingerprints, and DCSA coordination
Strong understanding of adjudicative guidelines and suitability requirements
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple parallel investigations and compliance tasks
Ability to handle sensitive information with appropriate discretion
Strong interpersonal and written communication skills