Contract Program Security Officer - Aerospace | Defense

Due to the requirements of this government/military contract, applicants must HOLD AN ACTIVE AND CURRENT TOP SECRET SSBI/SCI. This requirement is mandatory for this position.

The Opportunity

StaffRight Associates is recruiting for a Contract Program Security Officer to join an aerospace and defense organization supporting classified programs across the Defense and Intelligence Community space. In this high-trust role, the Contract Program Security Officer works hand in hand with government customers and internal program teams, owning the full spectrum of program and industrial security, from personnel clearances and access control to secure facility oversight, DD254 obligations, inspections, and NISPOM and IC compliance. This is a fully on-site position (no remote option) based in Vienna, Virginia, with the flexibility to sit in St. Louis, Missouri or Redlands, California instead. Full relocation is covered.

What You’ll Do

• Safeguard classified Defense and IC programs by owning their program and industrial security obligations end to end.
• Administer the personnel security and access lifecycle, covering access nominations, clearance processing, indoctrinations and debriefings, visit requests, foreign travel, and mandated reporting.
• Oversee SCIFs, restricted areas, open storage areas, and other protected operating spaces to keep them audit-ready.
• Translate DD254 requirements and broader government security mandates into practical, program-level controls.
• Author and refresh SOPs, security plans, training content, and compliance records as program needs evolve.
• Lead self-inspections, prepare the organization for government assessments, and drive corrective actions to closure.
• Partner with government customers, program leaders, and internal teams to align security with mission delivery.
• Handle reportable incidents and sensitive personnel matters with discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism.
• Adapt to shifting priorities across several programs, sites, and customers while delivering confident recommendations under pressure.

What You Bring

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in security management, criminal justice, information systems, business administration, or a closely related discipline.
• 10–25 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated ownership of Industrial Security and Contract Program Security functions inside a cleared contractor setting.
• Background supporting Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Defense (DoD), or additional federal security programs.
• In-depth command of 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), Security Executive Agent Directives (SEADs), Intelligence Community Directives (ICDs), and DD254s, along with related government security mandates.
• Practical experience in SCIF Operations and Secure Area Management, including restricted areas, open storage areas, and similar protected environments.
• Hands-on Personnel Security and Access Management expertise, including Clearance Processing, access nominations, indoctrinations and debriefings, visit requests, foreign travel, and mandated reporting.
• Working familiarity with DISS, NBIS, SWFT, and customer-specific security platforms.
• Capacity to build and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Security Plans, Security Training Materials, and Compliance Documentation.
• Track record performing or supporting Self-Inspections, Government Assessments, Corrective Action Plans, and ongoing compliance initiatives.
• Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills, enabling productive partnerships with government customers, program leaders, and internal teams.
• Sound Judgment, Discretion, and professionalism around classified material, sensitive personnel issues, and reportable security events.
• Capacity to operate autonomously, apply strong Prioritization across competing demands, and deliver well-reasoned recommendations when the stakes are high.
• Adaptability to support several programs, sites, customers, and shifting business needs.
• Ability to secure and hold the clearance and access that assigned programs demand, potentially including an active Top Secret Clearance, SCI Eligibility, and a customer-mandated Polygraph.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Preferred

• Previous service as a CPSO, CSSO, AFSO, FSO, SCI Security Representative, or in a similar industrial security capacity.
• Experience serving several government or IC customers, each with distinct security expectations.
• Knowledge of SCIF Accreditation, ICD 705, and TEMPEST standards.
• Understanding of Operations Security (OPSEC), Insider Threat Programs, Counterintelligence Awareness, and SEAD 3 reporting obligations.
• Experience working alongside Information System Security teams on shared compliance and security needs.
• Exposure to Proposal Development, DD254 Reviews, Contract Security Planning, subcontractor security coordination, and interpreting federal security mandates.
• CDSE coursework, professional certifications, or involvement with NCMS, ISWG, or comparable security associations.
• Master’s Degree in intelligence studies, security management, criminal justice, information systems, business administration, or a related field.

Compensation & Total Rewards

• Salary: $140,000–$160,000 annually
• Engagement: Full-time, direct hire; on-site (no remote) in Vienna, VA, with St. Louis, MO or Redlands, CA as alternate locations
• Benefits: Top benefits package and 401(k)
• Relocation: Full relocation paid

Joining StaffRight Associates

When you partner with StaffRight Associates in your search for your next role, you’re doing more than pursuing a job, you’re aligning yourself with a team of experts committed to placing top-tier talent in truly impactful positions. We take pride in fostering professional growth and connecting forward-thinking individuals with organizations that value innovation and excellence. We look forward to showcasing your expertise in a way that resonates with our clients and opens the door to meaningful opportunities.