Senior Security Specialist Officer (SSO) - Applied Research Associates, Inc

Are you enthusiastic about working and collaborating with a highly skilled and motivated team that genuinely enjoys their work? We are currently seeking an experienced security professional to join us on-site as a Senior Security Specialist Officer (SSO) in our Raleigh, NC office. As an SSO, you're responsible for managing the industrial security aspects as a shared service with ARA/IMS supporting the Sector and Divisions, particularly in contexts where sensitive or classified information is involved.

The Senior Security Specialist Officer (SSO) is responsible for various aspects of security within an ARA/IMS. This role can encompass a wide range of responsibilities depending on the specific security needs. The SSO works to protect people, facility, assets, and information from threats and risks. The SSO will work closely with ARA/IMS-Security Facility Security Officer (FSO), Program Security Officers (PSOs), and shared services including, IT Security Department Team and the Security Compliance and Governance office. The SSO will report operationally to the ARA/IMS Director of Security Operations (DSO) and functionally to the FSO.

Candidates applying for this position must possess an active Top Secret security clearance, with the potential for obtaining a Top Secret/SCI clearance. Applications from individuals without an active security clearance will not be considered. This is a full-time on-site position. 

Senior Security Specialist Officer (SSO) Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Security Planning: Develop security plans and policies to protect data, assets, and personnel.
• Security Policies and Procedures: Develop and enforce security policies, procedures, and guidelines to protect data, assets, and personnel.
• Security Clearance Process: facilitate a rigorous security clearance process to determine an individual's eligibility for access to classified information. This process involves thorough background investigations, interviews, and assessments of an individual's loyalty, trustworthiness, and reliability. Continuous Evaluation / monitoring and assessment of the ongoing eligibility of cleared personnel. (Assist in the management of DISS and NBIS)
• Security Clearance Management: Coordinate security clearance activity with the IMS-Security Program Security Officer (PSO) supporting IMS personnel working on the various program(s) and ensuring compliance with clearance requirements. (Assist in the management of DISS and NBIS)
• Access Control: Manage and control access to ARA/IMD Raleigh facilities, and resources, ensuring that only authorized personnel have the appropriate access rights (Badging, etc.)
• Visitor Management: Implement procedures to verify the identity of visitors, issue visitor badges, and monitor their activities while on the premises.
• Manage Security Guard Personnel: Employ security guards or personnel to monitor entrances, conduct security checks, and respond to security incidents.
• Intrusion Detection Systems: Monitor records of sensors and alarms that detect unauthorized entry or tampering with doors, windows, or other access points.
• Surveillance and Monitoring: Use security cameras, alarms, and sensors to monitor activities both inside and outside the facility. Surveillance data is often recorded and analyzed to identify potential security threats. (Pending Capabilities)
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure physical security measures comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Emergency Response Planning: Develop and practice plans to respond to various emergencies, such as natural disasters, fires, security breaches, active shooter, insider threat, etc.
• Security Training: Provide security training and awareness programs for employees to help them recognize and respond to security threats.
• Security Documentation: Maintain records and documentation related to security, including incident reports and security plans.
• Secure Space Standards and Compliance: Ensure the design, construction and ongoing assessments of secure spaces comply with relevant security standards, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Secure Space Risk Assessment: Conduct risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats to secure spaces and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Secure Facilities Maintenance: provide ongoing maintenance and security operations to ensure the long-term effectiveness of secure spaces.
• Other Duties: As deemed appropriate by the ARA/IMS-Security/Director of Security Operations.

Senior Security Specialist Officer (SSO) Required Skills: 

• Knowledge and general experience with US Government online systems, including the Defense Information System for Security (DISS), National Background Investigation Services (NBIS), Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP), and National Industrial Security System (NISS).
• Experience interfacing with DCSA and other government representatives
• Experience collaborating with federal or government agencies as well as defense contractors.
• Working knowledge of the National Industrial Security Program (NISPOM) and Department of Defense regulations
• Strong organizational skills and experience with Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Professional demeanor, possesses strong interpersonal skills, communicates effectively both in writing and verbally, and excels in a multitasking, dynamic environment.
• A strong sense of personal motivation and initiative to continuously acquire new skills and seamlessly adapt to a dynamic security landscape.
• Experience in security facility management, encompassing all security disciplines, with a particular focus on personnel, physical, and information security.

Senior Security Specialist Officer (SSO) Position Requirements: 

• US Citizenship required.
• Active Top-Secret Clearance.
• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) with 5-7 years of experience OR a Master's with 3-5 years of experience.
• Complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts.
• Independently determines and develops approach to solutions.
• Experienced with dealing with a comprehensive spectrum of security principles, concepts, practices, products, and services, along with expertise in assessing risk and vulnerability, implementing effective mitigation measures, and disseminating security procedures and processes.
• Experienced with frequent use and application of technical standards, principles, and theories.
• Providing solutions to technical problems of moderate scope/complexity under general direction and supervision.

Senior Security Specialist Officer (SSO) Desired Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of DCSA Assessment and Authorization Process Manual (DAAPM).
• Knowledge of Closed Area Standards and Intelligence Community Directive 705.
• Knowledge of the NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-57 and the NIST SP 800-171.
• Knowledge of DoD Manuals 5200.01 volumes 1-4, 5205.07, ICD 705.
• Experience with NISS, DISS, SWFT, ACCS, Access Commander, or other government applications.
• Experience with SharePoint.

Who is ARA? 

Do you want to work for a purpose? Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company. We have been providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences since 1979. ARA has over 2,077 employee owners and continues to grow rapidly. Together, our offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

ARA also prides itself, on having a challenging culture where innovation & experimentation are the norm. The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. Employee ownership ensures you have a voice with what happens in the company. We are also very proud of our Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), whose purpose is to motivate, support, and encourage professional career development for women to maximize career and professional accomplishments.

To find out more about what the Integrated Mission Systems Sector has to offer, visit our website at https://www.ara.com/raleigh/

To learn more about our generous benefits program including health, life & disability, retirement, flexible spending, rewards & recognition, work/life balance, professional development and relocation visit https://www.ara.com/benefits/ 

Experience

Required

• 5 - 7 years: Relevant Work Experience

Education

Preferred

• Bachelors or better

Licenses & Certifications

Required

• Top Secret Clearance

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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