Department Manager, Physical Security & Safety

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE’s Global Security division is seeking a Department Manager who will lead more than 50 security and safety professionals. You will set strategy, allocate resources, and ensure performance across PSO, GVA, SSEG, and EH&S programs while collaborating with partners across the organization.

You will manage enterprise physical security operations, access and visitor services, security systems, and contract guard services, directing major facility projects and ensuring government compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree, 10 years with a master's degree, or seven years with a doctorate.
• Minimum four years of experience managing teams, including managers or supervisors.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance required. U.S. citizenship.
• This position requires four on-site workdays each week.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to security priorities with defined outcomes and measures of success.
• Lead enterprise physical security operations, access services, security systems, and EH&S programs.
• Manage department budget and resource allocation with disciplined fiscal stewardship.
• Coordinate with Corporate Real Estate, HR, Legal, and government partners to integrate security across the organization.
• Ensure security incidents are investigated and resolved with corrective actions.

Skills

Leadership

Physical security

Team management

Compliance

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Doctorate

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

MITRE's Global Security division protects more than 7,000 employees across more than 50 domestic and international locations, including more than 20 cleared facilities. The division protects people, information, infrastructure, enterprise assets, and national security information while helping MITRE manage risk and deliver its mission. Within Global Security, R315 Physical Security & Safety integrates Physical Security Operations (PSO), Global Visits & Access (GVA), Systems Security Engineering (SSEG), and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) programs. The department manages access control, visitor and credential services, contract guard operations, security technologies, incident response, emergency preparedness, workplace safety, environmental compliance, and support for classified and sensitive environments. R315 works with internal teams, government partners, and external stakeholders to strengthen security, improve service delivery, and support safe and efficient operations.

The Department Manager reports to the Director of Global Security and leads more than 50 security and safety professionals through subordinate managers. The manager sets department strategy, establishes priorities, directs resources, and holds PSO, GVA, SSEG, and EH&S accountable for performance and service delivery. Through subordinate managers, the role oversees enterprise physical security operations, access and visitor services, security systems, contract guard force services, emergency preparedness, and EH&S programs. The manager also directs security and safety requirements for major facility projects, site improvements, and operational changes. The Department Manager serves as the senior leader for department risk, operational readiness, compliance, workforce development, budget management, and continuous improvement. The manager advises executives on threats, vulnerabilities, incidents, regulatory obligations, and mitigation options. The role works with Industrial Security, Corporate Real Estate, Human Resources, Legal, Information Security, business sectors, government partners, law enforcement, emergency responders, and vendors. The manager balances protection, compliance, customer service, and mission needs while maintaining clear ownership and accountability.

Position Overview

The Department Manager reports to the Director of Global Security and leads more than 50 security and safety professionals through subordinate managers. The manager sets department strategy, establishes priorities, directs resources, and holds PSO, GVA, SSEG, and EH&S accountable for performance and service delivery. Through subordinate managers, the role oversees enterprise physical security operations, access and visitor services, security systems, contract guard force services, emergency preparedness, and EH&S programs. The manager also directs security and safety requirements for major facility projects, site improvements, and operational changes. The Department Manager serves as the senior leader for department risk, operational readiness, compliance, workforce development, budget management, and continuous improvement. The manager advises executives on threats, vulnerabilities, incidents, regulatory obligations, and mitigation options. The role works with Industrial Security, Corporate Real Estate, Human Resources, Legal, Information Security, business sectors, government partners, law enforcement, emergency responders, and vendors. The manager balances protection, compliance, customer service, and mission needs while maintaining clear ownership and accountability.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Leadership and Operational Excellence:
• Provide strategic leadership to foster operational excellence by establishing clear security priorities with well-defined outcomes and measures of success.
• Drive mission excellence across physical security and safety services and programs to enable MITRE’s business sectors to deliver solutions for the nation’s most pressing challenges.
• Reinforce organizational rigor and discipline through consistent operating procedures, quality-checked through organized self-assessments, continuously improved through after-action reviews and supported by appropriate levels of automation.
• Elevate security as a respected pillar of MITRE’s culture, recognized for safeguarding and accelerating the mission.
• Enhance the classified user experience while maintaining compliant operations and facilities.
• Attract, develop, and retain skilled professionals, both in leadership and technical roles, to effectively shape and execute MITRE’s security mission.
• Strategically manage a department budget, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring disciplined fiscal stewardship.

• Security Compliance:
• Direct enterprise physical security operations, access services, security systems, emergency preparedness, and environmental health and safety programs.
• Support industrial security operations and programs in the management and security of facilities accredited for the safeguarding and processing of classified information.
• Manage the contract guard force, including staffing, performance, standards, costs, vendor accountability, and service quality.
• Maintain a state of continuous readiness through compliance assessments, audits, inspections, incident reviews, and corrective actions, ensuring accredited facilities pass government security inspections and accreditation reviews.
• Develop, implement, and maintain security policies, procedures, and standards for physical security and safety processes.
• Manage regular security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with security requirements.
• Validate the implementation of Traditional STIGs (Security Technical Implementation Guides) and other security controls to mitigate risks in support of system accreditation.
• Manage and lead a team of diverse security professionals, providing guidance, training, and mentorship.
• Develop and execute strategic plans for security and compliance, aligning with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Manage and track security-related projects and initiatives, including POA&Ms, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.
• Lead collaboration with Corporate Real Estate and other stakeholders to ensure security is integrated into all aspects of facility management and construction.
• Ensure security incidents are responded to, investigated, and resolved, implementing corrective actions as necessary.
• Stay current on emerging security threats and technologies and recommend appropriate security measures.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree, 10 years with a master's degree, or seven years with a doctorate. An equivalent combination of education and related experience also meets this requirement.
• Minimum of four years of experience managing teams, including managers or supervisors.
• Strong physical security leadership experience and working knowledge of environmental health and safety requirements.
• Experience leading multi-site security operations in cleared facilities and managing access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance, visitor management, and emergency communication systems.
• Experience managing a contract guard force, including vendor performance, staffing, service standards, and costs.
• Knowledge of NISPOM, OSHA, EPA, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Experience managing budgets, projects, audits, inspections, and corrective actions in regulated operating environments.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires four on-site workdays each week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• Experience leading an organization with more than 50 professionals through subordinate managers in a multi-function security or safety organization.
• Experience leading an organizational through an enterprise technology refresh with enterprise access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance, visitor management, or emergency communication systems.
• Experience applying knowledge of NISPOM, OSHA, EPA, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Experience working with government customers, law enforcement, emergency responders, and corporate service organizations.
• Experience designing operating models, service standards, workforce measures, and continuous improvement programs.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s)

Top Secret/SCI

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s)

Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint

$159,000 - $198,500 - $238,000 Annual

Work Location Type

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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