Information System Security Officer–Federal Programs

Commence; Phoenix (AZ); Remote; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Commence is seeking an Information System Security Officer (ISSO) to lead security assessments and authorization for federal systems supporting CMS, VA, DoD/DHA, IRS, and DHS/TSA. You will own the RMF lifecycle, develop SSPs, risk assessments, and POAMs, and coordinate with multiple agencies and internal teams.

The role requires CISSP or equivalent, 5+ years in information assurance, and 3+ years as ISSO/A&A lead. Remote work with 15-25% travel is available; U.S. citizenship is required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in information assurance or cybersecurity.
• 3+ years as ISSO or A&A lead for federal information systems.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience with NIST RMF, SP 800-53/171, and authorization processes.
• Familiarity with CMS ARS/IS2P2, VA 6500, DoD RMF, IRS 1075 & 4812; HIPAA/CUI knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the designated ISSO for assigned federal systems and liaison to agency ISSOs and officials.
• Lead Security Assessment and Authorization lifecycle per NIST RMF (SP 800-37) from categorization through authorization.
• Prepare and maintain SSP, risk assessments, PIA, contingency and incident response plans, and test plans.
• Maintain POA&M in agency GRC platforms; track remediation with Cybersecurity Engineers and IT Ops.
• Lead CMS VA/DoD/IRS assessments and evidence collection; coordinate findings responses.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with CMS ARS/IS2P2, VA 6500, DFARS, NIST SP 800-171/CMMC 2.0, IRS publications, DHS 4300A, and HIPAA.

Skills

ISSO experience

NIST RMF knowledge

Security compliance

Cloud security (AWS/Azure)

Strong written communication

US citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Tenable Nessus

AWS Inspector

SCAP/STIG Viewer

FedRAMP familiarity

Job description

DescriptionAt Commence, we're the start of a new age of data-centric transformation, elevating health outcomes and powering better, more efficient process to program and patient health. We combine quality data-driven solutions that fuel answers, technology that advances performance, and clinical expertise that builds trust to create a more efficient path to quality care.With human-centered, healthcare-relevant, and value-based solutions, we create new possibilities with data. We provide proof beyond the concept and performance beyond the scope with a focus on efficiencies that transform the lives of those we serve. With a culture driven by purpose, straightforward communication and clinical domain expertise, Commence cuts straight to better care.?

Requirements

The Information System Security Officer (ISSO) is the designated security officer and information assurance lead for the Commence systems that support federal programs. Reporting to the Information Systems Security Manager (ISSM), the ISSO owns the day-to-day security assessment, authorization, and continuous-monitoring work that keeps assigned systems authorized to operate for the federal agencies Commence supports directly as a prime contractor and indirectly as a subcontractor, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense / Defense Health Agency (DHA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Department of Homeland Security / Transportation Security Administration (DHS/TSA). The ISSM sets system assignments, which may be shared across more than one ISSO. The ISSO works closely with the CIO, Cybersecurity Engineers, Compliance Analysts, Project Managers, and other departments across the company, including Operations, Engineering, Contracts, and Human Resources.

• ISSO designation and liaison. Serve as the designated ISSO for assigned federal systems and the primary system-level security liaison to agency ISSOs, Authorizing Officials, assessors, and prime contractor security teams; carry out priorities set by the CIO and ISSM; elevate program-level issues, risk acceptances, and exceptions to the ISSM with a recommended path.
• Project and cross-functional coordination. Partner with Project Managers to build security and authorization milestones into project plans, assess the security impact of system changes before they ship, and keep federal deliverable dates visible to project and program teams.
• ATO packages. Run the Security Assessment and Authorization lifecycle under the NIST Risk Management Framework (SP 800-37) from FIPS 199 categorization through authorization, ongoing authorization, and reauthorization. Author and maintain the System Security and Privacy Plan, risk assessment, Privacy Impact Assessment, contingency plan and annual test, incident response plan, configuration management plan, and interconnection agreements, for ISSM review.
• Continuous monitoring and POA&M. Maintain POA&M in agency GRC platforms; review monthly vulnerability and configuration scans against DISA STIGs, CIS benchmarks, and agency baselines; assign and track remediation with Cybersecurity Engineers and IT Operations to agency timelines; prepare ongoing-authorization and ConMon reports.
• Agency assessments. Lead system-level preparation for CMS Security Controls Assessments and Adaptive Capabilities Testing, VA and DoD assessments, and IRS Safeguards reviews; work with Compliance Analysts on evidence collection and findings response.
• Agency-specific requirements. Maintain compliance with current and future agency requirements to include CMS ARS and IS2P2; VA Handbook 6500 and 6500.6; DFARS , NIST SP 800-171, and CMMC 2.0 for DoD/DHA; IRS Publication 1075 & 4812; DHS 4300A and Sensitive Security Information handling; plus CUI, FISMA, HIPAA, and the Privacy Act.
• Incident reporting. Act as first responder for security and privacy incidents affecting federal data on assigned systems; elevative immediately to the ISSM and CIO; meet agency notification clock in coordination with the Privacy Officer and prime contractors.
• Contract deliverables and personnel security. Complete system-level contract security deliverables; manage federal personnel security tasks (Public Trust and e-QIP processing, agency training, rules of behavior, access attestations).
• Internal audit and framework support. Support the CIO and ISSM with internal audits and control assessments against SOC 2, NIST (CSF, SP 800-53, SP 800-171), HIPAA, HITRUST, and ISO/IEC 27001 frameworks: control testing, evidence preparation, gap analysis, and corrective action tracking. Provide system-specific input to the ISSM and Compliance Analyst, who owns external audits and customer and prime contractor security questionnaires.
• This description is not all-inclusive and may be modified to meet the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of information assurance or cybersecurity experience, including 3+ years as an ISSO or A&A lead for federal information systems; bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Has personally taken at least one federal system through an initial ATO or reauthorization under NIST SP , including SSP authorship and POA&M management in various agency specific GRC platforms.
• Working knowledge of at least two of: CMS ARS/IS2P2, VA 6500, DoD RMF and NIST SP 800-171/CMMC, IRS Publication 1075 & 4812, DHS 4300A. Experience with FedRAMP and HIPAA a plus.
• Comfortable reading vulnerability and configuration scan output (Tenable/Nessus, Defender, AWS Inspector, SCAP/STIG Viewer) and translating findings into remediation tasks.
• Familiarity with AWS and Microsoft 365/Azure.
• A clear, precise writer who can run several systems and deadline clocks at once.
• CompTIA Security+ (or higher DoD 8140-qualifying certification) required. CISSP, CGRC (formerly CAP), CISA, or CCSP preferred.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain federal Public Trust suitability required.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.This is a remote position with an estimated 15-25% travel. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a climate-controlled environment. Candidates must be able to sit, read, work on a computer, and watch a computer screen for extended periods of time. Occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, kneel or crouch. Candidates will be expected to participate in on-call coverage for security incidents.

Commence' headquarters are in Virginia Beach, VA, however we are open to remote candidates in the following states: AZ, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, MT, NC, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, DC, WI, WA and WV

Commence is an equal employment opportunity employer. All personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military and veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.