Protocol Officer - Active TS/SCI

ENS Solutions, LLC; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision (Platinum)

401k from Day 1

PTO + 11 holidays

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Professional Development Support

Workers’ Compensation

Relocation Assistance

Job summary

ENS Solutions, LLC in Arlington, Virginia seeks a Senior Protocol Officer to lead all aspects of official protocol, ceremonies, and diplomatic etiquette for NGA. The role demands autonomy and expert planning of high-level visits and events involving senior leadership and foreign dignitaries.

You will coordinate itineraries, secure transport, lodging, and entertainment; oversee ceremonies, liaise with embassies, manage gift programs, and help develop protocol policies and staff training.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required or 15+ years of direct protocol experience.
• Formal training in protocol or event management is preferred.
• 10+ years in a protocol-focused role within government, military, or international settings.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary advisor to senior leadership on protocol matters (precedence, etiquette, forms of address).
• Plan, coordinate, and execute high-visibility visits and official events with security, lodging, transport, and entertainment.
• Direct ceremonies and conferences, including venue, seating, scripts, and sequence of events.
• Liaise with foreign embassies, government agencies, and military counterparts for visits and events.
• Manage official gift program and procurement for foreign/domestic counterparts.
• Develop and maintain protocol policies; train staff and leadership in consistent application.
• Oversee crisis management from a protocol perspective and adapt plans quickly.
• Manage protocol office budget and supervise junior staff, interns, or volunteers.

Skills

Event planning

Diplomatic protocol

Leadership

Advisory role

Foreign liaison

Logistics coordination

Budget management

Crisis management

Staff supervision

Education

Master's degree in related field

15+ years protocol experience

Job description

The Protocol Officer – Senior, is a principal advisor and the lead planner for all matters of official protocol, ceremony, and diplomatic etiquette for NGA. This position operates with a high degree of autonomy and is responsible for flawlessly planning and executing high-level visits, ceremonies, and special events involving senior leadership, foreign dignitaries, and other distinguished visitors. The Senior Protocol Officer provides expert guidance to ensure all interactions adhere to international norms, cultural sensitivities, and established precedent, thereby upholding the reputation and dignity of the organization on a global stage. This role requires strategic foresight, exceptional diplomatic tact, and the ability to manage complex logistics under pressure.

Duties May Include:

• Serve as the primary subject matter expert and principal advisor to senior leadership on all protocol-related matters, including order of precedence, flag etiquette, forms of address, and cultural customs.
• Lead the comprehensive planning, coordination, and execution of distinguished visitor engagements, including creating detailed itineraries, arranging secure transportation, lodging, and official entertainment.
• Direct all aspects of official ceremonies, conferences, and formal events, overseeing everything from venue selection and seating arrangements to scriptwriting and sequence of events.
• Function as the primary liaison with foreign embassies, government agencies, military counterparts, and other external organizations to coordinate visits and events.
• Manage the organization’s official gift program, including the selection, procurement, and presentation of appropriate gifts for foreign and domestic counterparts.
• Develop and maintain the organization’s official protocol policies and provide training to staff and leadership to ensure consistent application.
• Oversee crisis management from a protocol perspective, adapting plans quickly and discreetly in response to unexpected schedule changes or diplomatic incidents.
• Manage the protocol office budget, resources, and supervise junior protocol staff, interns, or volunteers.

Required Skills:

• Education: A minimum of a Master’s degree in Business, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, or a related field. In lieu of a master’s degree, the candidate must have 15+ years of direct protocol experience. Desired completion of formal training in protocol or event management (e.g., The Protocol School of Washington, George Washington University Event Management Program, or equivalent program).
• Experience: A minimum of 10 years of dedicated, full-time experience in a protocol-focused role within a diplomatic, military, government, or international corporate environment.
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading the planning and execution of large-scale, high-visibility events (e.g., summits, state dinners, formal military ceremonies).
• Advisory Role: Proven experience serving as a direct protocol advisor to Flag Officers, Ambassadors, Cabinet-level officials, or C-suite executives.
• Demonstrated experience planning, coordinating, and executing communication and event planning related functions for senior leadership, foreign dignitaries, diplomats, foreign military personnel, legislative, and government officials
• Demonstrated experience in providing on-site logistical support for events including site preparation

Desired Skills:

• Language Skills:Proficiency in one or more foreign languages.
• Formal Training: Completion of a recognized protocol officer training course (e.g., from the Protocol School of Washington, George Washington University Event Management Program, or a similar institution).

Essential Network Security (ENS) Solutions, LLCis a service-disabled veteran owned, highly regarded IT consulting and management firm. ENS consults for the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) providing innovative solutions in the core competency area of Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM), Software Development, Cyber and Network Security, System Engineering, Program/Project Management, IT support, Solutions, and Services that yield enduring results. Our strong technical and management experts have been able to maintain a standard of excellence in their relationships while delivering innovative, scalable and collaborative infrastructure to our clients.

Why ENS?

• Free Platinum-Level Medical/Dental/Vision coverage, 100% paid for by ENS
• 401k Contribution from Day 1
• PTO + 11 Paid Federal Holidays
• Long & Short Term Disability Insurance
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Tuition, Certification & Professional Development Assistance
• Workers’ Compensation
• Relocation Assistance

Candidate AI Usage Policy

AI tools are an important part of daily work at ENS Solutions, and we are committed to their responsible and ethical use. To ensure a fair and equitable candidate evaluation based on individual skills, knowledge, and experience, candidates are not permitted to use artificial intelligence or other assistive tools during interviews, whether in person or virtual, unless explicit permission has been granted in advance.