Security Assessor/Analyst Lead

Guidehouse; Tysons (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance

Parental Leave and Adoption Support

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance and Disability

Job summary

Guidehouse in Tysons, VA is looking for a Security Assessment Lead to drive security and privacy control assessments for public-sector and regulated environments. You will provide technical leadership, oversight, and day-to-day supervision of assessment teams.

You will guide development of SSPs, SARs, ISRAs, and POA&Ms, mentor staff, and advance standardized methodologies, automation, and evidence validation to improve client security postures.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in cybersecurity, information security, or technology risk.
• Experience leading or supervising security assessor teams or related personnel for at least 3 years.
• Hands-on experience developing and/or reviewing SSPs, SARs, POA&Ms, ISRAs, or equivalent artifacts.

Responsibilities

• Lead security and privacy control assessments in accordance with plans, standards, and client requirements.
• Supervise assessment teams, including assigning activities, reviewing work, QA, and coaching.
• Manage assessment planning, execution, and reporting across systems or workstreams.
• Review evidence to evaluate design, implementation, and effectiveness of controls.
• Articulate deficiencies, risks, and remediation clearly to technical and executive audiences.
• Mentor junior staff and promote consistent assessment methodologies and quality.

Skills

Security leadership

Security assessments

Risk management

Client engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

SSP templates

Job description

Job Family: Technology Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance Required: None

What You Will Do

The Security Assessment Lead will lead and support security and privacy control assessments for public-sector and regulated environments, providing technical leadership, quality oversight, and day-to-day supervision of assessment teams. The role will evaluate the effectiveness of security and privacy controls, validate technical and procedural evidence, advise clients on identified risks and remediation considerations, and oversee the development of high-quality assessment documentation. In addition to assessment delivery, this role will help mature and scale security assessment capabilities through standardized methodologies, automation, emerging technologies, and development of assessment team members.

Key job responsibilities include the following:

• Lead security and privacy control assessments in accordance with established assessment plans, applicable standards, and client requirements.
• Supervise and provide day-to-day direction to teams of security assessors, including assignment of assessment activities, review of work products, quality assurance, coaching, and professional development.
• Lead assessment planning, execution, documentation, and reporting activities across multiple systems, workstreams, or client stakeholders.
• Review security documentation and technical evidence to evaluate the design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of security and privacy controls.
• Lead and participate in control validation activities, including:
  • Evidence inspection and analysis
  • Architecture and system documentation review
  • Interviews and working sessions with system owners, security personnel, and technical stakeholders
  • Evaluation of technical configurations and other implementation evidence, as applicable
• Lead the development and quality review of assessment artifacts, including:
  • System Security Plans (SSPs)
  • Security Assessment Reports (SARs)
  • Independent Security Risk Assessments (ISRAs)
  • Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms)
  • Other risk, compliance, and authorization documentation
• Clearly articulate control deficiencies, security risks, root causes, and potential remediation considerations to both technical and executive audiences.
• Maintain appropriate assessment independence, objectivity, and professional judgment.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to client stakeholders by helping them understand assessment results, risk implications, and opportunities to strengthen security and privacy controls.
• Establish and promote consistent assessment methodologies, templates, quality standards, and leading practices across assessment teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve assessment efficiency and quality through standardization, tooling, automation, and enhanced evidence collection and validation techniques.
• Support the application of data analytics, AI-assisted techniques, and automation to improve assessment analysis, evidence traceability, reporting, and continuous monitoring.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level security professionals and contribute to broader cybersecurity capability development and knowledge sharing.

What You Will Need

• Minimum of FIVE (5) years of professional experience.
• Experience in cybersecurity, information security, technology risk, audit, security control assessment, authorization, or related disciplines.
• Minimum of THREE (3) years of supervisory or team leadership experience overseeing security assessor teams or security assessment-related personnel.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university.
• US Citizenship is contractually required.
• Demonstrated experience leading or performing security control assessments, audits, risk assessments, or authorization activities.
• Hands-on experience developing and/or reviewing formal security assessment documentation, including SSPs, SARs, POA&Ms, ISRAs, or equivalent artifacts.
• Strong working knowledge of NIST SP 800-53 security and privacy controls and risk-based assessment concepts.
• Experience evaluating technical and procedural evidence to determine control effectiveness and identify security or compliance gaps.
• Experience leading interviews, assessment discussions, and working sessions with technical personnel, system owners, security teams, and other client stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex technical and security issues into clear, concise, and defensible findings and recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing the work of other assessors and maintaining quality and consistency across assessment deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical and senior client stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple assessment activities, priorities, and deliverables in a client-service environment.

What Would Be Nice To Have

• Experience supporting federal, state, local, healthcare, or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience with CMS, healthcare, or public-sector security and privacy compliance frameworks.
• Deep familiarity with Assessment & Authorization (A&A), Risk Management Framework (RMF), Security Control Assessment (SCA), or similar risk and compliance processes.
• Relevant professional certifications such as CISA, CISSP, CISM, CRISC, Security+, CAP/CGRC, or similar.
• Experience with security engineering, cloud security, identity and access management (IAM), logging/monitoring, vulnerability management, or system implementation.
• Familiarity with modern technology architectures, including cloud platforms, IAM solutions, APIs, security monitoring platforms, and how security controls are implemented and assessed within these environments.
• Experience with automation, scripting, data analytics, or Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platforms supporting assessment or compliance activities.
• Experience applying AI, automation, or data-driven techniques to improve audit readiness, evidence analysis, compliance monitoring, assessment execution, or reporting.
• Experience supporting business development, growth, capture, proposal development, or client account expansion within cybersecurity, technology risk, or related consulting services.
• Experience identifying emerging client needs and helping develop new cybersecurity services, methodologies, accelerators, intellectual property, or other firm capabilities.
• Experience contributing to proposal development, solutioning, oral presentations, demonstrations, marketing materials, white papers, or other go-to-market activities.
• Experience building relationships with clients, industry partners, technology vendors, or other ecosystem organizations to support growth and capability development.
• Interest in helping grow and differentiate a cybersecurity assessment practice through thought leadership, innovation, market awareness, and development of repeatable service offerings.

What We Offer

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Student Loan PayDown Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
• Mobility Stipend

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Guidehouse is a global AI-led professional services firm delivering advisory, technology, and managed services to the commercial and government sectors. With an integrated business technology approach, Guidehouse drives efficiency and resilience in the healthcare, financial services, energy, infrastructure, and national security markets. Built to help clients across industries outwit complexity, the firm brings together approximately 18,000 professionals to achieve lasting impact and shape a meaningful future. guidehouse.com