SME Personnel Security Manager

Think Consulting; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Think Consulting in Washington DC is seeking an experienced Subject Matter Expert (SME) Personnel Security Manager to lead the personnel security program for a large-scale federal modernization initiative. The role requires TS/SCI clearance, SAP eligibility, and hands-on management of security actions across multiple compartments.

You will serve as security advisor to program leadership, develop policies, oversee continuous vetting, and coordinate with DoD/IC requirements, while ensuring a

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with eligibility for SAP.
• Bachelor's degree and 12+ years in personnel security, program security, industrial security, or IC security operations. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing personnel security programs supporting SCI and SAP populations.
• Demonstrated experience serving as SSO, CSSO, CPSO, PSM or similar senior security leadership role.
• Knowledge of NISPOM (32 CFR Part 117), DoD security policies, SAP requirements, IC directives, Trusted Workforce and Continuous Vetting initiatives.
• Hands-on experience with personnel security systems, clearance databases, and access management platforms.
• Experience interpreting and administering DD Form 254 requirements and contract security requirements.
• Security certifications such as SFPC, SPIPC, SAPPC, ASIS CPP, NCMS ISP or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the personnel security program, including security compliance, clearance administration, access management, and workforce security education.
• Administer and track personnel security actions including: security clearance processing, SCI nominations and access requests, SAP access requests, indoctrinations and debriefings, visit requests, reinvestigations and continuous vetting requirements.
• Maintain accurate personnel access databases and rosters across multiple security compartments and classified environments.
• Serve as the primary security liaison for contract security requirements, security classification guidance, and incident reporting.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce program security policies, procedures, and SOPs.
• Support implementation and oversight of SAP security requirements and personnel eligibility processes.
• Execute continuous vetting and reporting responsibilities per federal directives and trusted workforce initiatives.
• Manage employee self-reporting, foreign travel, foreign contacts reporting, and other obligations.
• Coordinate security incidents and insider threat referrals with government security officials and stakeholders.
• Conduct and maintain records of investigations, briefings, and corrective actions.
• Deliver initial, annual, refresher, and event-driven security training and awareness briefings.
• Provide workforce security readiness assessments and advise on clearance processing pipelines and onboarding timelines.
• Support physical and information security operations as required and prepare for inspections and audits.

Skills

Security leadership

Clearance management

Policy development

Training delivery

Executive briefing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Personnel security systems

Clearance databases

Access management platforms

Job description

On-site M-F in Washington DC Active TS/SCI Clearance Required Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Subject Matter Expert (SME) Personnel Security Manager to lead and oversee the personnel security program for a large-scale federal modernization initiative supporting a highly sensitive and classified operational environment. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of personnel security, including clearance and access management, security compliance, continuous vetting, insider threat coordination, and workforce security readiness across multiple classification levels and controlled access programs.

The ideal candidate will serve as the primary security advisor to program leadership, ensuring compliance with Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and federal security requirements while maintaining a secure operational environment for a diverse, cleared workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the personnel security program, including security compliance, clearance administration, access management, and workforce security education.
• Administer and track personnel security actions including:
  • Security clearance processing
  • SCI nominations and access requests
  • Special Access Program (SAP) access requests
  • Indoctrinations and debriefings
  • Visit requests
  • Reinvestigations and continuous vetting requirements
• Maintain accurate personnel access databases and rosters across multiple security compartments and classified environments.
• Serve as the primary security liaison for contract security requirements, security classification guidance, and incident reporting.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce program security policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Support implementation and oversight of Special Access Program security requirements and personnel eligibility processes.
• Execute continuous vetting and reporting responsibilities in accordance with federal security directives and trusted workforce initiatives.
• Manage employee self-reporting requirements, foreign travel reporting, foreign contacts reporting, and other personnel security obligations.
• Coordinate security incidents, insider threat referrals, and preliminary inquiries with government security officials and other stakeholders.
• Conduct and maintain records of security investigations, reports, briefings, and corrective actions.
• Deliver initial, annual, refresher, and event-driven security training and awareness briefings.
• Provide workforce security readiness assessments and advise leadership on clearance processing pipelines, onboarding timelines, and access-related staffing risks.
• Support physical and information security operations as required, including secure facility access coordination and protection of classified information.
• Prepare for and support security inspections, audits, self-assessments, and compliance reviews.
• Brief senior leadership on personnel security status, risks, trends, and recommended mitigation strategies.

Required Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI security clearance with eligibility for Special Access Programs (SAP).
• Bachelor's degree and 12+ years of progressive experience in personnel security, program security, industrial security, or intelligence community security operations. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing personnel security programs supporting SCI and SAP populations.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a:
  • Special Security Officer (SSO)
  • Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO)
  • Contractor Program Security Officer (CPSO)
  • Program Security Manager
  • Similar senior security leadership role
• In-depth knowledge of:
  • NISPOM (32 CFR Part 117)
  • DoD personnel security policies
  • Special Access Program security requirements
  • Intelligence Community personnel security directives
  • Trusted Workforce initiatives
  • Continuous Vetting programs
• Hands-on experience with personnel security systems, clearance databases, and access management platforms.
• Experience interpreting and administering DD Form 254 requirements, security classification guidance, and contract security requirements.
• Security certification such as:
  • SPeD Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC)
  • SPIPC
  • SAPPC
  • ASIS CPP
  • NCMS ISP
  • Equivalent professional security credential

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong executive communication and briefing skills with experience presenting security matters to senior military, government, and corporate leadership.
• Advanced security certifications including:
  • SPeD Special Program Security Certification (SPSC)
  • SPeD Physical Security Certification (PSC)
  • Industrial Security Oversight Certification (ISOC)
• Completion of advanced government or industry security training programs related to facility security, SAP security, or security program management.
• Experience supporting highly sensitive, mission-critical, or national security programs.
• Experience overseeing personnel security operations across multiple classified networks, enclaves, or cross-domain environments.
• Familiarity with insider threat programs, counterintelligence reporting requirements, and workforce risk management.
• Prior military service or experience in security, counterintelligence, intelligence, law enforcement, industrial security, or related national security disciplines.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status