SR. ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR - PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR - Personnel Security

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute’s SwRI Division 11, Applied Power, seeks an experienced Personnel Security Specialist to manage multi-agency clearance processing and secure facility access for USG contracts in San Antonio. You will ensure compliance with NISPOM, DoE, and SEAD guidelines and coordinate with HR and government customers.

The role requires 10–12 years in personnel security in defense/USG environments, active DoD/DoE clearances, and experience with DISS, e-QIP, and eApp portals to

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Active or current U.S. Government Secret security clearance required; Top Secret clearance preferred.
• 10–12 years: Experience in personnel security administration within a defense contracting firm or USG environment.
• 10–12 years: Experience using federal vetting databases including DISS, e-QIP, and eApp to initiate and track employee clearances.
• 10–12 years: Experience applying NISPOM, DoE and SEAD 3/4 reporting guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Control Facility Access and SCIF Rosters: Administer badges, PINs, and biometric data daily.
• Verify clearance certifications for visitors and reconcile roster data monthly.
• Initiate and track multi-agency clearances (DoD, DoE Q/L, IC) and guide employees through SF-86 forms.
• Deliver security briefings and compliance training to staff.
• Inform division on foreign travel, financial changes, and SEAD 3/4 reporting rules monthly.
• Maintain audit readiness of physical and digital security files for inspections.
• Interface with DCSA, DoE security officers, and customer contacts.
• Collaborate with SwRI's central FSO shop to sync clearance pipelines.

Skills

SCIF access

Clearance processing

Security briefings

Visitor validation

Regulatory compliance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

DISS

e-QIP

eApp portals

Job description

Who We Are: SwRI Division 11, Applied Power, is seeking an experienced Personnel Security Specialist to join our security team. This role executes daily multi-agency personnel security clearance processing and administers secure facility access for our diverse portfolio of United States Government (USG) contracts. By joining our team, you will receive an additional $500.00 in your first paycheck (minus applicable taxes).

Objectives of this Role

Ensure continuous compliance with multi-agency federal regulations (NISPOM, DoE, SEAD 3/4) to safeguard SwRI's corporate eligibility to execute highly classified United States Government (USG) contracts.Streamline the end-to-end processing of clearances (DoD, DoE Q/L, and IC) to minimize timeline gaps between talent acquisition and direct project billability.Protect the division from operational liabilities by maintaining meticulous, error-free physical and digital security files that consistently meet or exceed DCSA and DoE inspection standards.Control physical facility access, SCIF roster integrity, and visitor validation to mitigate insider threats and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive government data.Empower and educate workforce personnel through impactful briefings, indoctrinations, and reporting guidance to ensure seamless alignment with evolving federal security directives.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities

• Control Facility Access & SCIF Rosters: Administer badges, PINs, and biometric data daily for secure entry.
• Verify clearance certifications for incoming visitors and perform monthly reconciliations of physical and digital Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility rosters.
• Initiate and track multi-agency clearances (DoD, DoE Q/L, IC). Guide employees through SF-86 forms, submit continuous evaluation data, and partner with HR to pre-screen candidate clearance status prior to job offers.
• Deliver Briefings & Compliance Training: Lead mandatory initial security briefings and formal employee departure debriefings.
• Keep division personnel informed on foreign travel, financial changes, and SEAD 3/4 reporting rules on a monthly basis.
• Maintain Absolute Audit Readiness: Conduct recurring quality assurance audits on physical and digital personnel security files. Ensure absolute data integrity and procedural compliance to pass rigorous annual government security inspections.
• Interface with DCSA representatives, DoE security officers, and customer points of contact.
• Collaborate monthly with SwRI's central FSO shop to sync clearance pipelines, document infractions, and support federal background investigators.

Requirements

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Active or current U.S. Government Secret security clearance required; Top Secret clearance preferred.
• Related certifications to include SFPC (Security Fundamentals Professional Certification), SAPPC (Special Access Program Security Professional Certification) and/or training is preferred.
• 10-12 years: Experience in personnel security administration specifically within a defense contracting firm or United States Government (USG) operational environment.
• 10-12 years: Experience utilizing federal vetting databases, including daily administration within DISS, e-QIP, and eApp portals to initiate, track, and manage employee security clearances.
• 10-12 years: Experience applying NISPOM (32 CFR Part 117), Department of Energy (DoE) security regulations, and SEAD 3/4 reporting guidelines to ensure corporate compliance and contract viability.
• 10-12 years: Specialized experience managing Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) access rosters, conducting secure briefings/debriefings, and maintaining files for USG audits.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Special Requirements

Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

Job Locations

San Antonio, Texas

Military Friendly

Your military experience may apply to this position

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.

For more information about this division, visit the Applied Power home page.