SECURITY SPECIALIST
Defense Intelligence Agency
Posted: February 13, 2026 (2 days ago)
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Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
Location
McLean, Virginia
Salary
$57,736 - $75,059
per year
Type
Closes
This job involves helping to build, run, and improve security programs for a key intelligence office, focusing on protecting sensitive information and operations within the government.
It requires working with policies, assessing risks, and collaborating with teams and leaders to solve security challenges.
A good fit would be someone with experience in security management, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate clearly in a high-stakes environment.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Chief Operating Officer (COO) administers the Director of National Intelligence (DNI's) vision and direction to the ODNI enterprise.
This includes synchronizing policy, plans, procedures, and cross-functional issues.
The COO oversees all ODNI business operations, including such areas as human resources, internal policies, finance and budget, information technology, security, facilities, and information management.
Knowledge of general security administration programs and mastery of one or more security specialties (e.g.
sensitive compartmented information, personnel security, technical security, operations security).
Knowledge of IC, CIA, and ODNI security regulations, policies, and procedures in order to address and resolve ODNI security issues, violations, and questions.
Basic ability to develop and effectively manage a complex security program, assess customer requirements, identify dependencies, and manage and mitigate risks.
Program management, analytic, and critical thinking skills, including a superior ability to conduct security program assessments, identify needs and requirements, and develop process improvement recommendations for the successful implementation of ODNI's security programs.
Basic ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, complex information in a clear, concise manner that is targeted to and meets the needs of varied audiences with different perspectives and objectives.
Basic ability to work effectively both independently and in a team or collaborative environment, mentor junior colleagues, and utilize strong organizational and interpersonal problem-solving skills.
Basic ability to establish regular contact with high-level internal and external resources and customers, supplying or seeking information on security programs and issues; superior use of tact when expressing ideas or opinions to senior leaders, customers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
Basic ability to listen to, clarify, and convey an understanding of others' ideas, comments, and questions, and integrate and build upon varied opinions in a manner that encourages the formation of integrated solutions and positions.
Major Duties:
Assist in the development, installation, and management of a security program for a governmental organization, organizational segment, installation, or other unit, subject at the local level only to administrative supervision and control (policy and technical guidance may be received from a higher organizational entity).
Perform work in various security specialties and assist in resolving major conflicts in policy and program objectives.
Analyze strengths and weaknesses of complex security programs, processes, and procedures and develop new strategies for resolving complex problems or improving overall performance.
Support the development of strategic and tactical plans to support ODNI security initiatives; contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of security programs in response to Intelligence Community (IC) directives and/or mission requirements.
Provide support with identifying new or far-reaching security program requirements and serve on study groups for resolving problems in existing security systems and programs requiring innovative solutions.
Provide input to top level agency security and subject-matter experts on new developments and advances in security techniques.
Make recommendations on methods for enhancing efficiency of security systems through modifications and applications of evolving technology.
Evaluate and make recommendations concerning overall plans and proposals for major agency and interagency security projects.
Assist with the implementation of IC wide guidance in agency standards, guidelines, or policies for major IC security programs.
Contribute to the development of legislation and security policy issuances that direct the course of security programs in the IC community and others involved in sensitive and secure work performed in or for the Federal Government.
Serve as a subject matter expert providing substantial input on ways to resolve problems or issues concerning several phases of security policy, development and implementation for a variety of programs in one or more fields of security.
Cultivate and maintain productive working relationships with security colleagues, CIA counterparts, and ODNI senior leadership to share information of interest, explain the specifics of security programs and procedures, and, when appropriate, present, justify, defend, negotiate, and/or settle matters involving significant or controversial issues.
Provide support to interagency committees or in national security organizations involved in reviewing, analyzing, developing and issuing national policy directives and drafting legislation affecting security policies and programs throughout the Government and private sectors.
Other duties, as assigned.
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