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Posted: January 26, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Supervisory Security Specialist

Washington Headquarters Services

Department of Defense

Fresh

Salary

$169,279 - $197,200

per year

Closes

February 2, 2026

GS-15 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $123,041 - $159,950

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-14. Senior leader or top expert.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a team to manage security programs for high-level Department of Defense offices, including protecting sensitive information and facilities while ensuring everything follows national rules.

It requires supervising staff, creating security guidelines, and advising top leaders on security issues.

A good fit would be someone with extensive experience in government or defense security who enjoys strategic planning and working in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-14 level or equivalent, managing multi-disciplinary security programs (personnel, physical, information, industrial)
  • Experience providing technical and administrative supervision to security teams
  • Proven ability to develop and implement security policies and procedures compliant with DoD, agency, and national directives (e.g., Intelligence Community Directives, Executive Orders)
  • Serving as a senior advisor to leadership on complex security matters
  • Representing the organization in inter-agency forums and providing strategic recommendations to improve security processes
  • Strong documentation skills for federal resume (limited to 2 pages, including months/hours worked)
  • U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain necessary security clearance

Full Job Description

This position is located in the WHS, Security Enterprise Services Directorate (SESD), in the SCI Management Division and will serve as a Supervisory Security Specialist responsible for providing WHS security support.

The SESD provides security support to senior managers in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, WHS, the Director of Administration & Management (DA&M) & to DoW, & Congressional & Presidential established boards, commissions, & task forces.

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience: Managing and/or directing a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary security program (e.g., personnel, physical, information, and industrial security) by providing technical and administrative supervision; and Developing and implementing security policies and procedures for an organization, ensuring all security functions and programs comply with broad agency, DoD, and national-level directives (such as Intelligence Community Directives or Executive Orders); and Serving as a senior advisor to leadership on complex security matters, representing the organization in inter-agency forums, and providing strategic recommendations to improve and streamline security processes.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages.

For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume.

If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission..

A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.

This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin.

It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters.

Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible".

Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level.

If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Major Duties:

The SESD operates in a fast-paced, high demand environment, providing support to some of the senior-most leadership of the Department of War. Security responsibilities include Industrial Security.

Information Security, Operations Security, Personnel Security, Physical Security, SCI Administration, Mission Assurance, Controlled Unclassified Information, Insider Threat, Classification Review, and Counterintelligence Awareness and Reporting.

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Plan, organize, and direct the full range of activities for the SCI Management Division, providing strategic vision and day-to-day operational oversight for all security functions.

Serve as the senior Special Security Officer (SSO) for WHS and its serviced customers, exercising full responsibility for the management and oversight of the SCI security program and all subordinate Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs).

Exercise full supervisory responsibilities, including developing performance plans, identifying training needs, managing assignments, and making authoritative recommendations on hiring, promotions, and disciplinary actions for a diverse team of civilian and contractor personnel.

Provide expert, unfiltered, and risk-based security analysis and countermeasure recommendations to senior leadership to ensure enterprise-wide mission protection and success.

Develop and implement strategic plans, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the security program, driving initiatives to transform, improve, and streamline processes through innovation and automation.

Represent the organization as a key leader in high-level meetings, inter-agency working groups, and conferences, fostering collaboration with mission partners across the Intelligence Community to address complex challenges.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/26/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/27/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: IMP-12868003-26-KG