Scientific Applications & Research Associates, Inc. (SARA) is a world-class Defense Research and Development enterprise, with a charter to create new and emerging technological innovations in support of Commercial & Government organizations. We have expertise in RF, EMP, Pulsed Power, Acoustics, and Threat Warning Systems, and we prioritize partnering with our customers to address real-world problems with cost-effective solutions… that work.
SARA is looking for a remarkably talented, motivated, and experienced Senior Security Managerto support activities out of our Colorado Springs, CO location. The candidate will have the opportunity to grow and learn with talented engineers, physicists, and technicians on long-standing programs and new programs supporting our customers.
Seeking an experienced Senior Security Manager, DoD Security to lead the company's security program supporting U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contracts, classified programs, and regulated government environments.
This leader will have overall responsibility for developing, implementing, and maintaining security programs that meet applicable DoD, Intelligence Community, and federal requirements. The Senior Security Manager will serve as a senior security advisor to executive leadership and program teams while partnering closely with government customers, security officials, legal, compliance, IT, facilities, HR, and business leadership.
The ideal candidate combines deep knowledge of DoD security requirements with strong operational leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to build scalable security programs in a rapidly evolving environment.
Core Responsibilities:
Security Program Leadership
- Own and lead the company's DoD security program and associated policies, procedures, and controls
- Establish security strategy, priorities, governance, and performance metrics for government programs
- Ensure compliance with applicable DoD and federal security requirements, contractual security obligations, and company policies
- Advise executive leadership on security risk, program requirements, and emerging threats
- Develop and maintain security operating procedures, plans, and documentation
Personnel Security
- Establish effective insider-threat awareness program and reporting practices
Industrial Security
- Ensure classified information, systems, facilities, and processes are appropriately protected
Information and Physical Security
- Partner with IT, cybersecurity, facilities, and engineering teams to ensure appropriate protection of classified and sensitive information
- Oversee physical security requirements for controlled and classified spaces
- Oversee procedures for classified material handling, storage, transmission, destruction, and accountability
- Support secure facility design, access control, visitor management, and security monitoring
Compliance, Risk & Inspections
- Prepare the organization for government security reviews, inspections, audits, and assessments
- Identify security gaps and lead remediation activities
- Ensures appropriate security records, plans, reports, and documentation
- Track regulatory and contractual changes and translate them into actionable requirements
- Develop security metrics and reporting for executive leadership
Incident Response
- Lead or coordinate investigations involving security violations, potential compromises, insider-threat concerns, and other security incidents
- Ensure timely reporting to appropriate government authorities and internal stakeholders
- Develop corrective and preventive actions and monitor their completion
- Maintain an effective security incident response and escalation process
Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
- Build and lead a high-performing security organization
- Establish strong partnerships with Program Management, Legal, HR, IT/Cybersecurity, Facilities, Engineering, and executive leadership
- Provide security guidance during business development, contract capture, mergers/acquisitions, facility expansion, and program transitions
- Foster a culture of security accountability across the organization
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in security management, business, criminal justice, intelligence, cybersecurity, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered
- 10 – 12 years of progressive experience in DoD, federal, defense contractor, or industrial security environments
- Demonstrated experience leading enterprise or multi-program security organizations
- Strong knowledge of DoD and federal security requirements and industrial security practices
- Experience working with DCSA and supporting government security inspections or assessments
- Experience administering personnel, physical, industrial, and information security programs
- Demonstrated experience managing security incidents and corrective actions
- Strong executive communication, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills
- Ability to handle sensitive and classified information with discretion and sound judgment
- US Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance
- May require light physical effort, including standing, sitting, and use of hands while performing duties, and carrying or lifting up to 25 pounds
- Working environment is indoor, moderately quiet / loud, reasonably clean, well-lit, and well-ventilated; moderate physical hazards may exist
Preferred Qualifications:
- Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance
- Experience supporting Special Access Program (SAP), Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), or other highly controlled environments
- Experience with NISPOM, DoD security requirements, and classified contract requirements
- Experience serving as a Facility Security Officer (FSO) or senior industrial security leader
- Experience with DD Form 254 requirements and classified contract execution
- Experience with insider-threat programs and related security compliance activities
- Experience supporting CMMC, NIST, RMF, or other federal cybersecurity/compliance frameworks
- Professional certification such as Industrial Security Professional (ISP), CISSP, CPP, or equivalent
- Experience leading security programs across multiple facilities or geographically distributed teams
SARA offers a competitive benefits package to include:
- Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance; and other supplemental programs
- A generous PTO program (vacation, sick, holiday)
- Tuition & certification reimbursement
- Flexible work schedules
- Discretionary Employee bonuses
- 401(k) match/profit sharing
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Pay Range
Salary at SARA is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $140,000 to $170,000 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of SARA’s total compensation package for employees. Positions are on-site, unless indicated otherwise.
Application Deadline: November 13, 2026
SARA is an equal employment opportunity employer.
