Head of Security

Head of Security

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in security leadership roles in the defense, intelligence, or high-security technology sector.
• In-depth knowledge of federal security requirements (e.g., NIST, DFARS, CMMC, ITAR, EAR, NISPOM).
• Experience handling security operations for overseas travel or deployments.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment.
• Must be eligible for or hold an active [e.g., Secret/Top Secret] U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the company’s enterprise security strategy, spanning cybersecurity, physical security, insider threat, supply chain risk, and overseas operations.
• Serve as a senior advisor to the executive team on all matters involving security risk, compliance, and threat mitigation. Develop enterprise-wide governance and security policy.
• Maintain situational awareness of the international and domestic threat environment and provide actionable intelligence to leadership.
• Develop a comprehensive security regime, including identifying necessary procurement and hiring goals, that is designed to scale as the company scales.
• Manage the company’s Facility Security Officer (FSO) and personnel security clearance programs in compliance with NISPOM and DCSA guidelines. Manage insider threat detection and mitigation programs.
• Establish and maintain physical security standards for company sites, data centers, labs, and overseas operations.
• Vet and monitor vendors and subcontractors in order to protect access to critical components and intellectual property across the supply chain.
• Coordinate security protocols for travel to high-risk regions, including briefings and counter-surveillance practices.
• Lead cross-functional risk assessments, internal audits, business continuity planning, emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, and crisis management drills.
• Engage with law enforcement (local, state, federal, and foreign), defense partners, and intelligence community liaisons as required for situational briefings and joint threat assessments.
• Develop and oversee the company’s overseas security training program, ensuring employees traveling internationally are educated on digital security hygiene, espionage risks, and region-specific threat vectors.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to monitor and respond to geopolitical developments that could affect personnel or operations abroad.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as a CSO for a global defense company.
• Military or intelligence community background is strongly preferred.
• Experience building security programs from the ground up, especially for companies scaling into federal or international markets.