At Areté, we are on the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation’s most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.
Discover your future with us.
The Senior Security Specialist will implement the industrial security program and ensure security requirements are met for the Areté Northridge Facility. Coordinate and monitor highly sensitive aspects of DoD or other industrial security programs and other security activities while ensuring compliance with government and company security policies and procedures. Support clearance processing, visit certifications, document control, and physical security, to include alarm response for controlled area program, as well as additional security related taking. Thorough understanding of security databases such as DISS, eQIP, and NISS. This role is responsible for implementing and providing guidance to customers and management on security issues such as security education, classified document control, security investigations, classification control and personnel clearances.
The Senior Security Specialist will apply knowledge of, and experience with, strong understanding of Physical Security requirements to include collateral Closed Areas; along with a working knowledge of SF-86, SF-312, DD-254, SF700, SF702, Operations Security (OPSEC) to develop, implement, and maintain the OPSEC Program to protect sensitive unclassified information, activities, equipment, and materials. Alongside the Corporate Facility Security Officer the Senior Security Specialist will develop, participate in, and /or provide training and awareness.
This is a non-exempt, non-supervisory, full-time position based in our Northridge, CA office.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Senior Security Specialist is responsible for implementing the industrial security program and customer security requirements are met.
- The successful candidate will interface with all levels of Arete personnel and government management personnel to ensure contract security compliance with National Industrial Security Operating Manual (NISPOM) 32 CFR Part 117 , DoD Manual 5205.07, Contract Security Classification Specification (DD254) and Program Classification Guides.
- Work as a team player, exhibit flexibility, and excellent organizational skills. Analyze moderate problems and provide focused solutions with the ability to effectively communicate information to various audiences. Bring security risks to the attention of the Corporate Facility Security Officer , senior management and PM’s as identified.
- The candidate will be required to conduct security self-inspections alongside the Corporate Facility Security Officer, apply risk mitigation methodologies, support customer assessments, and implement security measures to meet requirements.
- The Senior Security Specialist must possess the confidence to make critical security decisions concerning high value contracts and to implement security procedures that will prevent unauthorized access to company and government facilities or information.
- Provide clear guidance to company employees and recommend modifications to operations policies or procedures as appropriate.
We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:
Generous PTO and Leave Times- Flextime Scheduling
- Bereavement
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Parental Leave
- 401K Retirement Plan Contribution
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan
- Continuing Education Funds
- Medical Insurance
- Dental & Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
- Vision Reimbursement
- Creativity
- Integrity
- Passion
- Responsiveness
- Collaboration
- Leading teams or projects or equivalent experience/combined education, with 1- 3/5 ~ years of professional experience.
- Thorough working knowledge of the NISPOM, other relevant DoD security guidance, as well as the Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) standards
- Self-starter with ability to work independently, customer service orientated
- Commitment to security - creating and delivering the highest value to customers
- Ability to interpret company and government security policies and apply them to program operations
- Strong understanding of Physical Security requirements to include collateral Closed Areas. Along with working knowledge of SF-86, SF-312, DD-254, SF700, SF702 and other required forms.
- Thorough understanding of security databases such as eQIP, NISS and DISS.
- Experience creating and conducting initial security briefings, debriefings, indoctrinations, pre/post foreign travel briefings and refresher briefings, as appropriate.
- Ability to develop and establish an effective security awareness, training, and education program. Assist in executing the requirements set forth in the Technology Control Plan (TCP) for foreign visitors.
- Communicate with parties within and outside of own area, which may include external constituents depending upon the area. Requires ability to influence others outside of own area on policies, practices and procedures.
- Assist with Proposal Writing and Contract Closeouts.
- Candidate must have the ability to obtain a clearance at the Top Secret level.
- FSO training certificate
- COMSEC Custodian certificate or experience required. Complete IAEC-2112 COMSEC Training Course six months after being appointed as Alternate COMSEC Account Manager
- Courier preparation procedures
- Experience developing and implementing OPSEC plans
- Knowledge of Access Control and Intrusion Detection Systems
- Experience conducting Security incident inquiries
- Resourceful in solving problems and capitalizing on opportunities
- Professional Certifications/Affiliations
The salary range for this role is $72,000 - $80,000/yr; however, Arete considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
Other Considerations
Areté is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration.
Areté is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.
Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.
Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
Areté will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact Areté Human Resources at 818-885-2200 for assistance.
Skills Required
- Leading teams or projects, or equivalent combined education and experience, with approximately 1–5 years of professional experience.
- Working knowledge of NISPOM, relevant DoD security guidance, and Intelligence Community Directive standards.
- Ability to work independently and provide customer-oriented security support.
- Ability to interpret company and government security policies and apply them to program operations.
- Strong understanding of physical security requirements, including collateral Closed Areas.
- Working knowledge of SF-86, SF-312, DD-254, SF700, SF702, and other required security forms.
- Understanding of DISS, eQIP, and NISS security databases.
- Experience creating and conducting security briefings, debriefings, indoctrinations, foreign travel briefings, and refresher briefings.
- Ability to develop and establish security awareness, training, and education programs.
- Ability to assist with Technology Control Plan requirements for foreign visitors.
- Ability to communicate with and influence internal and external stakeholders on security policies and procedures.
- Ability to assist with proposal writing and contract closeouts.
- Ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.
- FSO training certificate.
- COMSEC Custodian certificate or experience, including completion of the IAEC-2112 COMSEC Training Course if appointed as Alternate COMSEC Account Manager.
- Knowledge of courier preparation procedures.
- Experience developing and implementing OPSEC plans.
- Knowledge of access control and intrusion detection systems.
- Experience conducting security incident inquiries.
- Professional certifications or affiliations.
What We Do
Areté, an employee-owned company, is an advanced science and engineering company that provides innovative solutions to the most challenging technical problems faced by the United States Defense and Intelligence agencies. Areté is derived from the Greek word “ἀρέτη”, meaning the pursuit of excellence and the achievement of maximum performance. Areté was founded in 1976 by five scientists, tasked by the DoD to help solve the challenge of detecting weak signals in heavy clutter over very wide areas. The signatures involved in this work were so weak that any advancement in signal processing algorithms demanded a new approach and understanding of the underlying fundamentals affecting the sensors and signal phenomena in the environments of interest. This first-principles-of-physics approach has been a hallmark of Areté’s development programs for the past 40 years Areté now works across the electromagnetic spectrum. We develop sensors and the associated signal processing algorithms necessary for the extraction and interpretation of data for systems operating under water, in the atmosphere, and in space. With our emphasis on enhanced signal processing and real-time executable software, Areté is able to improve the performance of existing sensor systems at fractions of the cost and time to operations of replacement systems. We work directly with customers and partners seeking maximum performance. Building on our expertise in detection theory we will continue to exploit the contextual, spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics of data, incorporating them into our signal processing algorithms. These robust algorithms will continue to enable Areté to rapidly deliver innovative solutions to the ever evolving challenges of our customers.
