Senior Security Manager - 1690

SARA Inc • Colorado Springs, CO

18d • $140,000 - $170,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Scientific Applications & Research Associates, Inc. (SARA) is seeking a Senior Security Manager to lead its security program supporting U.S. Department of Defense contracts, classified programs, and regulated government environments. The role is based at SARA’s Colorado Springs, Colorado location and is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining security programs that meet applicable DoD, Intelligence Community, and federal requirements. The Senior Security Manager will advise executive leadership and program teams and partner with government customers and internal legal, compliance, IT, facilities, HR, and business stakeholders.

The position oversees the company’s DoD security program, personnel and industrial security practices, protection of classified information and spaces, compliance and inspection readiness, and incident response. The leader will establish security strategy, procedures, governance, and performance metrics; address security risks and gaps; coordinate investigations and government reporting; and build cross-functional partnerships and a culture of security accountability. The role may require light physical effort, including carrying or lifting up to 25 pounds. The work environment is indoors, moderately quiet to loud, reasonably clean, well-lit, and well-ventilated, with moderate physical hazards possibly present.

The position is on-site unless otherwise indicated. SARA lists an annual projected compensation range of $140,000 to $170,000. The application deadline is November 13, 2026.

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.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
• May require light physical effort, including standing, sitting, using hands while performing duties, and carrying or lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Work environment is indoors, moderately quiet to loud, reasonably clean, well-lit, and well-ventilated; moderate physical hazards may exist.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 risks, program requirements, and emerging threats.
• Develop and maintain security operating procedures, plans, and documentation.
• Establish an insider-threat awareness program and reporting practices.
• Ensure classified information, systems, facilities, and processes are appropriately protected.
• Partner with IT, cybersecurity, facilities, and engineering teams to protect 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.
• Prepare the organization for government security reviews, inspections, audits, and assessments.
• Identify security gaps and lead remediation activities.
• Ensure appropriate security records, plans, reports, and documentation are maintained.
• Track regulatory and contractual changes and translate them into actionable requirements.
• Develop security metrics and reporting for executive leadership.
• 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.
• Build and lead a high-performing security organization.
• Establish partnerships with Program Management, Legal, HR, IT/Cybersecurity, Facilities, Engineering, and executive leadership.
• Provide security guidance during business development, contract capture, mergers and acquisitions, facility expansion, and program transitions.
• Foster a culture of security accountability across the organization.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with other supplemental programs.
• Generous PTO program, including vacation, sick, and holiday time.
• Tuition and certification reimbursement.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Discretionary employee bonuses.
• 401(k) match/profit sharing.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior