Zero Trust Communication & Liaison SME

Pueo Business Solutions LLC • McLean, VA

9h • $147,742 - $167,888

About The Position

Pueo is seeking a Zero Trust Communications and Liaison Subject Matter Expert to support the CIO’s Zero Trust Program. The role serves as a strategic communicator, technical translator, and stakeholder engagement lead, converting complex Zero Trust strategies, engineering milestones, and compliance frameworks into clear, actionable narratives for audiences across the Department of War, Intelligence Community, and mission partner organizations.

The SME develops executive briefings, technical whitepapers, one-page slick sheets, progress reports, roadmaps, decision memos, and other program collateral. The role also facilitates Technical Exchange Meetings, inter-agency working groups, town halls, and governance forums; coordinates recurring program reporting and rapid-turnaround responses to data calls and leadership inquiries; and maintains communications templates, style guidance, and deliverable repositories. It reviews technical artifacts before external release and ensures communications comply with operational security, classification standards, and strategic messaging objectives.

The position requires extensive strategic communications or technical advisory experience in DoW, IC, or federal enterprise IT environments, including direct support for cybersecurity, enterprise IT modernization, or Zero Trust initiatives. Candidates must have an active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and be able to pass a Counterintelligence polygraph examination. The estimated salary range is $147,742–$167,888. Annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, program-specific awards, and other employee benefits may also be available.

Requirements

• 12 or more years of progressive experience in strategic communications, technical writing, stakeholder liaison, or technical program advisory roles in DoW, IC, or federal enterprise IT environments.
• At least 3 years of direct experience supporting cybersecurity, enterprise IT modernization, or Zero Trust initiatives.
• In-depth understanding of Zero Trust architecture, NIST SP 800-207, the DoW Zero Trust Strategy, the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model, and federal cybersecurity governance.
• Strong familiarity with IC and DoW organizational structures, defense acquisition pathways, governance protocols, and inter-agency reporting standards.
• Mastery of strategic messaging workflows, technical publication standards, executive-level layout and design, and content governance.
• Working grasp of Zero Trust pillars: Identity, Devices, Applications, Data, Network, Automation, and Visibility.
• A portfolio of self-authored executive deliverables, such as technical whitepapers, slick sheets, board-level slide decks, progress reports, and strategic messaging packages.
• Demonstrated experience planning and leading multi-stakeholder meetings and executive briefings.
• Current and active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Ability to pass a Counterintelligence polygraph examination.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 tools, including PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, and Visio, and visual layout tools.
• Track record of hosting, moderating, and driving multi-stakeholder technical forums, requirements reviews, and cross-divisional synchronization meetings.
• Ability to rapidly digest engineering documentation and data calls, identify key takeaways, and synthesize consecutive summaries.
• Ability to build trusted relationships, influence without direct authority, navigate political sensitivities, and defuse resistance in matrixed enterprise settings.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet rigorous deadlines, and maintain meticulous attention to detail in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.
• Ability to communicate credibly with architects and software engineers and present concise, non-technical value propositions to executive leadership.
• Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) or an equivalent foundational Zero Trust credential.
• Foundational cybersecurity or cloud credential such as ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), CompTIA Security+, Microsoft SC-900, or AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner.
• Professional credential such as Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC), Project Management Professional (PMP), Prosci Change Management, or an Agile/Scrum certification (CSM or PMI-ACP).

Responsibilities

• Translate complex Zero Trust architecture, federal cyber directives, and implementation challenges into clear content for executives, mission system owners, and engineering leads.
• Author technical whitepapers, strategy documents, executive decision memos, congressional and DoW reporting submissions, and governance charters.
• Design visual communications products, including slick sheets, one-pagers, executive summary decks, infographics, and milestone dashboards.
• Serve as the communications liaison among the Government Zero Trust Program Manager, CIO leadership, external GDIP claimants, mission partners, and engineering teams.
• Plan, host, and facilitate working groups, Technical Exchange Meetings, town halls, and governance forums; build consensus and document outcomes.
• Use active listening and emotional intelligence to identify stakeholder friction and foster alignment across organizations with competing priorities.
• Coordinate and synthesize monthly progress briefs, quarterly executive updates, and agency-level Zero Trust maturity assessments.
• Manage accurate, technically precise responses to official data calls, oversight inquiries, and senior leadership information requests.
• Establish and maintain communications templates, style guidelines, and deliverable repositories for consistent branding and quality control.
• Review engineering artifacts, pillar guidance, transition roadmaps, and requirements packages before external dissemination.
• Ensure released communications conform to OPSEC parameters, IC and DoW classification standards, and enterprise strategic messaging objectives.

Benefits

• Annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards may be available as part of total compensation.
• Pueo provides a variety of employee benefits; specific benefits are not listed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed