Contractor Special Security Officer

Location: Northern

** The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has an outstanding opportunity for a Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO) to join the Security Department.
**** About this Opportunity:
** Reporting to the Director of Security, the Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO) provides strategic leadership and executive oversight of the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory’s Compartmented Security Program. The CSSO ensures security enables cutting-edge classified research and advanced technology development in support of national security priorities while protecting national security information and maintaining compliance with Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, Cognizant Security Agency, and University requirements.

As the senior authority for compartmented security, the CSSO integrates SCI security, personnel security, physical security, classified information protection, Information Assurance, and regulatory compliance into a unified, mission-focused security program that supports the Laboratory’s research enterprise.

This position requires exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and independent judgment in a highly regulated environment where decisions directly affect the University’s ability to conduct classified research and maintain sponsor confidence. The CSSO interprets and applies complex IC, DoD, CSA, and University requirements across multiple integrated security disciplines, routinely resolving issues that demand balancing regulatory compliance, operational priorities, organizational risk, resource constraints, and mission objectives.

The role establishes program strategy, develops policy, directs operations, manages organizational risk, and provides executive-level guidance on matters affecting classified research.

As the University’s principal advisor for compartmented security, the CSSO builds collaborative partnerships with Laboratory leadership, Principal Investigators, Program Managers, researchers, engineers, Information Technology personnel, Information Assurance professionals, government sponsors, and oversight agencies. The CSSO provides strategic leadership for the Special Security Office, directly supervises Contractor Special Security Representatives (CSSRs), and offers functional leadership to Information Assurance personnel supporting classified information systems.

Success requires balancing compliance, operational effectiveness, customer service, workforce development, and continuous improvement within a dynamic and rapidly evolving research environment.

Decisions made by the CSSO influence organizational risk, sponsor confidence, regulatory compliance, workforce effectiveness, SCIF readiness, and the University’s ability to compete for and execute classified research. Errors in judgment, policy interpretation, leadership, or program execution may result in the compromise of classified information, loss of government confidence, regulatory findings, operational disruption, or adverse impacts to the University’s national security mission.

The position therefore demands exceptional technical competence, integrity, discretion, and the ability to make sound decisions in complex operational environments.
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* Key Responsibilities:

**** Compartmented Security Program Leadership & Administration (30% FTE):
*** Lead the Compartmented Security Program — Provides strategic direction, executive oversight, and long-range vision for the University’s Compartmented Security Program.
* Direct Special Security Office Operations — Manages daily operations, resources, workflows, and organizational performance of the Special Security Office.
* Establish Security Policy — Develops, implements, and enforces security policies, procedures, and operating standards…