ISSO Information Assurance​/Security Specialist; Senior​/SME

ISSO Information Assurance/Security Specialist (Senior/SME)

Anakim Consulting provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

DHS Suitability Public Trust

Remote from Wash DC Metro area

Anakim Consulting is hiring an Information System Security Officer (ISSO) with Senior or SME level expertise to lead Authorization to Operate (ATO) and continuous monitoring activities across multiple major applications (MA) and general support systems (GSS) for a large federal agency. This position requires hands‑on experience in IT security, risk management, FedRAMP, and NIST standards. This individual will serve as a technical advisor to System Owners and senior leadership, directing security compliance, threat assessments, and cloud security initiatives.

• Authorization & Accreditation (A&A): Lead end-to-end Risk Management Framework (RMF) and ATO processes, preparing and maintaining comprehensive security packages (SSP, RA, PTA, PIA, ST&E, and POA&M) in compliance with NIST SP 800-53, SP 800-37, and FISMA standards.
• FedRAMP and Cloud Security: Develop, evaluate, and audit Cloud Service package documentation to ensure agency and FedRAMP compliance for cloud integrations.
• Vulnerability & Compliance Management: Oversee regular vulnerability scans (Qualys, Nessus, Nexpose, ACAS), analyze Splunk audit logs, evaluate system hardening (STIGs/SCAP), and drive POA&M remediation efforts.
• Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM): Support and optimize CDM initiatives, automated security controls monitoring, and Zero Trust security architectures.
• Configuration and Impact Analysis
  :
  Serve on Change Control Boards (CCB) to review proposed system design changes, perform security impact analyses, and ensure baseline compliance.
• Leadership and Advisorship
  :
  Brief CISOs, System Owners, and senior stakeholders on overall system security posture, residual risk, and threat mitigation strategies.
• Other duties, as assigned.

• U.S. citizenship, no dual citizenship
• Current DHS CBP Suitability or eligibility to obtain secure access approval for DHS CBP EOD
• 10+ years of progressive IT security, information assurance, and risk management experience, with a proven track record of leading system accreditations for federal agencies.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity Technology, Information Technology, or a related technical field (Master's degree preferred).

• DoD 8570/8140 Requirement: Must possess a current baseline certification satisfying IAT/IAM Level III such as CISSP, CISM, GSLC, CCISO, CASP+, or equivalent.
• Advanced Certification Requirement: Must possess at least one advanced or specialized credential such as: CISM, CCISO, CISA, CISSP, CDPSE, CCSK.

Requirements

Note:

Candidates must hold a minimum of two distinct active certifications to meet both the baseline and advanced credential requirements. Single certifications cannot be used to satisfy both requirements.

• Frameworks and Standards: Expert-level knowledge of NIST SP 800-53 (Rev 4/5), NIST SP 800-37, FIPS 199/200, FISMA, FedRAMP, and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
• Assessment and Authorization Tools: Hands-on expertise with federal repository and assessment tools such as eMASS, Xacta, CSAM, or RSA Archer.
• S…