Access Control Officer

The Work

The Access Control Officer (ACO) is a highly skilled security professional responsible for protecting personnel, facilities, sensitive information, and controlled areas through a wide range of critical security operations.

This role entails managing and monitoring access to restricted areas, verifying credentials and personnel, preventing unauthorized activities, operating physical and electronic security systems, processing visitors, responding to security events, and maintaining detailed security documentation. The ACO must follow established Post Orders, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Government directives, security policies, and contractual obligations.

This position aligns with Cayuse’s core values of Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Integrity by fostering technical solutions that meet customer needs, promoting teamwork, and prioritizing quality in deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and authenticate access for employees, contractors, visitors, guests, and other authorized personnel entering or exiting restricted areas.
• Verify identification, badges, credentials, and access authorization as required prior to permitting access.
• Prevent unauthorized personnel and prohibited items from entering or leaving controlled facilities.
• Maintain surveillance and situational awareness in assigned access control areas.
• Conduct inspections of personnel and items per Post Orders and security guidelines.
• Identify, document, report, and elevate suspicious activity, security violations, and anomalies using established protocols.
• Deliver professional customer service while ensuring strict adherence to security regulations.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including employees, visitors, Government officials, and security teams.
• Operate independently while maintaining communication and coordination with supervisors and support staff.
• Adapt to varying operational demands, responding efficiently to both high-volume and low-volume security environments.
• Screen, verify, and process visitors accessing controlled facilities.
• Confirm visitor authorization, sponsorship, clearance status, and identification.
• Issue badges and credentials, including temporary, visitor, and retention badges, in compliance with access requirements.
• Process and issue Common Access Cards (CACs) and guest decals as permitted by Government procedures.
• Conduct fingerprinting and capture credential photos as required, including ISOPREP and passport photographs.
• Resolve issues related to visitor access and resolve unresolved matters through proper channels.
• Maintain accurate visitor logs, access records, and operational statistics while safeguarding sensitive information.
• Perform security screening of personnel, visitors, packages, and other items in accordance with security protocols.
• Operate screening equipment such as X-ray systems, walk-through metal detectors, handheld detectors, and access control systems.
• Identify prohibited items and initiate actions based on established procedures.
• Ensure proper operation, maintenance, and accountability for all screening equipment used in security operations.
• Monitor and operate electronic and physical security systems, including access control systems, CCTV, intrusion detection, alarm monitoring, radios, and other integrated security platforms.
• Analyze and respond to security events, alarms, and incidents in real time.
• Coordinate personnel dispatch and manage communications during security responses.
• Escalate incidents through compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and emergency protocols.
• Maintain detailed incident reports, logs, and daily documentation while ensuring situational awareness across multiple security systems.
• Other duties as assigned.

Duties under the Visitor Control Specialist when assigned:

• Receive, verify, and process visitors and guests at Visitor Control Center (VCC).
• Issue retention, temporary, or visitor badges consistent with the individual’s approved clearance level.
• Issue guest decals for approved social or ceremonial functions.
• Produce and issue Common Access Cards (CACs) in accordance with Government requirements.
• Conduct fingerprinting in compliance with federal standards.
• Capture and produce credential photographs, including passport and ISOPREP photos.
• Conduct personnel and item inspections utilizing:
  • X-Ray screening systems
  • Walk-through metal detectors
  • Hand-held metal detection devices
  • Identify, elevate, and document prohibited items or…