Technical Acquisition Security Professional (Intelligence Center)

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The N922 Threat Mitigation Department is seeking a talented and adaptable researcher to support a critical sponsor area focused on Acquisition Security Reform. The Threat Mitigation Department manages, guides, and directs 30 staff-years of technical and domain-specific work focused on enhancing the nation’s counterintelligence, insider threat, and security efforts at the strategic level and providing enterprise-wide solutions to national security challenges. The work requires operating at the senior levels of government, including routine coordination and collaboration with the National Intelligence Council, National Security Council Staff, and Agencies and Departments with counterintelligence, insider threat, and security equities. Our efforts directly support the U.S policymaking, acquisition, and warfighting communities, and require a comprehensive understanding of the IC, its partners, and stakeholders operating in counterintelligence, insider threat, and security spaces.

This role involves applying behavioral, data, and cyber sciences to evaluate and streamline acquisition security policies and procedures that impact the defense industrial base (DIB) and national security industrial base (NSIB). The successful candidate will work with government and industry stakeholders to identify inefficiencies; analyze trade-offs between cost, schedule, performance, and security; and develop actionable recommendations to improve acquisition processes while maintaining security objectives.

Key Functions

The position involves advancing MITRE's capability to apply behavioral, data, and cyber sciences to critical national security policies that bring security to the acquisition lifecycle. The position requires a combination of technical expertise, policy expertise, policy implementation experience, research acumen, and stakeholder engagement skills to address challenges in acquisition security policies, such as foreign ownership, cybersecurity, classified facility accreditation, and facility clearances. The ideal candidate will have experience conducting systematic research, analyzing complex systems, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to drive impactful solutions.

Research and Analysis:

• Conduct interviews and surveys with government and DIB stakeholders to identify critical challenges in acquisition security policy implementation.
• Analyze cost, schedule, performance, and security trade-offs associated with existing policies and processes.
• Collect and synthesize data on compliance costs, delays, and inefficiencies.
  
  

Study Plan Development:

• Develop comprehensive study plans to prioritize and address key challenges in acquisition security reform.
• Propose methodologies for deeper exploration of high-priority issues, including foreign ownership, cybersecurity, information system authorizations, and classified facility accreditation.
  
  

Execution of Reform Study:

• Conduct systematic, deep-dive examinations of prioritized challenges using appropriate research methods (e.g., interviews, surveys, data analysis).
• Collaborate with government officials, contracting officers, DIB representatives, and other stakeholders to gather insights and recommendations.
  
  

Recommendations and Reporting:

• Conduct systematic examination of high-priority challenges in acquisition security.
• Develop reports and briefings with actionable recommendations for regulatory changes, process improvements, and technological solutions.
• Quantify cost and time savings associated with proposed reforms and identify opportunities for automation and efficiency improvements.
• Provide targeted training recommendations for government and industry stakeholders to improve implementation of security requirements.
  
  

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.At least 10 years of hands-on experience in acquisition policy analysis, cybersecurity policy development, or industrial security policy and programs.
• Experience with relevant acquisition security policies, such as:
• 32 CFR 117, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual
• DFARS 252.204-7012, Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting
• DoDI 5205.85, Enhanced Security Program to Support the DoD Innovation Initiative
• DFARS 252.204-7021, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Requirements
• Proven ability to execute research projects, analyze complex systems, and deliver actionable insights.
• Expertise in senior stakeholder interview data collection, analysis, and recommendation development.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary, team-oriented environment.
• Active Government TS/SCI with poly.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 6 years of experience in acquisition policy analysis, cybersecurity policy development, or industrial security policy and programs.
  
  

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

Work Location Type:

Hybrid

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law. For further information please visit the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website Know Your Rights Poster.

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