Job Details

Assistant Facilities Security Officer (AFSO)

The Strategic Operations, Analysis and Research (SOAR) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a highly motivated and organized Assistant Facilities Security Officer to join our security program in support of U.S. Department of War programs in Santa Barbara, CA. The right candidate will have previous experience as an FSO, AFSO, CPSO, Security Manager or military security manager. This person should have experience working with federal/government agencies or defense contractors. The qualified candidate must have an active DoD security clearance at the Secret level and must be able to obtain a Top-Secret clearance.

Essential Functions:

• Assist with security in-processing for all new employees including orientation for company policies and clearance application submissions for uncleared employees
• Submit visit access requests (VARs) using Defense Information Systems for Security (DISS)
• Assist with performing status checks on current investigations, determining upcoming reinvestigations dates, and relaying the information back to the employee
• Assisting the Facilities Security Officer (FSO) with conducting security self-inspections, physical security surveys, and threat/vulnerability assessments.
• Assist FSO with document control, inventory, and safeguarding of documents
• Assist the FSO with conducting and presenting security presentations to staff members
• Security Education: track and ensure trainings are current
• COMSEC: administer COMSEC account including single secure phone

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma and 6-8 years of related experience OR a Bachelor's degree with 0-2 years of experience
• Must have an active Secret security clearance and must be able to obtain a Top-Secret clearance
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite software
• Experience working with federal/government agencies or defense contractors
• Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments
• Ability to multi-task and work successfully in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner

Preferred Qualifications:

• Top Secret clearance
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent and five to seven years of related experience. Experience can consist of any time spent as an FSO, AFSO, CPSO, Security Manager, or military security manager
• Previous working knowledge of DISS and SF86s
• Previous working knowledge of NBIS
• Previous working knowledge of DD254s
• Working experience with Access Commander

Compensation & Benefits: Pay Ranges: From $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position. We mostly reserve the upper half of our compensation bands for internal growth. During all call with one of our recruiters or hiring managers, they can further clarify the salary range and total compensation. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees' needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at

Company Information:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2000 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company's success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit" sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.