Program Director

Description

Leidos Security Operations is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Executive Protection Program Manager to lead protective operations for our executive leadership team within a high-security, high-compliance defense industry environment. This role will ensure the safety, security, and operational continuity of executives during domestic and international travel, corporate events, and site visits.

The Executive Protection Manager will work closely with threat intelligence, corporate security, cybersecurity, and compliance teams to ensure that protective measures meet operational needs.

The job is based at Leidos Global Headquarters in Reston, Virginia.

Primary Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Security Officer, the selectee will be responsible for:

• Lead and manage executive protection operations for the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board of Director members in alignment with corporate security protocols and U.S. government regulations.
• Recruiting, training, and leading a three-person team comprised of two protection professionals and one executive driver ensuring training, readiness, and operational discipline.
• Conduct threat, vulnerability, and risk assessments for all executive-attended events, movements, external meetings, and site visits to ensure their safety.
• Engaging and collaborating cross-functionally on event and travel schedules and planning to ensure robust protection of key stakeholders.

• Coordinate closely with security analysts, Global Resilience security, and government security agencies to ensure accurate situational awareness.
• Coordinating, budgeting, and managing contracted external services and assessments in support of the Executive Protection Program.
• Planning, and executing the Program’s operational budget.
• Assessing, documenting, implementing and enforcing use of force practices, armed protection requirements, and training curriculum as well as proposing changes to policies, procedures, and playbooks related to the Program.
• Integrate cybersecurity and physical security considerations into all executive protection planning.
• Ensuring all protection operations comply with company policies and legal requirements while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and discretion.
• Provide executive leadership with discreet situational intelligence briefings on relevant geopolitical, terrorism, and criminal threats.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree and 8+ years of executive protection, preferably with corporate security experience, with3+ years in a leadership or management role. Additional years experience may be used in lieu of a degree.
• Experience supporting executives or high-value assets in sensitive environments.
• Completion of a recognized executive protection training course
• Strong working knowledge of threat assessment, advance planning, emergency medical response, and protective operations in compliance-heavy industries.
• Proven ability to coordinate with U.S. government security agencies (DSS, FBI, DHS, etc.) and understand relevant security clearance protocols.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief senior executives and collaborate at all levels.
• Current CPR and AED medical certifications.
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record; defensive/evasive driving training.
• Willingness to travel (including OCONUS) and work some non-standard hours based on executive requirements.
• Must meet all Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Personal Protection Specialist requirements with the ability to successfully achieve certifications in armed and unarmed personal protection specialist as well as basic and advanced handgun
• Proven ability to maintain composure in dealing with authorities, executives, clients, staff, and the public, including under conditions of urgency and in high-pressure situations
• Must be physically fit to provide protective coverage during physically taxing activities
• Knowledge of unarmed self-defense tactics (use of force)
• Must be a US citizen with ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance
• Possess superior critical thinking skills, analytic ability, creativity, keen attention to detail, and problem-solving skills to address unanticipated issues

• Proven ability as a self-starter who can work independently and as part of a team to deliver high value customer support

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Top Secret security clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in Security Management, Criminal Justice, or related field
• Experience at the senior organizational level leading dynamic teams
• Experience integrating protective intelligence, cyber threat data, and physical security operations
• Active Paramedic, First Responder, and Emergency Medical Technician certifications
• Experience operating security camera systems/CCTV, access control, and alarm systems
• Experience responding to workplace violence issues
• De-escalation training
• Possess a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit or be eligible to carry under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act or HR218
• Technical Surveillance Counter Measures experience
• Open-source intelligence training or experience

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 13, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $105,300.00 - $190,350.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit .

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at .

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at .

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the .

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.