Principal Personnel Security Team Lead

Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.

Position Summary

The Personnel Security Team Lead is responsible for leading, coordinating, and overseeing the daily execution of personnel security operations supporting classified government contracts, facilities, and mission requirements.

This position serves as the organization's senior personnel security subject matter expert, ensuring the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of security clearance processing, personnel eligibility verification, access management, government reporting, security briefings, visit authorizations, and personnel security recordkeeping.

The Personnel Security Team Lead provides operational leadership and technical guidance to security team members, establishes standardized workflows, monitors workload distribution, and drives process improvements to ensure efficient and consistent security support across multiple facilities, CAGE codes, and mission verticals.

Working closely with the Director of Security, Facility Security Officers (FSOs), Contractor Special Security Officers (CSSOs), Contractor Program Security Officers (CPSOs), Human Resources, Recruiting, Program Management, and government security representatives, this position ensures personnel security requirements are effectively integrated into employee onboarding, contract staffing, program access, and organizational growth initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a highly organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented security professional who demonstrates strong technical expertise, exceptional customer service, sound judgment, and the ability to lead personnel security operations in a dynamic government contracting environment.

Role Expectations

Personnel Security Operations Management

• Lead and coordinate daily personnel security activities supporting assigned cleared facilities, contracts, and government customers.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of personnel security processing, including clearance initiation, eligibility verification, investigation tracking, access coordination, periodic vetting requirements, and personnel out-processing.
• Ensure personnel security actions are completed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable government regulations and customer directives.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized personnel security workflows, checklists, tracking tools, and operating procedures.
• Monitor personnel security requests, establish priorities, and coordinate assignments among security team members.
• Maintain visibility into pending actions, processing timelines, outstanding requirements, and operational bottlenecks.
• Identify opportunities to improve personnel security processes, reduce administrative delays, and enhance customer support.
• Provide regular status updates, workload assessments, and recommendations to the Director of Security.

Security Clearance Processing and Eligibility Management

• Oversee personnel security processing using authorized government systems, including the Defense Information System for Security (DISS), National Background Investigation Services (NBIS), and other applicable platforms.
• Coordinate initiation and tracking of security clearance investigations, reinvestigations when applicable, and Continuous Vetting (CV) requirements.
• Review personnel security submissions for administrative accuracy and completeness within authorized FSO or security designee responsibilities.
• Monitor investigation and eligibility statuses and coordinate follow-up actions with appropriate government authorities.
• Verify security clearance eligibility prior to coordinating classified access.
• Maintain accurate clearance and access records and ensure appropriate system updates.
• Coordinate personnel security actions involving transfers, separations, changes in affiliation, and contract transitions.
• Identify and resolve administrative discrepancies that could delay personnel onboarding or program access.
• Ensure eligibility and access actions remain within delegated organizational and government authority.

Personnel Access, Indoctrinations, and Visit Management

• Oversee the administration of personnel access requirements supporting collateral, SCI, and SAP programs, as applicable.
• Coordinate initial security briefings, classified access acknowledgments, nondisclosure agreements, indoctrinations, and debriefings.
• Ensure personnel meet applicable clearance eligibility, access authorization, need-to-know, and customer approval requirements.
• Manage or oversee classified visit requests and visit certifications through DISS and applicable customer-directed systems.
• Coordinate access actions with FSOs, CSSOs, CPSOs, and government security representatives.
• Ensure timely removal or modification of access when personnel separate, transfer, or no longer require access.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of access actions and security briefings.
• Support onboarding and offboarding processes to minimize delays while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Regulatory Compliance and Personnel Security Reporting

• Ensure personnel security processes comply with 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), applicable Security Executive Agent Directives, and customer-specific requirements.
• Administer and monitor reporting requirements associated with SEAD 3, adverse information, foreign travel, foreign contacts, and other reportable activities.
• Ensure identified reportable information is promptly elevated to the designated FSO or other authorized security official.
• Coordinate preparation and submission of required reports through approved government reporting channels.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of reportable activities, actions taken, and required follow-up.
• Support DCSA security reviews, annual self-inspections, and government customer assessments.
• Identify personnel security compliance gaps and recommend corrective actions.
• Assist with development and maintenance of personnel security policies, SPPs, and reporting procedures.
• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to internal processes.

Security Request and Workflow Management

• Oversee intake, triage, assignment, tracking, and resolution of personnel security requests submitted through approved organizational systems.
• Ensure requests are assigned to appropriate security personnel based on responsibility, expertise, priority, and workload.
• Maintain accurate status information in approved security management platforms and master tracking systems.
• Establish internal service-level expectations for common personnel security actions.
• Monitor overdue requests, identify recurring delays, and implement corrective process improvements.
• Coordinate with Recruiting, Human Resources, Program Management, and other stakeholders to resolve processing issues.
• Ensure employees and requestors receive timely and professional updates regarding their requests.
• Develop dashboards and reports that provide leadership visibility into security workload, processing efficiency, and outstanding actions.

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in personnel security or industrial security, preferably within a DoW and/or Intelligence Community government contracting environment.
• Demonstrated experience administering personnel security processes under the National Industrial Security Program.
• Advanced working knowledge of 32 CFR Part 117, applicable SEAD requirements, and government personnel security procedures.
• Extensive hands-on experience with DISS, NBIS, and other applicable government personnel security systems.
• Experience coordinating security clearance investigations, eligibility actions, access administration, and personnel security reporting.
• Demonstrated experience supporting collateral and/or SCI personnel security operations.
• Experience leading personnel security workflows, mentoring team members, or coordinating operational assignments.
• Experience supporting DCSA inspections, security self-assessments, and compliance reviews.
• Strong knowledge of personnel security records management, privacy requirements, and sensitive information protection.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and high-volume security processing requirements.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and resolve complex personnel security issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service and operational excellence.
• Ability to obtain and maintain applicable customer-specific accesses

Principal Security Specialist

$85,600—$145,500 USD

Pay Range

The posted pay range reflects the national salary range for this position and is provided to give candidates a general understanding of the compensation opportunity. The actual salary offered will be determined based on the requirements of the position and a variety of job-related factors, which may include geographic location, applicable Federal Government contract labor categories and wage rates, relevant experience, skills and competencies, education, certifications, and the scope and responsibilities of the role.

Because this position may be performed in multiple locations and may be subject to different contract requirements, the salary ultimately offered may vary based on the applicable location and contract. The posted range is not a guarantee of a specific starting salary or an indication that an offer will be made at any particular point within the range.

Total Rewards

In addition to competitive base pay, Clarity provides a Total Rewards package designed to attract and retain exceptional professionals committed to excellence. Our benefits reflect the value we place on skilled individuals who drive our impact in critical digital missions.

At Clarity, a career means joining a high-performing team advancing vital work in the digital landscape. We encourage you to consider the total value of joining us—competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and resources that support your growth and impact.

Our Total Rewards package includes performance-based bonuses, extensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with company match, substantial paid time off and holidays, flexible work arrangements where possible, and a range of income protection benefits. We are committed to supporting your well-being, professional growth, and ability to contribute to essential digital missions.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.