What are the responsibilities and job description for the Security Control Assessor (SCA) Lead position at Apavo Corporation?
Description
Job Title: Security Control Assessor (SCA) Lead
Location: On-Site in Arlington, VA
Department: Cyber Security Services
Reports To: Management
FLSA Status: Full Time/Non-exempt
Apavo is at the forefront of cybersecurity, providing services to military, defense, and critical infrastructure industries. Joining the Apavo team means becoming part of a company rooted in the principles of quality, and communication. We value positive, candid interactions and the belief that everyone has valuable contributions to make. Apavo stands out for its commitment to a work-life balance and fostering a growth mindset among all team members. If you are looking to make a meaningful impact in the cybersecurity world while growing professionally in a supportive environment, Apavo is the place for you.
Job Purpose
The Security Control Assessor (SCA) Lead serves as a senior technical authority overseeing the compliance and accreditation activities for all unclassified and classified information systems within the organization. This role leads a team of security professionals in support of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Senior Authorizing Official (SAO) to ensure continuous adherence to Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) security policies.
The SCA Lead is responsible for guiding the Assessment and Authorization (A&A) process, maintaining active Authorities to Operate (ATOs), and ensuring that all systems meet or exceed applicable Risk Management Framework (RMF) standards. This position requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to coordinate across business units to uphold a secure and compliant cybersecurity posture.
Salary Range
This position offers a salary range of $190,000 to $215,000 annually, based on experience, education, knowledge, and skills, with compensation reflective of the seniority and technical leadership expected of this role.
Duties & Responsibilities
The SCA Lead’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Other
This is typical office or administrative work, and there is no exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
This position requires sedentary work. Sedentary work is defined as: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Apavo Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and strictly prohibits any type of harassment or discrimination in regards to race, religion, age, color, sex, disability status, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender expression, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, and/or local laws.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Apavo Corporation to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Apavo Human Resources at hr@apavo.com or 571-407-0069
Requirements
Qualifications
Job Title: Security Control Assessor (SCA) Lead
Location: On-Site in Arlington, VA
Department: Cyber Security Services
Reports To: Management
FLSA Status: Full Time/Non-exempt
Apavo is at the forefront of cybersecurity, providing services to military, defense, and critical infrastructure industries. Joining the Apavo team means becoming part of a company rooted in the principles of quality, and communication. We value positive, candid interactions and the belief that everyone has valuable contributions to make. Apavo stands out for its commitment to a work-life balance and fostering a growth mindset among all team members. If you are looking to make a meaningful impact in the cybersecurity world while growing professionally in a supportive environment, Apavo is the place for you.
Job Purpose
The Security Control Assessor (SCA) Lead serves as a senior technical authority overseeing the compliance and accreditation activities for all unclassified and classified information systems within the organization. This role leads a team of security professionals in support of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Senior Authorizing Official (SAO) to ensure continuous adherence to Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) security policies.
The SCA Lead is responsible for guiding the Assessment and Authorization (A&A) process, maintaining active Authorities to Operate (ATOs), and ensuring that all systems meet or exceed applicable Risk Management Framework (RMF) standards. This position requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to coordinate across business units to uphold a secure and compliant cybersecurity posture.
Salary Range
This position offers a salary range of $190,000 to $215,000 annually, based on experience, education, knowledge, and skills, with compensation reflective of the seniority and technical leadership expected of this role.
Duties & Responsibilities
The SCA Lead’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Lead and mentor a team of SCAs in conducting system assessments, developing security documentation, and maintaining compliance with DoD and IC RMF requirements.
- Directly support the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Senior Authorizing Official (SAO) in planning, executing, and maintaining continuous A&A efforts for all DARPA systems.
- Review, prepare, and update Authority to Operate (ATO) packages for DARPA enterprise systems in accordance with NIST RMF and DoD/IC guidance.
- Ensure security plans, assessment reports, and ATO documentation are complete, accurate, and properly submitted to the appropriate Government authorities for Defense Industry Base (DIB) system requiring DARPA ATOs.
- Lead in-house security assessments and compliance reviews to identify and mitigate risk, ensuring system readiness for formal authorization.
- Perform and oversee internal self-inspections, coordinating remediation activities and documenting findings.
- Collaborate with business units and technical leads to ensure program-related networks and equipment remain compliant with organizational and federal cybersecurity standards.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Government counterparts and stakeholders to ensure alignment on compliance objectives and timelines.
- Partner with ITD and MSO leadership to design and execute department-level strategies that strengthen Apavo’s enterprise cybersecurity posture.
- Provide expert-level guidance on RMF processes, control inheritance, continuous monitoring strategies, and the integration of security controls into system development lifecycles.
Other
This is typical office or administrative work, and there is no exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
This position requires sedentary work. Sedentary work is defined as: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Apavo Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and strictly prohibits any type of harassment or discrimination in regards to race, religion, age, color, sex, disability status, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender expression, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, and/or local laws.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Apavo Corporation to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Apavo Human Resources at hr@apavo.com or 571-407-0069
Requirements
Qualifications
- Top Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility is required.
- Bachelor's degree or higher. Can be substituted for associate’s degree with 2 years of relevant experience OR
- High school diploma or GED equivalent with 4 years relevant experience OR
- 12 years relevant experience.
- Certification: DOD 8140 IAM Level II (CAP, CASP, CISM, CISSP, GSLC, CCISO).
Salary : $190,000 - $215,000