Director of Compliance

We are seeking an experienced Director of Compliance to lead and mature our compliance program for a Managed Service Provider supporting the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and affiliated commercial environments. This executive role is responsible for ensuring compliance with key regulatory and cybersecurity frameworks including CMMC, NIST 800-171/171A, DFARS, FAR, and ISO, while scaling the program to support additional frameworks as business needs evolve.  

Build it into a scalable, well-run organization that delivers predictable client outcomes as we grow. This is a strong-leader role. The department has talent and momentum; what it needs is a Director who will install structure, run the operating rhythm, develop the people, and hold the line on quality. You will be measured first on one outcome: a 100% client pass rate at CMMC Level 2 assessment. 

Key Responsibilities:

Department Organization & Structure 

• Own the org design of Compliance Services roles, levels, spans of control, escalation paths, and clear lanes between Compliance Managers, Lead Analysts, and Analysts. 
• Publish job descriptions, leveling guides, and career ladders so every team member knows what's expected at their level and what success at the next level looks like. 
• Install an operating rhythm , daily standups, weekly portfolio reviews, monthly quality reviews, quarterly business reviews, that surfaces risk early and keeps the department running as a system, not a collection of individuals. 

Growth & Capacity Planning 

• Maintain a forward-looking capacity model that ties pipeline, signed clients, and client compliance footprint size to required analyst, lead, and manager hours. 
• Own the hiring plan: forecast openings, partner with People Operations on sourcing, run structured interview loops, make hire/no-hire decisions. 
• Size and re-size the team continuously so every client gets the coverage their footprint demands without burning out staff or compromising delivery. 

Education, Training & Certification 

• Build and own the department's education program: onboarding curriculum, role-based learning paths, and continuing education for tenured staff. 
• Set certification expectations by role (CCP, CCA, CISSP, CISM, Security ) with funded pathways and clear timelines. 
• Run regular internal training on NIST SP 800-171 R2, NIST SP 800-171A, CMMC Level 2 scoping, evidence standards, and assessor expectations so the team speaks one language. 

Client Assessment Readiness & 100% Pass Rate 

• Hold the line on a 100% client pass rate at CMMC Level 2 C3PAO assessment. Every assessment is a department commitment, not an analyst commitment. 
• Define and enforce the readiness standard: scope confirmation, SSP quality, evidence completeness, POA&M posture, and pre-assessment mock validation. 
• Operate a formal Director-level go/no-go gate before every C3PAO engagement. No client enters assessment without confirmation that they meet the standard. 
• Run post-assessment reviews on every engagement and feed lessons back into playbooks, training, and the readiness checklist. 

Lead Assessor Representation 

• Ensure every client engagement is staffed with a qualified lead capable of sitting as the client's representative at C3PAO assessment and speaking on the client's behalf to the Assessor organization. 
• Personally calibrate and certify which staff are cleared to sit lead. Grow the bench by pairing newer staff with seasoned leads. 
• Step in as lead representative for the most complex or highest-stakes assessments. 
• Coach analysts on assessor interaction precise answers, evidence grounding, knowing when to defer, and defending the client's posture without overstepping. 

Quality, Process & Standards 

• Own the playbooks gap assessment, SSP authoring, POA&M management, evidence collection, scope definition, and assessment readiness — and keep them current with the latest CMMC and DoD guidance. 
• Run a quality program with sampling, peer review, and corrective action so deliverables are consistent across analysts. 
• Standardize tooling and templates to reduce variance and onboarding time. 

Team Leadership 

• Lead, mentor, and develop Compliance Managers and senior individual contributors. Their performance is your performance. 
• Set quarterly objectives for every direct report, run 1:1s, and deliver candid feedback — recognition and correction. 
• Build a culture of ownership, precision, and client advocacy. Address underperformance directly and promptly. 
• Drive retention through career development, meaningful work, and a workload made manageable by sound capacity planning. 

Cross-Functional Partnership 

• Partner with the VP of Compliance on strategy, external positioning, and the most sensitive client engagements. 
• Coordinate with Cybersecurity, Engineering, Service Delivery, and the PMO so compliance evidence and remediation move in lockstep with technical implementation. 
• Work with Sales and Client Success on scoping, expectation-setting, and renewals as client footprints evolve. 

Qualifications 

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, information systems, business, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience. 
• 8 years in compliance, cybersecurity, or risk management with deep, hands-on NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC experience. 
• 5 years leading teams in an MSP, MSSP, consulting, or audit setting — including managing managers. 
• Track record preparing clients for and supporting them through C3PAO, DIBCAC, or comparable third-party assessments. 
• Proven ability to install operating rhythm and structure in a department that has been running informally. 
• Strong command of DFARS 252.204-7012 / -7019 / -7020 / -7021 and the broader CMMC ecosystem. 
• The presence to represent clients to C3PAO assessors — and to coach analysts to do the same. 

Preferred 

• CMMC Certified Professional (CCP) and/or CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA). 
• CISSP, CISM, CISA, or PMP. 
• Prior Director-level experience inside an MSP/MSSP serving DoD contractors. 
• Experience scaling a compliance practice through a period of rapid client growth. 

What We Offer 

• Salary range: $125,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience.
• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives. 
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans. 
• Opportunities for professional growth and certifications. 
• A dynamic work environment supporting critical industries and national security. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, or any other protected characteristic. 

Salary : $125,000 - $140,000