Facility Security Officer

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Closing Date:

05/11/2026

Type of Position:

Research ComplianceNo

Job Type:

Regular No

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

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Department:

Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Office

Summary of Job Duties:

The Facility Security Officer (FSO) reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and manages the University of Arkansas’ classified research security program across all relevant university sites. The FSO supervises and directs security measures necessary to implement sound, compliant procedures; ensures adherence to the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM/32 CFR §117); and works closely with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). The FSO leads institutional efforts to prevent, detect, and mitigate malign foreign influence in research and serves as the Facility Security Officer (FSO), Contract Special Security Officer (CSSO), University Key Management Personnel (KMP), alternate Insider Threat Program Senior/Special Officer (ITPSO), and an active member of the Insider Threat Working Group. The FSO interfaces with prime contractors and government customers on security-related issues and provides expert guidance to university stakeholders on classified operations and research security compliance.

Key Responsibilities :

Program Leadership & Compliance

Manage the university’s classified security program to ensure full compliance with NISPOM/32 CFR §117, Intelligence Community Directives (ICDs), counterintelligence and cybersecurity laws, and federal contract requirements.

Interpret and implement classified security requirements in support of sponsored research; develop processes for reporting, auditing, training, incident response, and continuous monitoring.

Lead coordination with DCSA; prepare for and support government or customer security assessments, reviews, and inspections.

Advisory & Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to university leadership, faculty, staff, and students regarding classified operations, foreign influence, and research security.

Provide clear guidance on security doctrine and contract-imposed requirements; recommend policy and procedural modifications as appropriate.

Collaborate with federal law enforcement and government partners on confidential and sensitive security matters.

Operational Security Management

Manage security aspects of U.S. Government classified programs; interface with prime contractors and government customers on security issues.

Oversee DD-254 (Contract Security Classification Specification) issuance/flow-down and related industrial security documentation.

Administer industrial security systems, including NISS and personnel security systems (e.g., DISS, formerly JPAS).

Oversee access control systems (ACS), badging, and CCTV in accordance with physical security standards for restricted/closed areas.

Training, Awareness & Insider Threat

Serve as alternate ITPSO and contribute to Insider Threat Working Group activities.

Develop and manage an effective security awareness, training, and education program.

Conduct required initial briefings, debriefings, indoctrinations, refresher training, and pre-/post-foreign travel briefings.

Risk Management & Self-Inspection

Conduct risk assessments for international agreements, visa applicants, foreign national hires, and other engagements to identify potential/known malign foreign influence.

Develop and manage self-inspection and OPSEC programs to identify risks and implement mitigation to acceptable levels; perform periodic/semi-annual self-inspections IAW NISPOM.

Incident, Reporting & Metrics

Conduct security incident/violation investigations; produce final reports and corrective action plans.

Compile security program data and provide metrics and performance highlights to leadership.

Collaboration, Budget & Supervision

Coordinate with the Office of Sponsored Programs and relevant units to review proposals, agreements, and contracts involving classified or controlled information.

Advise cross-functional security teams and subcontractor security services on tasks and complex problem resolution.

Develop and manage an operating budget; ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget.

Provide training, assign tasks, and offer input to performance evaluations of other staff as appropriate.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Licenses & Certifications

• U.S. citizen - due to access to controlled facilities and environments

• Current U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance or current Secret clearance with the ability to obtain Top Secret

• Completion of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) Facility Security Officer Course for Possessing Facilities (required upon hire)

In addition, candidates must meet one of the following education and experience combinations:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

• At least eight (8) years of direct relevant experience in intelligence, counterintelligence, or information security, including management, training, compliance, and protection of U.S. Government–controlled information with progressively increasing responsibility

OR

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

• At least ten (10) years of direct relevant experience in intelligence, counterintelligence, or information security, including managerial and compliance responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Government Relations, Cybersecurity, Information Security, Engineering, Legal Studies, International Studies or related field

• Master's degree in Cybersecurity, Information Security, Engineering, Legal Studies, International Studies, or a related discipline

• Eight (8)+ years of experience with DoD security/industrial security programs

• Experience in an FSO/AFSO or similar leadership role

• Experience with DoD administrative management (database management, suspense tracking, monthly reporting)

• Experience working within a university research environment and collaborating with federal agencies/prime contractors

• Prior service as an FSO, CSSO, or leadership in research security compliance

• Experience developing and implementing research security policies and procedures

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA):

Regulatory & Program Expertise

• Advanced knowledge of U.S. government security regulations (NISPOM/32 CFR §117), IC directives, and CI/cybersecurity requirements

• Ability to interpret and implement security requirements from customer contracts and DD-254s; working knowledge of NISS and personnel vetting systems (DISS, formerly JPAS)

Physical & Information Security

• Working knowledge of ACS, badging, and CCTV

• Familiarity with physical construction standards for restricted/closed areas

• Significant skill with classified information management (accountability, transfers, marking)

Assessments, OPSEC & Investigations

• Familiarity with periodic/semi-annual self-inspections IAW NISPOM

• Ability to build self-inspection and OPSEC programs and mitigate risk

• Ability to conduct security incident/violation investigations, produce reports, and implement corrective actions; support DCSA or customer security assessments

Communication & Leadership

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; effective presenter to diverse audiences

• Strong relationship-building, diplomacy, and negotiation skills; ability to advise cross-business teams and subcontractor security services.

• Demonstrated discretion, strong ethics, and sound judgment in handling sensitive/classified matters

• Ability to mentor and lead research security personnel and work effectively on integrated, cross-functional teams

Analysis, Metrics & Operations

• Ability to identify problems, analyze courses of action, and implement solutions in dynamic operational environments with shifting priorities

• Ability to compile data and deliver program metrics/performance highlights

• Experience developing and managing an operating budget; ensure projects meet schedule and budget targets

Additional Information:

Commensurate with education and experienceCover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), ResumeProof of Veteran StatusJulia Menke - jmenke@uark.edu - Sr. HR Partner
Crystal Ellis, Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist, ce031@uark.edu

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

N/A

Frequent Physical Activity:

N/A

Occasional Physical Activity:

N/A

Benefits Eligible:

Yes