Industrial and Personnel Security Manager

About the Role

Varda is advancing pharmaceutical development in microgravity and flying government missions that involve hypersonic reentry and advanced flight testing. None of it happens without a security program that protects the people, facilities, information, and hardware behind these missions. You would be the one making that program real.

As the Industrial and Personnel Security Manager, you will own the day-to-day execution of Varda’s industrial security compliance and personnel security programs. This is a hands-on, builder’s role: you will develop practical processes, keep the program inspection-ready, and work side by side with HR, IT, Legal, Engineering, Mission Management, and Business Development, from early customer engagement through launch and recovery.

You will report to the Director of Security, who is also the Facility Security Officer (FSO). You will support industrial and personnel security activities as assigned by the FSO, and you may serve as Alternate FSO upon designation and completion of required training. The Director retains primary FSO authority, program oversight, and required certifications. Special program personnel security and COMSEC duties apply as customer requirements are established.

Physical security operations are outside the scope of this role. Varda plans to hire a dedicated Physical Security Manager after this position.

What You’ll Do

Industrial Security and Compliance

• Run the industrial security program in accordance with 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), contract requirements, security classification guides, and applicable DoD and Intelligence Community requirements.
• Own facility clearance records and supporting documentation, and prepare updates and government correspondence for FSO review using NISS or the applicable government system.
• Lead annual self-inspections: plan them, maintain inspection evidence, draft reports for the Director’s review and certification, and track corrective actions through closure.
• Be the face of readiness for DCSA security reviews and customer assessments, coordinating deliverables with the FSO and external security advisory partners.
• Review DD Forms 254 and classification guides, and turn requirements into procedures. Work with Contracts and Business Development to build security requirements into prime contracts, subcontracts, and proposals.
• Control classified information and material from marking, receipt, storage, and dissemination through inventory, transfer, approved transmission, and destruction when authorized.
• Build the procedures, training materials, and records people actually use, and recommend practical improvements to the Director when you spot compliance gaps.

Personnel Security

• Manage clearance processing and records in DISS, NBIS, and applicable customer systems, including investigation requests, upgrades, transfers, reciprocity coordination, and Continuous Vetting actions.
• Coordinate SCI nominations, program access requests, and customer-required polygraph scheduling when applicable, and verify eligibility and need-to-know before access is granted.
• Partner with HR on cleared employee onboarding and offboarding, and maintain clearance rosters, access records, personnel security files, and briefing acknowledgments.
• Brief the team: initial, annual, refresher, foreign travel, and termination briefings, plus program indoctrinations and debriefings with authorized officials.
• Process incoming and outgoing visit authorizations and certifications, and verify visitor clearance and access requirements.
• Spot issues early by tracking foreign travel, foreign contacts, reportable changes, and adverse information. Prepare timely reports and elevate sensitive issues to the FSO in coordination with HR and Legal.
• Plan ahead by forecasting clearance needs with hiring and program teams, and track metrics on processing status, overdue reporting, training completion, and inspection findings.

Program Support and Incident Response

• Support insider threat administration under the Director’s ITPSO oversight, including training, referral documentation, and coordination with authorized stakeholders.
• Document security incidents, support inquiries and required reporting, and track mitigation and corrective actions under FSO direction.
• Step in as alternate COMSEC custodian when designated, trained, and authorized, supporting inventory, accountability, and handling requirements.
• Team up with IT and Information Assurance on CUI protection and classified infrastructure, and support program protection planning and security requirements without assuming ISSM or ISSO authority.
• Be the go-to advisor who gives employees and leaders clear security guidance, and recommend tools, resource needs, and future staffing as the program grows.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Technical Knowledge

• At least 5 years of relevant industrial security experience in a DoD or Intelligence Community contractor environment, including substantive hands-on personnel security responsibilities.
• A track record of ownership: demonstrated experience administering clearance actions, reporting, training, classified information controls, and inspection preparation, and independently owning recurring security processes.
• Strong working knowledge of 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), DD Form 254 requirements, and security classification guides, with the ability to translate requirements into clear procedures.
• Hands-on proficiency with DISS and NBIS, and the ability to use NISS and customer-specific systems applicable to assigned responsibilities.
• Working knowledge of relevant ICD 704 personnel security requirements when supporting SCI personnel.
• Strong written communication, organization, discretion, and judgment, with the ability to brief employees, executives, and government representatives and to manage sensitive personnel information.
• The ability to work independently, coordinate across functions, prioritize competing deadlines, and build repeatable processes in a growing company.

Clearance and Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship and an active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility, plus the ability to maintain the clearance and obtain required customer program access.
• Ability to satisfy additional customer access requirements, including a CI polygraph if required by the assigned program. An existing polygraph is preferred but not universally mandatory.
• Ability to work on-site in El Segundo and support other Varda facilities, with occasional domestic travel and mission-driven schedule requirements as needed.
• Completion and maintenance of required role-specific government and customer training. FSO or COMSEC training is required before performing formally designated duties.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in security management, criminal justice, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience. A degree is not mandatory when your experience demonstrates the required capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7 or more years of relevant experience, including prior FSO, Alternate FSO, CPSO, CSSO, or security program leadership responsibilities.
• Direct experience supporting successful DCSA reviews and personnel security or industrial security compliance for SCI or SAP programs.
• COMSEC account experience, insider threat program administration, and experience partnering on CUI or classified information system requirements.
• Relevant CDSE FSO course completion or recognized security certifications such as SPeD or ISP.
• Experience building security processes in aerospace, space, advanced manufacturing, or a startup environment.

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $115,000 - $155,000
• Role is located in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options or long-term cash awards
• Offer compensation also includes the ability to purchase company stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan