Security Assessor/Analyst Lead
Guidehouse · McLean
Job Family:
Technology Consulting
Travel Required:
Clearance Required:
What You Will Do:
The Security Assessment Lead will lead and support security and privacy control assessments for public-sector and regulated environments, providing technical leadership, quality oversight, and day-to-day supervision of assessment teams. The role will evaluate the effectiveness of security and privacy controls, validate technical and procedural evidence, advise clients on identified risks and remediation considerations, and oversee the development of high-quality assessment documentation.
In addition to assessment delivery, this role will help mature and scale security assessment capabilities through standardized methodologies, automation, emerging technologies, and development of assessment team members. The successful candidate will bring the experience and judgment to independently lead assessment activities, engage effectively with senior client stakeholders, and translate complex technical and compliance issues into clear, actionable findings.
Key job responsibilities include the following:
- Lead security and privacy control assessments in accordance with established assessment plans, applicable standards, and client requirements.
- Supervise and provide day-to-day direction to teams of security assessors, including assignment of assessment activities, review of work products, quality assurance, coaching, and professional development.
- Lead assessment planning, execution, documentation, and reporting activities across multiple systems, workstreams, or client stakeholders.
- Review security documentation and technical evidence to evaluate the design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of security and privacy controls.
- Lead and participate in control validation activities, including: Evidence inspection and analysisArchitecture and system documentation reviewInterviews and working sessions with system owners, security personnel, and technical stakeholdersEvaluation of technical configurations and other implementation evidence, as applicable
- Lead the development and quality review of assessment artifacts, including: System Security Plans (SSPs)Security Assessment Reports (SARs)Independent Security Risk Assessments (ISRAs)Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms)Other risk, compliance, and authorization documentation
- Clearly articulate control deficiencies, security risks, root causes, and potential remediation considerations to both technical and executive audiences.
- Maintain appropriate assessment independence, objectivity, and professional judgment.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to client stakeholders by helping them understand assessment results, risk implications, and opportunities to strengthen security and privacy controls.
- Establish and promote consistent assessment methodologies, templates, quality standards, and leading practices across assessment teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve assessment efficiency and quality through standardization, tooling, automation, and enhanced evidence collection and validation techniques.
- Support the application of data analytics, AI-assisted techniques, and automation to improve assessment analysis, evidence traceability, reporting, and continuous monitoring.
- Mentor and develop junior and mid-level security professionals and contribute to broader cybersecurity capability development and knowledge sharing.
What You Will Need:
- Minimum of FIVE (5) years of professional experience.
- Experience in cybersecurity, information security, technology risk, audit, security control assessment, authorization, or related disciplines.
- Minimum of THREE (3) years of supervisory or team leadership experience overseeing security assessor teams or security assessment-related personnel.
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university.
- US Citizenship is contractually required.
- Demonstrated experience leading or performing security control assessments, audits, risk assessments, or authorization activities.
- Hands-on experience developing and/or reviewing formal security assessment documentation, including SSPs, SARs, POA&Ms, ISRAs, or equivalent artifacts.
- Strong working knowledge of NIST SP 800-53 security and privacy controls and risk-based assessment concepts.
- Experience evaluating technical and procedural evidence to determine control effectiveness and identify security or compliance gaps.
- Experience leading interviews, assessment discussions, and working sessions with technical personnel, system owners, security teams, and other client stakeholders.
- Ability to translate complex technical and security issues into clear, concise, and defensible findings and recommendations.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing the work of other assessors and maintaining quality and consistency across assessment deliverables.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical and senior client stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple assessment activities, priorities, and deliverables in a client-service environment.
What Would Be Nice To Have:
- Experience supporting federal, state, local, healthcare, or other highly regulated environments.
- Experience with CMS, healthcare, or public-sector security and privacy compliance frameworks.
- Deep familiarity with Assessment & Authorization (A&A), Risk Management Framework (RMF), Security Control Assessment (SCA), or similar risk and compliance processes.
- Relevant professional certifications such as CISA, CISSP, CISM, CRISC, Security+, CAP/CGRC, or similar.
- Experience with security engineering, cloud security, identity and access management (IAM), logging/monitoring, vulnerability management, or system implementation.
- Familiarity with modern technology architectures, including cloud platforms, IAM solutions, APIs, security monitoring platforms, and how security controls are implemented and assessed within these environments.
- Experience with automation, scripting, data analytics, or Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platforms supporting assessment or compliance activities.
- Experience applying AI, automation, or data-driven techniques to improve audit readiness, evidence analysis, compliance monitoring, assessment execution, or reporting.
- Experience supporting business development, growth, capture, proposal development, or client account expansion within cybersecurity, technology risk, or related consulting services.
- Experience identifying emerging client needs and helping develop new cybersecurity services, methodologies, accelerators, intellectual property, or other firm capabilities.
- Experience contributing to proposal development, solutioning, oral presentations, demonstrations, marketing materials, white papers, or other go-to-market activities.
- Experience building relationships with clients, industry partners, technology vendors, or other ecosystem organizations to support growth and capability development.
- Interest in helping grow and differentiate a cybersecurity assessment practice through thought leadership, innovation, market awareness, and development of repeatable service offerings.
What We Offer:
Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.
Benefits include:
Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend
About Guidehouse
Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.
Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.
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