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Physical Security Specialist I

Cherokee Federal

Arlington, VAJob$90–95K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$90–95K/yr
Location
Arlington, VA
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Top Secret clearance, required

Job overview

The Physical Security Specialist I provides analytical, logistical, and information-tracking support within a geographic region or project center. The role coordinates physical security design reviews, reviews funding requests and surveys, edits written products, supports taskers and working groups, and compiles quarterly progress data. The position requires U.S. citizenship and an active Top Secret clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Physical Security Requirements, requiredPolicy Drafting, requiredReport Writing, requiredBudgetary Accounting, requiredRecordkeeping, requiredTeamwork, requiredTeam Building, requiredInterpersonal Skills, requiredOral Communication, requiredWritten Communication, requiredWriting, requiredEditing, requiredResearch, requiredMicrosoft Word, requiredMicrosoft PowerPoint, requiredMicrosoft Excel, requiredSharePoint, requiredSitting for Extended Periods, requiredStanding for Extended Periods, required

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience, requiredU.S. Citizenship, requiredTop Secret Clearance or Ability to Obtain, requiredPre-Employment Qualifications, required

Benefits

401(k) Match
Paid Time Off
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Tuition Assistance

Full job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: PHYSICAL SECURITY SPECIALIST I

Location: Arlington, VA

FLSA Status: Exempt

A government contract requires that this position be restricted to U.S. citizens and must provide documentation.

This position requires an active Top Secret clearance or the ability to obtain a Top-Secret clearance to be considered.

Position Summary:

Within the Office of Physical Security Programs or any subordinate Division, this position provides dedicated analytical, logistical and information tracking within a geographic region or project center in support of the section. Analysts insure the smooth and effective tracking of tasks within their sections, and of Division as a whole. Analysts have a selection of set tasks but also may be assigned to any number of special projects and duties based on demonstrated competencies. Duties may include physical security design review coordination, funding requests, review and edit all Physical Security Survey, communications with posts, provide support to working groups, organizing meetings, recording minutes, tracking issues, and compile reports. Document editing will include grammatical mistakes, contextual errors, and ensure all written products strictly conform to the Bureau and Department templates.

Compensation & Benefits:

Starting Salary Range for PHYSICAL SECURITY SPECIALIST I: $90,000 – $95,000

Benefits That Set Us Apart

When considering your next opportunity, compensation is only part of the picture. We offer a benefits package designed to invest in your future and support your life outside of work.

Highlights include:

  • Up to a 6% 401(k) company match to help you build long-term financial security

  • Paid time off as part of our comprehensive benefits package, so you have the flexibility to rest, recharge, and enjoy what matters most

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus prescription drug coverage

  • Basic life and AD&D insurance, with supplemental life options

  • Short-term and long-term disability coverage

  • Paid holidays

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options

  • Professional development, training, and certification support

  • Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, and identity theft protection

Because taking care of our employees isn’t just a promise, it’s part of who we are.

Benefits are subject to change and eligibility requirements apply.

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities:

Includes the following:

  • Design Review: Analysts are responsible for receiving physical design documents, logging projects into the Design Review Tracker and sending out review request to various DS offices.

  • Residential and/or Physical Security Funding Requests:  Analysts review incoming funding request cables for errors, accounting mistakes and improper funding codes.

  • Document Editing: Analysts are tasked with drafting, reviewing and editing written products within their assigned a section, including Ambassadorial Briefing Papers, Waiver/Exception Requests, Action Memos, Informational Memos, Score Cards, and miscellaneous cables often while adhering to short deadlines.

  • Technical Survey Reviews: Analysts review and edit all Physical Security Surveys to ensure that there are no formatting errors, grammatical mistakes, or missing content from Post before they reach the Regional Coordinator for their review.

  • Taskers: Analysts provide dedicated support for a variety of informational taskers,

  • researching PSP databases to generate useful information for reports that are often

  • received by senior management within the Department. Analysts will learn to operate the Department’s tasker system.

  • Working Group Coordination: Analysts provide support to various Working Groups, organizing the meetings, recording minutes, and tracking issues.

  • Quarterly Progress Review: Analysts compile the data from various tracking applications in order provide a useful analysis to decision makers on their section’s accomplishments during the periodic quarter.

  • Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

No supervisory/management authority

Basic Qualifications:

Compliance & Quality Support:

  • Ability to learn and apply DS, legislative, standards, and physical/residential security requirements.

  • Experience drafting policy, procedures, memos, cables, and preparing reports for

Leadership & Team Development:

  • Demonstrated teamwork and team building experience with those who are not direct reports.

  • minimal supervision.

  • Good interpersonal skills and an effective communicator, both orally and in writing, that can explain complex details to different audiences including working level employees, senior leadership and subject matter experts.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Bachelor’s degree education or equivalent in years of related work experience.

  • Experience in basic budgetary accounting procedures and recordkeeping.

  • Organized, self-starter who has demonstrated they are internally motivated, take

  • executives for decision making with minimal editing required.

  • Excellent writing skills to including editing, ability to identify grammar mistakes,

  • Excellent research skills.

  • ownership of their program, can work well independently or with a team, and with

  • Must be proficient in the use of current Microsoft applications (MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel), and current SharePoint application

  • Must be a US Citizen.

  • This position requires an active Top Secret clearance or the ability to obtain a Top-Secret clearance to be considered.

  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; may occasionally require standing or moving about the office for extended periods.

  • Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a climate-controlled environment.

Company Information:

Behind every government mission stands skilled, mission-driven talent: people whose expertise and dedication turn complex challenges into successful outcomes. Cherokee Nation Businesses Corp - CFED, part of Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, is that team. We modernize aging systems, deliver care where it’s needed most, and keep missions supplied, staffed, and moving across defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. For more than 60 federal clients, we take on the work others won’t, and deliver where it counts. If that’s the kind of work you’re looking for, you’ve found your team. Learn more at cherokee-federal.com.

#CherokeeFederal

Cherokee Federal is a military friendly employer. Veterans and active military transitioning to civilian status are encouraged to apply.

Legal Disclaimer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Many of our job openings require access to government buildings or military installations. Candidates must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

In accordance with Virginia’s pay transparency requirements, the estimated annual salary range for this position is $90,000 – $95,000. Actual compensation is based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Cherokee Federal is a federal contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). As required by VEVRAA, we take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans. Protected veterans are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.

Cherokee Federal takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.

Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities or those with sincerely held religious beliefs. To request an accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing. Cherokee Federal maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

This position may be contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation. The scope of the investigation will be commensurate with position requirements and applicable law.

How this job compares

Set against the 980 open Security Analyst jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 12, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$90–95K/yr
  • Virginia median$101–165K/yr71 salary ranges
  • US median$87–139K/yr669 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $93K, is 32% below the Virginia median midpoint ($135K) — in the lowest quarter of Security Analyst salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 101 open Security Analyst jobs in Virginia and 980 across the US. 7% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Virginia
Experience
Security Analyst postings that state a minimum ask for 4 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 5 years (729 postings).
Education
167 of the 980 open Security Analyst jobs (17%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 12, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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