Director of Operations and Training

CenCore is seeking a Director of Operations and Training, based at Fort Meade, Maryland, to lead day-to-day readiness and operations across all sites of an Intelligence Community (IC) access control program. This leader reports to the Program Manager and partners with a second program Director who leads corporate interface and customer relations. The role is responsible for site performance, compliance with IC security protocols including ICD 705, and a compliant training program for a cleared workforce. The Director oversees Service Contract Act (SCA) covered personnel in Access Control, Visitor Services, the Operations/Communications Center, and CST, as well as site supervisors and training leads. As a senior member of the program leadership team on a contract that runs 24/7/365, this Director also backfills program leadership when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational readiness and execution across all program sites, making sure every site follows agency SOPs, ICD 705, IC clearance protocols, and the customer's physical security requirements.
• Direct SCA-compliant staffing models, including scheduling, post coverage, and shift management for 24/7/365 operations.
• Oversee and develop site supervisors, training coordinators, access control leads, and personnel in Access Control, Visitor Services, the Operations/Communications Center, and CST.
• Design and manage a training program built for IC mission environments. It covers post orders, secure facility access protocols, prohibited item detection, and counterintelligence awareness, and the curriculum and POI must meet SOW requirements and customer directives.
• Oversee initial onboarding, badging preparation, and refresher training for access control officers and site leads, and keep training documentation and certification records audit-ready.
• Run an inspection-ready quality control program that includes quarterly and internal audits, post and personnel evaluations, responses to customer inspections, and Corrective Action Plans (CAPs).
• Track KPIs for post coverage, incident response, and training completion, and respond quickly to escalated operational concerns and emergency incidents at secure locations.
• Support the program's customer-facing Director by providing operational briefings, staffing updates, incident reports, and performance metrics to program leadership and the customer's COR, COTR, and physical security officers as needed.
• Serve as a senior member of the program leadership team and backfill program leadership when needed.

Required Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph
• Bachelor's degree in Homeland Security, Criminal Justice, Intelligence Studies, or a related field. Additional relevant experience may be considered in place of a degree.
• 10+ years of experience managing government or intelligence access control operations
• 5+ years in a leadership role overseeing SCA personnel in a secure environment
• Proven experience supporting IC clients, including compliance with ICD 705, TEMPEST controls, and badge-access protocols
• Strong knowledge of physical security practices, contractor onboarding, post operations, and IC security standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a similar Intelligence Community physical security or access control program
• Advanced degree in a related field
• Experience managing large-scale security or access control contracts with more than 100 SCA personnel
• Knowledge of DS-1838, JPAS/DISS, and IC onboarding processes
• Formal training certifications, such as Certified Protection Professional (CPP) or IC security training accreditations
• Familiarity with electronic access control systems, VMS, and visitor control centers in SCIF environments

Skills / Competencies

• Leading contract operations across sites in different locations
• Keeping multiple sites ready for operations and reporting their status to leadership and government stakeholders
• Designing training programs and overseeing curriculum and instruction
• Quality control, audit readiness, and corrective action planning
• Workforce scheduling and post coverage planning for continuous operations
• KPI tracking and data-driven performance management
• Calm, decisive judgment during incidents and escalations
• Mentoring and developing a cleared workforce

Work Environment and Travel

• Supports a contract that runs 24/7/365. On-call availability is required for after-hours emergencies and customer escalations.
• This position is based at Fort Meade, Maryland, and is 100% on-site.
• Must be willing to travel locally and within CONUS between IC campuses, up to 25%.
• Work takes place in secure government facilities, including SCIF environments, and follows customer access and security rules.
• Core schedule: Monday through Friday, standard business hours.