Armed Security Officer

Armed Contract Security Officer (ACSO) – NIST Gaithersburg

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DESCRIPTION

We are seeking experienced part time (full time opportunities determined by seniority) Armed Contract Security Officers support federal security operations at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Gaithersburg, MD campus. Officers protect federal property, personnel, and visitors through armed security, access control, patrol operations, alarm monitoring, screening, visitor processing and emergency response.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Professional demeanor and strong communication skills
• Ability to maintain vigilance in a calm, lowthreat environment
• Demonstrates sound judgment, trustworthiness, and reliability
• Interested in longterm, stable employment with a reputable federal contractor
• Crossqualified applicants desired o Dispatcher One or more years of experience as a dispatcher or cctv/alarms monitor
• Supervisor – Two or more years of experience in field supervision
• Veteran’s receive hiring preference where permitted by law

Why Choose This Role?

• Stable Federal Contract

Join a trusted team serving one of the nation’s premier research facilities under a long-standing federal contract. This is not a high-turnover gig; it is a career opportunity in a professional federal setting with predictable schedules supporting scientists, federal employees, and visitors.

• National Security Career Foundation

Officers must obtain a Public Trust Suitability and may have opportunities to obtain additional qualifications on contract requiring a Secret Clearance, building credentials and experience required for advancing into higher-level federal security, protective services, and cleared government positions.

• Low Operational Tempo

Unlike high-risk law enforcement or executive protection positions, this role has an exceptionally low incident rate—no use-of-force cases in over five years. Your focus is on professional presence, proactive security, and maintaining continuity of operations, not daily confrontations.

• Unique Location

The NIST Gaithersburg campus is a moderate density, respected federal research campus located on an isolated 500+ acres in quiet suburban Montgomery County. Enjoy free on site parking, convenient access to major highways and transit, and a professional working environment without the congestion of downtown D.C.

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Job Requirements/Skills:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3 years of fulltime security experience within the past 5 years or 3 years of military (active or reserves).
• Must have or be able to obtain CPR, Handcuffing, Baton, Firearms, and FPS ACSO course. If you do not have this training, it will be provided to you.
• Strong communication, observation, and decision making skills.
• Be eligible to obtain a Public Trust clearance (or higher).
• Ability to perform physical tasks such as standing for long periods, lifting, and pursuing individuals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Access Control

• Verify identification and control access at entry points
• Monitor suspicious persons, vehicles, or activities
• Enforce restrictedarea access procedures
• Prevent unauthorized removal of government property
• Maintain control of keys, badges, and access credentials
• Establish incident perimeters and preserve scenes for law enforcement

Patrol & Security Operations

• Conduct routine and random patrols of buildings and grounds
• Inspect doors, windows, gates, and other security points
• Monitor security systems and respond to alarms
• Identify hazards or safety concerns and report them immediately
• Maintain communication with dispatch and command personnel

Screening

• Inspect packages, briefcases, containers, or any other items in the possession of people entering or leaving a Federally controlled facility.
• Operate metal detectors to search visitors for prohibited items.
• Operate Xray machine to search deliveries and visitors’ packages, equipment, and handcarried articles for prohibited items.
• Conduct vehicle inspection that may include inspecting under seats, in the trunk, and under the vehicle.
• Conduct frisks or patdowns for weapons or other unauthorized items.

Visitor Processing

• Verify proper identification of visitors required for issuance of visitor badges.
• Process visitors.

Emergency Response

• Respond to incidents and emergency calls
• Assist first responders and emergency services
• Provide basic first aid, CPR, and AED response
• Assist with evacuations and incident scene management
• Support investigations by documenting incidents and reviewing logs or footage

Common Tasks

• Report potentially threatening situations and violations of law and security procedures.
• Observe unique characteristics of an individual for identification purposes.
• Collect information about stolen or missing property or suspicious activities to aid investigations.
• Take detailed field notes

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COMPENSATION/BENEFITS

Wages and Fringe Benefits

Overtime pay rate: $52.500 per hour

Total earnings: $40.09 per hour

• Base pay rate $35.00 per hour
• Health & Welfare $5.09 per hour up to 40 hours per week of health and welfare; to be applied to health coverage expenses unless exempt, if exempt can elect for cash disbursement or as 401k contribution.

Pension contribution: $0.75 (maximum 40 hours per pay period).

Additional benefits:

• Up to two weeks (80 hours) of vacation per year, made available for use on your anniversary, increasing with seniority (prorated for PartTime employees).
• Up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave a year, made available for use on start of the contract year, December 1st (prorated for PartTime employees).
• Eleven (11) paid holidays annually, granted on January 1st (prorated for PartTime employees).
• Complimentary $0 cost Section 125 wellness plan providing 24/7 virtual care, wellness benefits, and tax free savings with no reduction to take home pay (not available to PartTime employees).
• ACA compliant comprehensive health insurance packages (medical, dental, vision, life) with options to add dependents (not available to PartTime employees).
• Ancillary insurances: life/accidental death & dismemberment, shortterm disability, and longterm disability insurance (not available to PartTime employees).
• 401K savings program (elective contributions only).

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Our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The company is an equal opportunity employer. The company shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity (except where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification), national origin, age, disability, military/veteran status, marital status, genetic information or any other factor protected by law. We are committed to equal employment opportunity in all decisions related to employment, promotion, wages, benefits and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.