Title: Information Security Architect (Head of IT, U.S.)

Location: Arlington, VA (Hybrid/Onsite)

Clearance: Active Secret preferred; TS a plus

Citizenship: U.S. Citizens only

Compensation: $140K–$180K (based on experience)

District Partners has been exclusively retained by a global defense technology company to lead the search for their first U.S.-based Information Security Architect (Head of IT)—a foundational hire to build secure infrastructure from the ground up and serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership.

This is not a maintenance role:

This is about standing up secure, compliant IT architecture from scratch—in a high-trust, zero-fail environment. You’ll architect frameworks, lead compliance, and play a key advisory role as U.S. operations scale. There’s no playbook—you’ll be creating it.

Why this role stands out:

• Greenfield environment: You’ll establish the full IT/security foundation for U.S. operations, supporting both classified and unclassified environments.
• Executive-facing, high-trust: You’ll advise U.S. leadership directly, helping shape priorities, infrastructure decisions, and compliance roadmaps.
• Cross-cultural collaboration: You’ll partner closely with European counterparts, navigating differences in pace, process, and communication style. Executive presence and cultural fluency are essential.

What you’ll bring:

• Demonstrated experience building secure IT environments from scratch in cleared or highly regulated settings
• Deep understanding of NIST 800-171, CMMC 2.0, ITAR, and CUI compliance
• Ability to lead both strategy and execution—architecting infrastructure while handling day-to-day operational needs
• Experience working across global teams or within multinational organizations
• Strong communication, judgment, and leadership presence

Military, federal contracting, or dual-use tech backgrounds are highly relevant. CISSP or similar certifications are helpful but not required if you bring strong execution and advisory capability.

Travel: 2–3 international trips/year expected (primarily to Europe)

If you’ve built secure systems from the ground up—and know how to lead, influence, and execute without room for error—this role puts you at the center of a mission that matters.

#CJ