Security Clearance Specialist
- Full-time
- Department: Business support
Company Description
Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.
Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.
Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.
We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world
Who are you?
We are looking for a Security Clearance Specialist to take ownership of Turner & Townsend's security obligations across all programmes in which we operate. That means the Government of Canada Contract Security Program as the primary framework, but also RCMP, nuclear, DND, NATO, provincial, and any other client-specific security requirements that apply to our work. You will serve as the company's Alternate Company Security Officer (ACSO) from day one, liaising with CISD, RCMP, CNSC, and other relevant authorities on behalf of the firm.
The work matters. Every project we deliver for a federal client depends on our staff holding the correct clearances. You will own that process end to end, keeping it accurate, compliant, and ahead of deadlines. As the role develops, there is a clear path to taking on the Company Security Officer (CSO) designation.
As part of a close-knit Ottawa office, you will also contribute to the wider running of the practice from time to time. This is a collaborative environment and, alongside your core security responsibilities, you can expect to support general office and operational needs as they arise.
Job Description
Security programme management
- Serve as the company's ACSO under the PSPC Contract Security Program, acting as Turner & Townsend's primary liaison with CISD
- Initiate, process, and track all personnel security clearance applications: Reliability Status, Enhanced Reliability, Secret, and Top Secret levels
- Support applications for RCMP-specific clearances, nuclear facility access clearances under the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) framework, DND facility access clearances, and NATO clearances where required by specific contracts
- Administer security requirements under provincial security programmes and any other client-specific or programme-specific screening frameworks relevant to Turner & Townsend's work
- Conduct the required preliminary verifications before submitting applications to CISD, including identity documentation collection and completeness checks
- Maintain a live clearance register for all staff, tracking application status, expiry dates, and renewals
- Formally debrief departing employees who hold active clearances, in accordance with PSPC requirements
- Report security incidents to the appropriate authorities in accordance with Contract Security Manual obligations
- Maintain the company's ongoing registration and compliance status with PSPC
Document safeguarding
- Maintain and apply Turner & Townsend's document safeguarding and electronic safeguarding procedures across all Canadian offices, in line with PSPC contract security requirements
- Own the document safeguarding and electronic safeguarding accreditation process end to end: preparing and submitting initial applications, managing renewals, and coordinating reapplications when required
- Develop and keep current the internal security processes, policies, and procedures required to maintain accreditation, including staff security questionnaires and awareness materials
- Conduct periodic reviews of the physical security requirements and layout of each office against the applicable security standards, identifying and tracking any remedial actions required
- Coordinate and host PSPC inspection team walk rounds across Turner & Townsend's Canadian offices, preparing the necessary documentation and ensuring each location is inspection-ready
- Control access to classified and Protected information across all offices, and manage secure filing and records retention for all security-related documentation
Government procurement support
- Maintain Turner & Townsend’s registrations on CanadaBuys, SAP Ariba, Merx, and applicable provincial procurement portals
- Keep corporate credentials, insurance documents, and capability profiles current across all active platforms
- Support proposal teams with security compliance sections and mandatory criteria checklists
- Monitor procurement portals for relevant RFPs, RFQs, and Standing Offers aligned to Turner & Townsend’s service lines
Stakeholder coordination
- Act as the central coordination point between internal project teams, HR, legal/compliance, and external government contacts
- Gather required information from internal stakeholders (CVs, project experience, references, and credentials) and format submissions for portal upload
- Coordinate with external government contacts to clarify submission requirements and confirm receipt of documents
- Prepare and distribute status updates, trackers, and action logs to keep all parties aligned
- Prepare status reports as and when needed
General office support
Contribute to the day-to-day running of the Ottawa office, including operational and administrative tasks as required by the practice
Qualifications
Required
- Three or more years in an administrative, compliance, or coordination role, ideally within a federal government context, professional services, or a regulated environment
- Familiarity with the PSPC Contract Security Program, CISD processes, or federal security clearance administration
- High attention to detail and strong record-keeping discipline: this role handles sensitive personal data that must be managed accurately and with complete discretion
- Proficient with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, SharePoint, Excel, Teams)
- Legal right to work in Canada, and eligible to obtain a Government of Canada Secret security clearance
Preferred
- Prior experience as a CSO, ACSO, or in a security officer support role
- Familiarity with RCMP, CNSC, DND, NATO, or provincial security clearance processes
- Post-secondary education in business administration, public administration, security management, or a related field
Additional Information
What's in it for you...
100% covered health and dental benefits for you and your dependents (including paramedical services)
Health spending account, to top up expenses not covered in the benefits program
RRSP option with company matching
Annual learning and development budget
Access to a range of online learning tools, and support for career development and growth
Coverage of one professional membership or license fee per year, if directly related to your role
We believe in work-life balance, so you can recharge and take care of what matters most with vacation, flex and sick days
A flexible, hybrid work approach that allows colleagues to find balance between their professional and personal lives
Commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that promotes a sense of belonging
The base salary range for this full-time role is $75,000 - $95,000 per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package. Please note Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.
This posting reflects an existing vacancy that we are actively hiring for.
Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
We are an Equal opportunity employer who will ensure accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/
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Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.