Chief Information Officer (CIO) / CMMC Compliance

Category: Information Technology (IT)

Location: Vienna, Virginia

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Type: Part-time

IT and Management Consulting firm based in Vienna, VA, seeks a part-time Chief Information Officer (CIO) with CMMC Compliance knowledge.

Hours/Schedule : Approximately 15-20 hours/week depending on compliance activities and assessment schedule.

Job Type : Contract to perm

Location Requirements : Mostly remote with periodic onsite support as required (1-2 times/month)

Rate : $75-85/hour

Job Description : Our client is seeking an experienced Part-Time Chief Information Officer (CIO) to provide executive leadership and operational oversight for the organization's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 program and Microsoft GCC High environment. The CIO will serve as the executive owner of the organization's CMMC compliance posture, ensuring that cybersecurity controls, governance processes, technical implementations, risk management activities, and assessment preparation efforts remain compliant, sustainable, and audit-ready. This position is ideal for a senior technology executive with deep experience in NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, Microsoft GCC High, federal government contracting, and cybersecurity governance. This role is intended to provide the organization with an experienced executive capable of serving as the accountable CIO for CMMC compliance while leveraging existing internal resources for day-to-day administration and technical operations.

Responsibilities :

Executive Leadership & Governance

Serve as the organization's designated CIO for all CMMC-related activities. Act as executive owner of systems that process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Ensure cybersecurity initiatives align with business objectives, contract requirements, and federal regulations. Provide strategic technology guidance to executive leadership regarding compliance, security, and risk management. Participate in executive compliance reviews and readiness briefings. Support annual affirmations and executive attestations relating to CMMC certification readiness.

CMMC Program Oversight

Provide executive oversight of the organization's CMMC Level 2 program. Review and approve CMMC policies, procedures, plans, and compliance artifacts. Ensure alignment among the System Security Plan (SSP), CUI Management Plan, POA&M, Risk Register, and supporting evidence repositories. Review compliance metrics, remediation activities, and audit findings. Support preparation for self-assessments, mock assessments, and formal C3PAO assessments. Participate in assessor interviews and executive-level discussions during audits.

Technical & Security Oversight

Provide executive oversight of the Microsoft GCC High environment, Entra ID / Identity & Access Management, Conditional Access and MFA, endpoint security and device management, security monitoring and incident response, vulnerability management activities, and configuration and change management processes. Review security architecture and ensure alignment with CMMC control requirements. Evaluate impacts of major technology changes on CMMC scope and security posture.

Risk Management

Lead annual and periodic cybersecurity risk assessments. Review risk treatment decisions and approve risk acceptance recommendations. Ensure corrective actions and remediation plans are effectively managed. Provide governance oversight for POA&M development and closure activities. Monitor compliance risks affecting certification status and federal contract eligibility.

Documentation & Audit Readiness

Review and approve the System Security Plan (SSP), Policies and Procedures, Continuous Monitoring Plan, Incident Response Documentation, Risk Assessment Reports, CUI Management Documentation, and Evidence Management Processes. Ensure documentation accurately reflects implemented controls and operational practices. Conduct periodic readiness reviews and executive quality checks on compliance artifacts.

Vendor & External Stakeholder Engagement

Interface with C3PAOs, compliance consultants, managed service providers, Microsoft partners, and federal customer representatives as required. Review third-party service providers that affect CMMC compliance boundaries. Support assessment planning and remediation activities with external partners. Availability may increase during mock assessments, self-assessments, C3PAO certification assessments, and significant remediation initiatives.

Key Deliverables

Maintain executive oversight of the organization's CMMC compliance program. Conduct monthly compliance governance reviews. Review and approve major compliance documentation. Provide quarterly executive risk assessments. Participate in internal audit and assessment preparations. Support executive readiness for C3PAO assessments. Validate SSP accuracy and compliance traceability. Advise leadership on cybersecurity investments, risk acceptance, and CMMC sustainment strategies.

Qualifications :

Required Qualifications

Minimum 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience. Previous experience serving as CIO, CISO, or equivalent executive role. Demonstrated experience supporting CMMC Level 2 or NIST SP 800-171 compliance programs. Experience operating within DoD, federal contractor, or defense-industrial-base environments. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 GCC High, Entra ID, Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Sentinel, Intune, and Identity and Access Management.

Preferred Qualifications

Successfully supported one or more organizations through CMMC certification. Experience participating in DoD cybersecurity assessments. Familiarity with DFARS 252.204-7012, 7019, 7020, and 7021. Experience with SPRS submissions and executive affirmations. Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CGRC (formerly CAP), CCSP, CMMC Certified Professional (CCP), or CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA).

FlexProfessionals respects and seeks to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences of its candidate network. FlexProfessionals does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. The candidates whose resumes are shared with our business clients are selected on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business needs.

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