How to hire a comsec custodian

How to hire a comsec custodian, step by step

Here's a step-by-step comsec custodian hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a comsec custodian job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new comsec custodian
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a comsec custodian, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a comsec custodian to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a comsec custodian that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of comsec custodians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Comsec Custodian	Description	Hourly rate
   Comsec Custodian	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$12-19
   Sanitation Worker	A sanitation worker is employed to carry out valuable community tasks like garbage collection, hauling, and disposal. Sanitation workers take responsibility for the cleanliness and maintenance of the community... Show more	$12-19
   Day Porter	Day porters are skilled employees who are responsible for conducting daily building maintenance at a facility to ensure it looks neat and presentable to the public. These porters are required to clean all common room areas such as the kitchen, cafeteria, and lobby as well as prepare conference rooms before and after meetings... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Key Management
   • NSA
   • Security Clearance
   • COMSEC
   • DOD
   • Encryption
   • National Security
   • InfoSec
   • Communications Equipment
   • Government Agencies
   • CCI
   • Ekms
   • Security Policies
   • COR

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience with LCMS, TACLANE, AN/CYZ-10, SKL, KIV-7, KIV-19, STE, and STU-III.
   • Clean up COMSEC discrepancies, excess COMSEC materials, and have no findings on NSA's audit of the account.
   • Prepare and safeguard all COMSEC material during emergency situations in accordance with guidelines.
   • Experience with Unix / Linux operating systems.
   • Receive subpoenas and prepare for court appearances.
   • Maintain key orders via EKMS for government customers.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your comsec custodian job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A comsec custodian can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, comsec custodians' average salary in louisiana is 58% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level comsec custodians 37% less than senior-level comsec custodians.
   • Certifications. A comsec custodian with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a comsec custodian's salary.

   Average comsec custodian salary

   $15.86hourly

   $32,985 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level comsec custodian salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

4. Writing a comsec custodian job description

   A comsec custodian job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a comsec custodian job description:

   Comsec custodian job description example

   Time Type: Full time
   Minimum Clearance Required to Start: Top Secret
   
   Employee Type: Regular
   
   Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 25%
   
   Type of Travel: Local
   
   CACI is looking for seveal levels of COMSEC/EKMS Custodians to support our customer, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), at Scott AFB Illinois. This position is contingent upon award of the USTRANSCOM Command, Control, Communication & Cyber Systems Managed Information Technology Services (MITS), Enterprise support Managed services.
   
   **More About the Role:**
   
   Supervises and manages the daily activities of configuration and operation of business systems which may be mainframe, mini, or client/server based. Provide Intermediate "hands on" work experience in support of installations, repair, and troubleshooting or maintenance of communications systems or equipment. Must have the technical knowledge to solve complex problems, understand the interrelationships of circuits, and be able to exercise independent judgment in performing tasks in support of communications systems or equipment.
   
   Performs a variety of difficult assignments associated with COMSEC duties IAW AFMAN 17-1302-0, COMSEC User Requirements. Perform COMSEC management as specified in the individual TO. COMSEC management duties will include: System database management, to include compilation of system's reports and overall system performance; Management of a DoD classified COMSEC account IAW National Security Agency and USAF-specified publications; Develop or verify existing key management systems to be compliant with Electronic Key Management System (EKMS) standards; Generate and distribute electronic keys from national and service-level sources to the end-item COMSEC component (end cryptographic unit (ECU); Perform semi-annual site visits to assist, train, and account for COMSEC equipment, as required by the TO.
   
   **More About the Role:**
   
   The successful candidate must be able to communicate clearly and succinctly both written and orally, and present products and ideas in a business-like manner. The candidate will be required to have experience in Lead level "hands on" work experience in supporting COMSEC keying materials and systems. The candidate will be required to work in dynamic fast paced environments that require team interaction and coordination of efforts. The candidate must be experienced in interfacing with both client managers and system users.
   
   **You'll Bring These Qualifications:**
   
   Lead level experience in the following:
   
   + Managing system databases, to include compilation of systems reports and overall systemperformance
   
   + Managing a DoD classified COMSEC account in accordance with National Security Agency (NSA) and specified service regulations
   
   + Managing and supervising communications support personnel
   
   + COMSEC (KMI and EKMS) standards
   
   + Generation and distribution of electronic keys from national and service level sources to the end-itemcommunications security component (end cryptographic unit - ECU)
   
   + Currently hold an adjudicated TopSecretClearance and be able to maintain
   
   + BA/BS and 5+ years recent specialized or AA/AS +5 years recent specialized or a major cert + 5 years recent specialized or 11 years of recent specialized experience
   
   + CompTIA Security + (IAT Level II or greater)
   
   **These Qualifications Would be Nice to Have:**
   
   + ITIL v3 - Foundation
   
   + CISCO CCNA Certification
   
   + Experience with GEM
   
   + Experience supporting DoD /USTRANSCOM
   
   + Experience working with DISA and Circuit Actions
   
   **This position is contingenmt upon contract award in late 2022**
   
   TRANSCOM
   
   **What We Can Offer You:**
   
   + We've been named a Best Place to Work by the Washington Post.
   
   + Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives.
   
   + We offer competitive benefits and learning and development opportunities.
   
   + We are mission-oriented and ever vigilant in aligning our solutions with the nation's highest priorities.
   
   + For over 55 years, the principles of CACI's unique, character-based culture have been the driving force behind our success.
   
   Company Overview: At CACI, you will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact by providing information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for Intelligence, Defense, and Federal Civilian customers. CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
   
   As a federal contractor, CACI is subject to any federal vaccine mandates or other customer vaccination requirements. All new hires are required to report their vaccination status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right comsec custodian for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your comsec custodian job on Zippia to find and recruit comsec custodian candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit comsec custodians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new comsec custodian

   Once you've found the comsec custodian candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new comsec custodian. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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