Blog · Government Contractor Hiring
How to Write a Government Contractor Job Description That Attracts Cleared Professionals
Cleared professionals are in short supply and high demand. A government contractor job description that buries the critical details loses the best candidates before they finish the first paragraph.
Government contractor hiring is constrained by a supply problem that most job descriptions make worse. Cleared professionals, program managers, contracts specialists, and compliance officers with the right background know exactly what they are worth and filter postings aggressively. A vague posting that lists clearance as preferred when it is required, or hides the contract details, wastes time on both sides.
Lead with Clearance Level and Contract Status
The first sentence of a government contractor job description should state the clearance level required (Public Trust, Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI), whether polygraph is required, and whether the contract is funded and active or pending award. Candidates who cannot meet the clearance requirement should self-select out immediately. Candidates who can should immediately know this is a real opportunity.
Specify the Contract Vehicle and Customer
For program managers and project leads, the contract vehicle (IDIQ, CPFF, FFP, GWAC, OASIS), the government customer, and the contract period matter. Experienced government contractors use this to evaluate risk, stability, and fit. Omitting it signals that either the company does not understand its own contract or is hoping candidates will not ask until they are already invested.
Be Clear About Location, Travel, and Work Model
Government contractor roles range from fully on-site at a secure facility to hybrid remote with occasional site access. Specify the work location, whether SCIF access is required, the travel percentage, and whether remote work is available at all or is restricted by contract. Location and work model are primary decision factors for cleared professionals, particularly given the post-pandemic shift in expectations.
Filling a cleared program manager or contracts specialist role?
Cleared professionals are passive and in demand. BEG reaches government contractor talent who will never see your posting and fills roles in 23-35 days at roughly 50% less than contingency.
State the Realistic Timeline for New Investigations
If the role requires clearance that the candidate does not yet hold, be honest about the current processing timeline for the required level and whether the company can sponsor an investigation. A candidate who discovers mid-process that the clearance will take 18 months to process will withdraw. Transparency about the realistic timeline attracts candidates who are actually willing to wait and gives the company a more honest picture of when they can fill the role.
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FAQ
Should I list a clearance requirement as required versus preferred?
List it accurately. If the position cannot start without a clearance, require it. If the role can start with an active investigation or with a lower-level clearance while the higher one processes, say that. Misrepresenting the requirement is a fast way to lose candidates at the offer stage.
How do I attract cleared candidates who are not actively looking?
Through direct outreach. Cleared professionals in stable program roles do not browse job boards. Reaching them requires a recruiter with an existing network in the government contractor space, which is the approach BEG uses.
What should a government contractor job description include about compensation?
A realistic salary range, the benefits package (which is often a differentiator in government contracting), and whether the comp is tied to labor category ceilings on the contract. Candidates who understand the contract structure will ask about the ceiling. Transparency avoids awkward conversations late in the process.
Related Resources
Anthony leads government contractor and public sector placement at BEG. BEG fills program manager, contracts specialist, grants manager, and compliance roles through isolved Job Placement Services on a milestone model with an 86% fill rate and a 45-day replacement guarantee.
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