Director of Security

Our client is a multi-national conglomerate, with operations globally set across a myriad of sectors. This role will be based in our client’s office in Central London, with some significant travel expected across Europe and beyond.

Reporting into the Vice President based in the US, this key position will take responsibility for the safeguarding and protection of our client’s people and assets. The position will be responsible for providing security strategy, oversight and support to a broad range of business entities, operations and projects across the world.

You will be able to take a top down approach to the operation, considering what is currently in place and developing and reviewing how the security programme can add value to the business, across both the strategic and tactical space.

Aside from the strategic work, you will also be equally happy ‘rolling your sleeves up’ and working closely with the CEO on a ‘project by project’ basis.

Responsibilities include –

• Working closely with company leadership at global and country level, ensure that a consistent approach to security is developed and employed across the enterprise.
• Review the existing security architecture and stance across, ensuring that proportionate controls are both in place and adequate and effective.
• Conduct security audits and risk assessments where required, identifying existing and emerging risks from a physical and reputational perspective.
• Manage and develop key vendor relationships and identify opportunities to optimise these relationships to ensure effective and cost-efficient security solutions.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships through the organisation.
• Develop and maintain an effective network of key external contacts, such as police, security industry groups and peer organisations.
• Lead a Travel Security program that ensures all stakeholders are kept up to date with security incidents, trends and country specific risks.
• Manage the executive protection travel program.
• Develop and manage security measures to ensure senior management visits are properly supported and major company internal and public events are risk assessed and mitigated.

Candidate profile

• Deep experience in the public and private sector, ideally with some of that experience gained within a family office setting.
• Comprehensive and substantive expertise as it relates to best security practices and principles.
• Genuine credibility in a leadership capacity, able to achieve engagement and support for the role of security as a business enabling function that really contributes to the success of the business.
• Well-developed and advanced skills and experience in security management, protective services, investigations, and law enforcement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Very effective oral communicator and presenter – culturally sensitive and well-informed from a geopolitical perspective
• Capable of building relationships in the business, engendering cooperation through the operation
• Prepared to travel regularly.