Director of International Safety and Security

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Reporting to the Managing Director of Global Support Services (GSS), the Director for International Safety & Security (IS&S) leads Harvard University’s global safety, security, and emergency response program—a 24/7 operation that enables the research, teaching, and learning goals of the University, its 20+ global offices, and its 6,700+ annual travelers, while managing individual and institutional risk.

With University-wide scope, the Director partners with leadership, faculty, and administrators across Harvard’s Schools and Units to provide travelers and decision makers with the advice, assessments, and recommendations they need to make informed decisions about their international travel and programming, and to manage the response to individual and worldwide incidents in collaboration with the University’s global emergency response provider. The Director manages a three-person team, leads the International Emergency Management Team (IEMT), serves on the GSS Leadership Team (GLT) and the University’s Crisis Management Team (CMT), and represents the University’s international safety and security interests with government agencies, higher education peers, and the security sector.

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• Manages three direct reports, along with oversight of a rotating student co‑op position; mentors the team, overseeing their technical training, professional development, career growth, and compliance with GSS’ and the University’s administrative requirements.
• Guides the team’s 24/7 international safety and security program centered on risk management and emergency response; this includes tracking international travel and monitoring and analyzing global intelligence and world events to inform in‑house risk ratings, advise and train international program staff, faculty, and travelers on risk mitigation, and manage the response to international incidents.
• Oversees the development and delivery of online and in‑person orientations, training programs, and educational materials for international travelers, with an emphasis on challenging and elevated‑risk destinations.
• Is accountable for the team’s case management, its use of data to make informed decisions, and its annual budgeting.

• Leads the University’s response to international security, medical, and evacuation emergencies, independently making critical, time‑sensitive decisions and escalating to the GSS Managing Director and University leadership as needed.
• Leads the University’s IEMT—a working group of 60+ representatives from every Harvard School, relevant Central Administration departments, and on‑campus emergency services.
• Develops, tests, and implements emergency plans and protocols; delivers regular and ad hoc briefings during international incidents; and coordinates after‑action reports as needed.
• Oversees the University’s 24/7 global emergency response vendor and its integration with GSS’ IS&S program;…