Director of Security Operations, Programs

Director Of Security Operations, Programs

This senior leadership role will shape security strategy across complex, international program environments. You will serve as a trusted advisor to program leaders, helping teams achieve ambitious objectives while managing operational risk responsibly. The role combines strategic planning, security operations, crisis management, risk assessment, and organizational development. You will proactively embed security into program design, investigations, survivor engagement, office expansion, and operational planning.

Success means enabling mission-critical work to move forward safely rather than simply avoiding risk. You will collaborate with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders while developing security capabilities, policies, and training. The position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a mission-driven, globally connected environment.

Accountabilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for the global Program Security function, ensuring security is integrated into program planning, operational decision-making, and mission delivery.
• Serve as a trusted security advisor to senior program leaders, contributing to organizational strategy, risk management, and complex operational decisions.
• Lead, coach, and develop security personnel while fostering accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and a mission-enabling security culture.
• Provide security leadership during crises, critical incidents, and high-risk operational situations involving staff, survivors, partners, or programs.
• Partner with program leadership to assess emerging risks and integrate security considerations into new initiatives, program models, investigations, office expansions, and operational plans.
• Develop and implement security frameworks, standards, policies, protocols, governance structures, and operational guidance for challenging environments.
• Maintain forward visibility into program and operational changes to anticipate security requirements and strengthen organizational preparedness.
• Build strong relationships with program, survivor services, legal, investigations, regional security, and operational teams, acting as the primary security contact for assigned initiatives.
• Communicate security risks, mitigation strategies, and recommendations clearly through executive briefings, assessments, decision-support materials, and incident communications.
• Develop and deliver security training, workshops, briefings, coaching, and capacity-building initiatives for program teams and leaders.
• Conduct security risk assessments, threat analyses, operational reviews, and after-action reviews, using findings to improve security measures and program effectiveness.
• Monitor emerging threats and security trends, evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls, and recommend adjustments to support organizational objectives.
• Support travel risk management, security technology, business continuity, incident response, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in security management, criminal justice, international relations, risk management, emergency management, law enforcement, military studies, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in security, risk management, humanitarian operations, law enforcement, military service, international development, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience managing complex security operations or risk programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in security risk assessments, threat analysis, mitigation planning, crisis management, incident response, and business continuity.
• Experience supporting sensitive activities such as investigations, legal operations, survivor-centered programming, field security, or duty-of-care initiatives.
• International or cross-cultural experience, ideally across multiple geographic regions and complex stakeholder environments.
• Experience developing security policies, governance frameworks, operational standards, and security training programs.
• Strong executive communication, strategic advisory, relationship-building, and influencing skills, including the ability to lead across functions without relying solely on formal authority.
• Sound judgment, strategic foresight, emotional intelligence, adaptability, initiative, and the ability to navigate ambiguity and high-pressure situations.
• Experience leveraging security technology and travel risk management systems to support operational objectives.
• An advanced degree and professional certifications such as CPP, PSP, PCI, CSMP, ISO 31000 Risk Management, or equivalent are advantageous.
• Experience with anti-trafficking, human rights, rule of law, child protection, humanitarian, or similar mission-driven organizations is preferred.
• Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States.
• Candidates located in the Washington, DC area will work in a hybrid arrangement, with onsite work Tuesdays and Thursdays;…