Title: Lead Security Specialist Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid (Ottawa, ON) Employment Status: Permanent Full-time The Canadian Red Cross (Red Cross) – an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada’s Best Employers 2024, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment. We are looking for a strategic and experienced Lead Security Specialist to lead the Canadian Red Cross's security program - sharping policy, guiding operations and ensuring our people's and programs' safety and security in Canada and abroad. A key technical specialist will drive standards, manage risk, and confidently respond to crises. This is your opportunity to lead a high-performing team, influence senior leadership and help build a proactive, inclusive security culture that supports humanitarian impact in complex environments. In this role, you will : Set CRC Security program direction, objectives, identifies resources and management of relevant budget to achieve short to mid-term priorities; measure progress to plan. This includes monitoring and reporting on a quarterly basis. Lead and/or provide expertise to for safety and security standards in line with the security policy, including compliance monitoring and enforcement in coordination with internal stakeholders Provide leadership and coaching on safety/security processes in pursuit of the operational programs/objectives Oversee the travel security risk management process including operational safety/security advice for preparation and execution of higher-risk travel Provide subject matter expertise, advice, and review of security arrangements, including for third-party security providers Provide leadership for security incident response, including oversight of specific critical incident protocols, and providing advice to executive leadership. Coordinate with internal (and external as required) stake holders for management, including fact finding / investigation, identifying and overseeing after actions. Investigate and assess emerging external trends & issues, industry advancements and material incidents across various industries and through external networks Develop, maintain and deliver appropriate security training program for operational contexts; work with internal stadholders, third party specialists / vendors for the delivery of specialized training, and seek opportunities to provide scalable training across the CRC Working collaboratively and coordinating with other functions, identify and advise on physical safety / security equipment and technology Strengthen, monitor and evaluate security program impact and effectiveness, including lead the implementation of the minimum security standards to support personnel safety/security while also supporting program/operational objectives. Oversee the adherence to standards through the use of data collection, analysis and reporting and use findings for program improvement, learning, and innovation. Lead and mentor security personnel, including the surge security roster. Provide leadership, communicate expectations, ensure regular and timely feedback, and monitor staff well-being related to stress, resilience, and self-care. Establish and maintain networks with relevant external agencies, including humanitarian / Red Cross Red Crescent partners, law enforcement and social safety agencies. What we are looking for : Qualifications include a minimum of 7-9 years experience in managing security programs, teams, and budgets and a university degree in security risk management, international relations, public safety, business administration or a related field and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Requires expertise in a specialized discipline or broad experience across fields, along with an understanding of interconnections between processes and business units to provide effective leadership. Proven experience leading incident response, managing crises, and developing organizational security frameworks. Ability to utilize program management concepts, including program design, innovation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Demonstrated success in developing and delivering training programs related to safety, security, and compliance. Strong understanding of security risk assessment methodologies, critical incident protocols, and physical safety strategies. Ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, donors, local communities, and to navigate complex political and cultural contexts. Excellent presentation skills produce and deliver presentations to various audiences using appropriate presentation tools. Ability to identify complex problems, conduct deep analysis in unfamiliar areas, predict outcomes, and develop innovative, collaborative solutions by balancing technical inputs with strategic objectives. Communication and influencing skills to synthesize diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives and find mutually beneficial solutions, often in sensitive or complex situations. Working Conditions : The majority of work will be conducted from an office-like setting. Hold a valid driver's licence. Domestic or international travel to unsafe or high-stress environments; exposure to major adverse conditions requiring personal safety management. Field deployments may involve working in unstable environments with limited access to basic services, often in emergency contexts. These settings require strict adherence to security protocols. Work requires the ability to work to multiple, business critical, and conflicting deadlines. Work requires interactions in difficult, emotionally charged situations. Work requires interactions and support to clients who are experiencing traumatic situations. Candidates must be medically cleared for travel in accordance with established Canadian Red Cross medical criteria, where applicable.
