Head of Safety and Security Strategy

The Premier League; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports organization in London seeks a Head of Safety and Security Strategy to develop and implement policies for matchday safety and security. The role requires senior-level experience in safety or policing, and strong stakeholder management skills. The ideal candidate will oversee strategic programmes, ensuring a safe environment for fans. This opportunity offers a hybrid working model with an inclusive culture.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Inclusive culture

Qualifications

• Experience at a senior level in safety or policing sectors.
• Proven record of managing stakeholder relationships.
• Experience in major incident planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic partnerships with national policing.
• Deliver key strategic programmes for safety and security.
• Manage a small team to achieve departmental objectives.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Crisis management

Public policy

Analytical skills

Education

Relevant experience in safety or policing sectors

Job description

Application Deadline: 2 September 2025

Department: Policy and Social Impact

Location: London, UK

Description

The Premier League’s Safety, Security and Operations team sits within the Policy and Social Impact department, leading the Premier League’s policy positions on matchday safety, security and service, the management of matchday risks and incidents, counterterrorism, stewarding reform, development of standards to drive safety and security improvements, crisis management of safety and security issues and the League’s relationships with national policing and public safety bodies.

We are looking for a strategic professional who can demonstrate a background working with or in law enforcement or relevant public policy, alongside other stakeholders. Working closely with the Premier League’s Head of Stadium Safety and Operations, the role will lead the development and implementation of strategy, policy initiatives and stakeholder engagement across the safety and security landscape to ensure Premier League matches remain safe and welcoming environments for all. The role will oversee the delivery of key strategic programmes for the Premier League.

The Head of Safety and Security Strategy, in close partnership with the Head of Stadium Safety and Operations, leads and manages a small team, keeping fans’ safety, security and experience at the heart of operational policy, working closely with club colleagues to keep matches safe, accessible and welcoming to all, while fostering an environment of continuous improvement.

Who we are

The Premier League is home to some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its Clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.

We have a wide variety of responsibilities. These include organising the competition and its Handbook as well as managing the centralised broadcast and commercial rights. The work we do in conjunction with the Clubs also goes far beyond the 90 minutes. We support and provide a framework for youth development, we protect the organisation’s intellectual property, support the wider game and community programmes, undertake international development work and liaise with governing bodies and other leagues.

The Premier League is an equal opportunities employer and strives to create an inclusive culture where talent can flourish. We believe in the potential of everyone and open our doors to those who share those values. All appointments will be made based on merit; however, we particularly encourage applications from women, people from minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ people and disabled people.

Our hybrid-working model also allows you some variety on your place of work, offering you the chance to work from home on some days each week. Where possible, you will attend the office or site visits in line with our company policy. All staff liaise closely with their line manager to manage their time appropriately and according to their work and team requirements.

The Role

• Leading the Premier League’s delivery of a strategic partnership with national policing
• As part of this project, and more widely, harnessing the power of football to help increase confidence in neighbourhood policing within local communities, using the profile of the Premier League and clubs, to develop positive associations and partnerships between policing and football fans
• Mapping, management and leadership of key strategic stakeholder relationships relating to safety and security. To ensure that, wherever possible, policy developments reflect the requirements of key strategic partners
• Analysing and responding to public policy developments affecting Premier League stadia and operations
• Ensuring that the competition calendar can be fulfilled safely and securely for fans, while supporting the delivery of key priorities for policing
• Leading the implementation and monitoring of the Premier League’s major incident planning and testing programme relating to matchday safety and security, and leading on the design and implementation of similar projects or policies as they arise
• Leading the Premier League’s response to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, ensuring that all clubs deliver against relevant requirements
• Identifying new approaches to resource management (policing and football) capable of reducing risk, reducing costs, harnessing new technology and making the best use of data to develop improved and efficient models of event management
• Working with clubs on the identification, development and implementation of strategic and operational measures capable of improving levels of matchday safety, security and service
• Strategic engagement with key external partners and stakeholders, including: national policing bodies, the Sports Ground Safety Authority, (SGSA), Security Industry Authority (SiA), Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Home Office, National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO)
• Fostering a culture of evidence- and intelligence-led decision making, information sharing and problem solving across clubs and with external partners as appropriate
• With the Head of Stadium Safety and Operations, managing a small team to deliver a range of safety, security and stadium-focused projects in alignment with business and departmental objectives
• Developing a safety and security team strategy, to support the objectives of the wider department and business
  
  

Role Requirement

• Relevant experience of developing and leading strategies enabling the delivery of safety and security operations and policies
• Experience of working at a senior level within the safety and/or policing sectors, e.g. superintendent level in policing, or grade 6 in the civil service. Exceptional candidates at lower grades are also encouraged to apply
• Experience of leading stakeholder management and consultation across a wide variety of stakeholders
• Experience of delivering relevant projects including management of budgets and commissioning of external subject matter experts
• Experience of preparing reports, papers and other written materials to a high standard for a variety of audiences, ideally including external stakeholder groups and internal senior management
• Line management and / or team management experience
• Experience in major incident planning, including managing relationships with relevant official bodies
• Experience of having primary responsibility for managing stakeholder relationships
• Management of a devolved budget and accurate reporting against it
• Enthusiasm to develop and innovate, with an exceptional group of stakeholders, to achieve ever-improving safety, security, service and accessibility standards
• Proven record of escalating issues as required in a safety and security context
• Comfortable operating in high pressure environments
  

Our commitment to safeguarding includes implementing robust safer recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of individuals applying for roles that involve work with children and adults who are or may be at risk of harm. For further information, please see our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Guidance.

To apply please visit our careers page and apply with your CV and a cover letter. The closing date for applications is 2 September 2025.

We will remove barriers that prospective candidates might face at any stage of our recruitment process. If you have a disability and would like the advert in an alternative format, or would like to talk about how we can adjust the interview process to best support you, please contact [e-mail]