Director of International Safety and Security

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking a Director for International Safety & Security to lead the global safety, security, and emergency response program for Harvard’s international operations, travelers, and offices. The role partners with leadership to advise on risk and response, supervises a three-person IS&S team, and coordinates with emergency management and security stakeholders across the University.

The Director will manage international risk, develop training and response protocols, and work

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 15+ years in global security/operations
• At least 5 years leading and managing a team
• International field experience with extensive international contacts
• Exceptional decision-making and problem-solving under pressure
• Strong leadership and calmness in crisis situations
• Clear, persuasive communication with stakeholders
• Experience with budget planning, oversight, and reporting
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 Office Suite

Responsibilities

• Lead the International Safety & Security Team (IS&S) and 24/7 operations
• Oversee emergency response, crisis management, and incident coordination
• Develop risk management strategies for international programs and travel
• Represent and coordinate with leadership on university-wide safety initiatives
• Engage with government agencies, higher education peers, and security sector stakeholders

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Communication

Relationship management

Budget planning

Crisis management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft 365/Office

Job description

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.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

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.

Job Description

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.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

LeadingtheIS&SSTeam

• Manages three direct reports, along with oversight of a rotating student co-op position; mentorstheteam,overseeingtheirtechnicaltraining,professionaldevelopment,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 managementandemergencyresponse;thisincludestrackinginternationaltraveland monitoringandanalyzingglobalintelligenceandworldeventstoinform in-houserisk ratings, advise and train international program staff, faculty, and travelers on risk mitigation, and manage the response to international incidents.
• Overseesthedevelopmentanddeliveryofonlineandin-personorientations,training programs, and educationalmaterials for internationaltravelers,with anemphasison challenging and elevated-risk destinations.
• Isaccountablefortheteam’scasemanagement,itsuseofdatatomakeinformed decisions, and its annual budgeting.

EmergencyResponse&CrisisManagement

• Leads the University’s response to international security, medical, and evacuation emergencies,independentlymakingcritical,time-sensitivedecisionsandescalatingtothe GSS Managing Director and University leadership as needed.
• Leads the University’s IEMT—a workinggroup of60+representatives from everyHarvard School,relevantCentralAdministrationdepartments,andon-campusemergencysupport services.
• Develops,tests,andimplementsemergencyplansandprotocols;deliversregularandad hoc briefings during international incidents; and coordinates after-action reports as needed.
• OverseestheUniversity’s24/7globalemergencyresponsevendoranditsintegrationwith GSS’ IS&S program; serves on the vendor’s advisory council for academia and related committees; and selects and manages other vendors and contractors that provide international emergency support.
• CoordinateswiththeGSSAssistantDirectorofCommunicationsonsensitive,high-risk messages to ensure awareness and alignment with University posture.
• Serves on the University’s CMT and as a visiting member of the Council of Deans of Students,bringinganinternationaltravelperspectiveandgloballenstoCMT activations and tabletop exercises.

InternationalRiskManagementStrategy

• ChampionsandupholdsUniversitypoliciesandprocedures,federalregulations,andbest practicesthatmitigate thehealth,safety,andsecurityrisksassociatedwithinternational research centers, projects, and travel.
• PartnerswithUniversityandSchoolstakeholderstodevelopriskmanagementstrategies and compliance mechanisms, evaluate international safety and security practices, and gain buy-in for new measures as needed.
• Overseeslong-rangeplanningforinternationalsafetyandsecurityinitiatives,resources, and policy changes.
• WiththeGSSManagingDirector,InternationalConsulting&Operationsteam,and Assistant Director of Communications, creates and delivers reports and presentations to administrators and leadership.
• EstablishesandmaintainstrustedworkingrelationshipswithSchoolanddepartment stakeholders, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and higher education peers.
• Asneeded,supportsandconsultsonexecutiveprotectionforhigh-profileinternational travelers, oversees on-site security assessments for new offices and program locations abroad, and leads, co-leads, or supports University-wide committees on international travel and after-action review.

GSS Leadership Team (GLT)

• Serves as core member of the GLT, bringing an international safety and security lens, management experience, and a willingness to share expertise that strengthens the team, informs decision-making, and shapes department priorities.
• Works with the GLT to advance strategic priorities and administrative processes that further develop GSS as a resilient organization and supports team-building opportunities that serve both department priorities and individual career development goals.

Working Conditions:

EmergencyStatusDesignation: Critical operations personnel, University CMT member, and leaderoftheIEMT.Mustbeavailable24/7byphone,email,anddigitaldeviceduringunscheduledand scheduledon-call periodstosupportemergencyresponsesituations.

Travel:Occasional domestic andinternational travel (including high-risk locations) for conferences,trainings,andsiteassessments;maybeexpectedtotravelonshortnoticetoprovide in-country support.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor'sdegreeandatleast15years’experienceinglobalsecurityoroperations,including but not limited to international risk assessments, emergency response and crisis management, and international program design and implementation.
• Atleast5years’experienceleadingandmanagingateam,includingemergencyresponders.
• Internationalfieldexperienceandarobustnetworkofinternationalcontactsandresources.
• Exceptionaldecision-makingandproblem-solvingskills;judiciousandcomfortablemaking critical, timely decisions with little oversight while keeping leadership advised.
• Demonstratesstrongleadership,remainscalmunderpressureandincrisissituations,and handles sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and persuasively, verbally and in writing, with strongrelationshipmanagementskillsandabilitytoworkcollaborativelyandflexiblywith people at all levels of an organization.
• Experiencewithbudgetplanning,oversight,andreporting.
• ProficiencywithMicrosoft365OfficeSuite.