Head of Security – Global Operations (M/F)

As part of its international development in the fields of security, risk management and support for high-profile clients, our client is looking to recruit a Head of Security – Global Operations to lead and oversee its international security operations.

As a key operational leader, you will be responsible for supervising a team of Security Managers and operational personnel working across several geographical regions, including Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.

You will be involved in a wide range of security-related activities, including international travel security, threat assessments, risk management, support for high-profile clients and crisis response.

You will also be responsible for developing your teams' capabilities, harmonising operational practices and ensuring consistent service delivery to an international client base.

This position requires strong leadership, combining technical expertise in security, international team management, client relationship management and the ability to make sound decisions in complex and challenging environments.

Main Responsibilities

1. Security Operations Leadership and Team Management

You will oversee the day-to-day management of security teams and ensure the effective coordination of international operations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing Security Managers operating across different countries and time zones.

• Defining operational priorities and allocating responsibilities across teams.

• Monitoring individual and team performance.

• Managing staffing levels, schedules, leave and operational coverage.

• Supporting recruitment and onboarding activities in coordination with Human Resources.

• Conducting performance reviews and identifying professional development needs.

• Supporting managers with day-to-day operational challenges and decision-making.

• Ensuring effective communication and information handovers between international teams.

• Developing security operations capabilities in Paris and Southern Europe.

• Promoting a management culture based on accountability, professionalism, operational excellence and client satisfaction.

2. International Travel Security and Risk Management

You will oversee security arrangements relating to international business travel and ensure that appropriate protective measures are implemented.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assessing security risks associated with travel to sensitive or high-risk geographical areas.

• Conducting threat assessments considering political, social and security environments.

• Developing proportionate security recommendations based on travellers' profiles and operating environments.

• Overseeing pre-travel and in-country security requests.

• Advising clients on appropriate precautions and protective measures.

• Supervising secure transportation, traveller tracking and journey management arrangements.

• Monitoring geopolitical developments that could affect clients' personnel or operations.

• Organising security briefings to raise travellers' awareness of potential risks.

• Adapting security arrangements as threats and operational circumstances evolve.

3. Crisis Management and Major Incident Response

You will play a central role in managing emergency situations and complex security incidents.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of situations requiring senior-level expertise and operational intervention.

• Leading or supporting evacuation operations involving individuals exposed to security threats.

• Coordinating relocation operations when necessary.

• Participating in crisis management calls and coordination meetings with clients.

• Developing response scenarios and operational solutions adapted to field constraints.

• Maintaining clear and regular communication with clients during critical situations.

• Explaining available operational options, their implications and limitations.

• Coordinating with specialist teams, including intelligence, medical assistance and crisis management.

• Providing operational escalation support as part of the on-call rota.

• Ensuring continuity of client support until incidents are resolved.

The ability to remain calm under pressure, assess situations quickly and make sound decisions in challenging circumstances will be essential.

4. Client Relationship Management and Strategic Advisory

You will act as a key point of contact for clients, developing long-term professional relationships based on trust, reliability and high-quality advice.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Understanding clients' organisations, activities and operational constraints.

• Identifying their security requirements and anticipating potential risks.

• Translating client requests into practical, realistic and proportionate operational solutions.

• Advising security directors, risk managers, travel managers and senior decision-makers.

• Attending strategic meetings and service review meetings.

• Presenting security assessments and recommendations clearly and effectively.

• Supporting the onboarding of French-speaking and Southern Europe-based clients.

• Working closely with commercial teams and account managers.

• Addressing client concerns, service issues and operational challenges.

• Maintaining transparent, professional and consistent communication.

5. Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

You will be responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of security services delivered by the teams.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Monitoring operational activities to ensure compliance with internal procedures and client agreements.

• Reviewing the quality of risk assessments and security recommendations.

• Supervising documentation, reporting and operational record-keeping.

• Monitoring response times and the quality of client communications.

• Identifying operational weaknesses and implementing corrective actions.

• Analysing client feedback and operational performance indicators.

• Organising post-incident and post-operation reviews.

• Incorporating lessons learned into procedures and working practices.

• Harmonising operational standards across geographical teams.

6. Procedures, Training and Team Development

You will contribute to the development of operational procedures and the continuous improvement of team capabilities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing, reviewing and maintaining security operating procedures.

• Establishing client-specific security protocols where required.

• Ensuring procedures and operational standards are properly understood and implemented.

• Identifying training needs in security, crisis management and emergency response.

• Supporting the organisation of practical exercises and crisis simulations.

• Coaching employees to improve their operational performance.

• Developing team members' client communication skills.

• Ensuring the effective use of operational tools and platforms.

• Ensuring compliance with confidentiality, information security and data protection requirements.

Education and Professional Experience

We are looking for an experienced security professional with at least 5 years of relevant experience in security, risk management or operational leadership.

Candidates with experience in the following environments will be particularly relevant:

• Corporate security and private security.

• Armed forces and military environments.

• Law enforcement.

• Emergency management and crisis response.

• International security and risk management.

• Close protection and travel security.

Proven experience in managing operational teams is essential, ideally within international and multi-site environments.

Previous experience in international travel risk management and providing security advice to strategic clients will be highly valued.

A relevant higher education qualification or professional certification in security management would be an advantage. However, equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Language Requirements

• French: Native or fluent level – essential.

• English: Professional working proficiency, both written and spoken – essential.

• Spanish: An advantage.

• Additional foreign languages will be considered a plus.

Required Skills and Competencies

Technical Skills

• Expertise in international security and protective services.

• Strong knowledge of threat assessment and security risk management methodologies.

• Experience in international travel security and journey management.

• Proven crisis management and major incident response experience.

• Ability to coordinate evacuation and relocation operations.

• Experience managing international and multi-site teams.

• Development and implementation of operational procedures.

• Good understanding of geopolitical environments and international security issues.

• Ability to advise clients and senior decision-makers on sensitive security matters.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to use new operational platforms and systems.

Personal and Managerial Skills

• Strong leadership and the ability to motivate and develop teams.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• High level of responsibility, discretion and confidentiality.

• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.

• Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.

• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.

• Diplomacy and confidence when dealing with senior stakeholders.

• Autonomy, initiative and responsiveness.

• Ability to adapt to multicultural and international environments.

• Strong client orientation and a solution-focused mindset.

Additional Information and Benefits

• Position based in Paris, France.

• International working environment with teams operating across several continents.

• Significant management and operational responsibilities.

• Regular interaction with international clients and senior decision-makers.

• Involvement in strategic security operations and crisis management activities.

• Collaboration with specialists in security, operational intelligence and medical assistance.

• Participation in an on-call rota supporting French-speaking and Southern Europe-based clients.

• + 7.5% annual bonus (uncapped).