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.