Executive Director, Security

About the Role

Albert Einstein College of Medicine seeks a strategic and forward-thinking Executive Director of Security to lead and modernize security operations for a premier private academic medical college dedicated to medical education and research. This highly visible leadership role is responsible for safeguarding students, faculty, researchers, staff, and institutional assets while preserving the openness essential to academic excellence and scientific innovation.

The Executive Director of Security will design and lead a comprehensive, enterprise-wide security strategy that strengthens student safety, protects high-value research, enhances emergency preparedness, and mitigates emerging risks in an evolving higher education and research environment.

Responsibilities

• Student Safety & Campus Risk Management
  • Champion a student-centered approach to safety across academic, campus, and housing environments.
  • Participate in behavioral intervention and threat assessment strategies in collaboration with Student Affairs and senior leadership.
  • Oversee Clery Act compliance and campus safety reporting.
  • Develop initiatives that enhance after-hours safety, emergency communications, and violence prevention.
• Research & Laboratory Security
  • Protect sensitive biomedical research, high-containment laboratories, controlled substances, and intellectual property.
  • Partner closely with Environmental Health & Safety and Research Compliance to mitigate operational and regulatory risk.
• Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Leadership
  • Participate in the institution’s Emergency Operations Plan and enterprise-wide preparedness strategy.
  • Serve as senior executive security lead during crises.
  • Coordinate with Environmental Health and Safety to plan drills and exercises addressing active threats, laboratory incidents, natural disasters, and civil disruptions.
  • Strengthen institutional resilience through strategic planning and risk forecasting.
• Operational & Strategic Oversight
  • Direct 24/7 campus security operations and integrated security technologies (access control, surveillance, visitor management).
  • Manage a multi-million-dollar security contract.
  • Oversee student transportation, locksmith services, and campus parking.
  • Develop and implement all campus and housing security policies and procedures.
  • Modernize security systems and leverage data-driven performance metrics.
  • Develop and manage departmental budgets and capital planning initiatives.
  • Build and lead a high-performing security team aligned with institutional values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive security leadership experience.
• Experience in higher education, research-intensive institutions, or comparable environments strongly preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CPP (Certified Protection Professional) and PSP (Physical Security Professional).

Skills

• Strategic vision and executive presence
• Deep expertise in campus, student housing, and research security
• Experience leading behavioral threat assessment programs
• Strong crisis leadership and emergency management capabilities
• Ability to balance open academic culture with appropriate safeguards
• Collaborative leadership style with exceptional judgment and discretion
• Ability to manage security contracts and provide financial oversight of the security budget

Pay

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $175,000.00 – $190,000.00 per year. Albert Einstein College of Medicine considers factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.