Director of Security - Sidley Austin LLP

Summary

The Director of Security is responsible for leading a firmwide physical security program to ensure that Sidley personnel, assets, and property, are appropriately protected, and that Sidley maintains compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This position is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and reporting on security risks. The Director position requires a visionary with strong skills in security, technology, and business management. The Director proactively works with various departments to implement practices that meet defined policies and standards for security and oversees all physical security activities on a worldwide basis. The Director may be involved in providing guidance or input to clients on security related issues and managing relevant regulatory risks.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead a strategic, comprehensive worldwide security and operational risk management program to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, reputation globally and availability of assets and information owned, controlled, or processed by the Firm.
• Manage the physical security organization, consisting of direct reports and indirect reports, including hiring, training, staff development, performance management and annual compensation review.
• Manage a Life Safety program to include training, planning, crisis management and business continuity.
• Develop, communicate, and ensure compliance with organizational security policies and standards.
• Work with Directors of Administration, CFO, CIO, CHRO, and various Department heads to facilitate risk analysis and risk management processes, identify acceptable levels of risk, and establish roles and responsibilities with regard to information classification and protection.
• Develop and maintain communication channels with local and national authorities for worldwide offices.
• Provide strategic and tactical security guidance for all projects, including the evaluation and recommendation of technical controls.
• Collaborate with the Information Security team to ensure alignment between the security needs of our clients and the security and enterprise architectures of the firm, thus coordinating the strategic planning implicit in these architectures.
• Ensure that security programs are in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies to minimize or eliminate risk and audit findings.
• Create and facilitate the security risk assessment process, including awareness training programs for all employees, reporting and oversight of remediation efforts to address negative findings.
• Coordinate the use of external resources involved in the security program, including, but not limited to, interviewing, and managing external resources.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (the “Duties”) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below.  The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Employees or applicants who need an accommodation should contact Human Resources.  If you need such an accommodation, please email staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in security management-related field, or equivalent work- or education-related experience.
• Minimum of 15  years of progressive experience in the security field or law enforcement  to include leadership or managerial roles  with commensurate knowledge of technological trends and developments in physical security, information security, and risk management.
• Project management skills; financial/budget management, scheduling and resource management.
• Ability to lead and motivate cross-functional, interdisciplinary teams to achieve tactical and strategic goals.
• Proficient with personal computers; experience with productivity software, such as Windows, Microsoft Office software.
• Experience with contract and vendor negotiations.

Preferred:

• Federal, state, or local law enforcement experience.
• Residential international work experience
• Experience with access control and CCTV systems
• Professional certification, such as CPP, CFE, CISSP, CISM, CISA or other security credentials.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• The following will also be required of the successful candidate:
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• A self-starter who desires to show ownership and commitment to the job
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer