Associate Director, Physical Security
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Apply to Associate Director, Physical Security at Grant Thornton - USJob details
- Location
- Chicago or Appleton or Phoenix or Los Angeles or Newport Beach or San Diego or San Francisco or San Jose or Denver or Jacksonville or Atlanta or Baltimore or Minneapolis or St Louis or Kansas City or New York or Charlotte or Raleigh or Cincinnati or Oklahoma City or Tulsa or Portland or Pittsburgh or Columbia or Austin or Dallas or Houston or Milwaukee or Hartford or Washington or Fort Lauderdale or Miami or Orlando or Tampa or Downers Grove or Wichita or Boston or Southfield or Reno or Melville or Cleveland or Philadelphia or Salt Lake City or Arlington or Bellevue
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Compensation
- $152,000 - $228,000/yr
- Posted
- yesterday
- Apply on
- ehzq.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com
About this role
Grant Thornton is seeking an Associate Director, Physical Security to join the team. Approved office locations can be found below.
Role Summary
The Associate Director, Physical Security leads the firm's dedicated physical security function owning physical security standards and programs across the firm's offices — access control, badging, surveillance, workplace safety, crisis management and emergency preparedness, travel risk support, and incident response for physical locations. The Associate Director sets global standards, provides security design input for new and changing offices, leads a small hands-on physical security team, and partners with Workplace Operations and Regional Managers for local execution.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Standards
Define global physical-security standards, policies, and programs across all offices
Establish a risk-based approach to site security, prioritizing by location profile and threat level
- Establish crisis management and emergency/business continuity preparedness expectations, including emergency protocols, crisis coordination, and physical incident response procedures for evacuation, shelter-in-place, and active-threat scenarios
Partner with Information Security to ensure clear lanes and coordinated response where physical and cyber risks intersect
- Define physical security design standards and provide input for new offices, builds, renovations, and security technology deployments
Continuously evaluate and propose automation and AI adoption opportunities within physical-security operations, partnering with Global Transformation & Integration on centralized prioritization and delivery
Security Operations
Own access control, badging, visitor management, and surveillance (CCTV) standards and systems
Lead physical-security incident response, investigations, and escalation management for firm locations
- Monitor workplace violence risk, lead threat assessments, and coordinate appropriate prevention, escalation, and response actions with firm stakeholders
- Coordinate workplace safety, travel risk assessments, and executive support for the Executive Committee (EC) where appropriate
Data, Analytics & Performance
Establish metrics and targets for efficiency, cost, and customer satisfaction across physical-security operations
Build, monitor, and act on reports and dashboards that track performance and progress against targets, elevating the function's data, analytics, and business-intelligence maturity
Example metrics: security incident volume and severity, incident response and resolution times, access-control compliance rates, site risk assessments completed, and guarding/technology provider performance
Use data-driven insights to inform decisions, prioritize improvements, and demonstrate value to firm leadership
Provider & Regional Delivery
Manage guarding and security-technology providers, including performance and service delivery
Deliver execution regionally in partnership with Workplace Operations and Regional Managers
- Lead a small physical security team with a hands-on operating style, staying actively involved in day-to-day priorities, escalations, and execution
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
Build awareness and training programs to strengthen a security-conscious culture
Advise firm leadership on physical-security risk and mitigation
Represent the function with strong executive presence, delivering clear, concise, and executive-ready communications and deliverables
Co-design the function's detailed target model with the Global Administrative Services Leader
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in security management, criminal justice, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
10+ years of corporate physical-security experience, including program leadership
- Experience with access-control, surveillance, incident-response, emergency preparedness, threat-assessment, and travel-risk processes
Relevant certification (e.g., CPP) a plus
Strong provider-management, stakeholder-management, and communication skills
Ability to operate across a multi-site, multi-country footprint
Success Measures
Consistent physical-security standards implemented across offices
Effective incident prevention, response, and resolution
- Crisis management, emergency preparedness, workplace violence monitoring, and threat-assessment processes established and regularly exercised
Strong provider performance and service quality
Improved security awareness and reduced site risk over time
Metrics, targets, and dashboards established for efficiency, cost, and customer satisfaction, with demonstrable progress tracked over time
Automation and AI opportunities identified, proposed, and adopted within the function, in coordination with Global Transformation & Integration
The base salary range for this position is between $152,000 and $228,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job -related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity. At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
About Company
- Benefits for internship positions: Grant Thornton interns are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Interns also receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave and are paid for firm holidays that fall within their internship period.
- Benefits for seasonal employee positions: Grant Thornton seasonal employees are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Seasonal employees may also be eligible to participate in the firm’s 401(k) savings plan and employee retirement plan in accordance with applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements. Seasonal employees receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave.
Company
In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.
In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.
Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.