Americas Security Leader

Applied Materials • Santa Clara, CA

6d • $192,000 - $264,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world.

We are seeking an experienced Senior level security leader to manage security and resiliency operations throughout the Americas region. This position will be located full-time at our Santa Clara, California Campus.

The Senior Director, Americas Security Operations is a strategic executive leader responsible for the vision, development, and execution of enterprise security programs across the Americas region. Reporting to the Chief Security Officer, this role leads geographically dispersed teams and oversees all aspects of physical security and resiliency operations, ensuring alignment with global standards while addressing regional risks and business priorities. The position drives operational excellence across guard force management, investigations, business continuity, crisis management, physical security technologies, and regulatory compliance. Significant engagement with executive protection, event security, and other partner organizations are key relationships. Role is fully accountable for program performance, budgets, and outcomes.

This leader serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and a key cross-functional partner, collaborating closely with Facilities, IT, HR, Legal, Finance, and business units to embed security into core business processes. The role requires strong executive presence and the ability to influence decision-making, align security strategies with organizational goals, and integrate security into enterprise risk management and business resiliency efforts. The Senior Director ensures consistent implementation of security standards, governance frameworks, and operating procedures across all sites, while leveraging data, analytics, and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and operational transparency.

In addition, this role requires demonstrated firsthand proficiency in generative AI platforms and large language models including tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and Gemini with the ability to apply advanced prompt engineering, multi-step workflow automation, and AI-assisted analysis and reporting as a regular part of daily work. This is a highly preferred baseline and not a growth area. The Senior Director must arrive as a confident, experienced AI practitioner: someone who has been using AI daily for a significant period, can teach and coach others on AI tools and techniques, and has concrete examples of AI-driven workflow automations they personally delivered. The ideal candidate uses AI the way a skilled professional uses any core tool; instinctively, fluently, and with measurable results. Day-to-day, this means independently writing or prompting code, building and iterating on AI-assisted workflows, prompting and deploying large language models for operational tasks, and using data analysis to drive decisions without needing technical support to do so. The Senior Director will also be expected to accelerate AI adoption across the security function, serve as a credible internal resource on AI application and best practices, and apply AI to strategic planning, risk modeling, threat intelligence, and workforce optimization from the moment they step into the role.

The Sr. Director position requires an on-site presence of forty (40) hours per week in Santa Clara and reports to the Chief Security Officer. The role requires travel up to 30%.

Requirements

• Proven success leading large-scale corporate security, resiliency, and operational programs within global organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across executive leadership, business partners, and cross-functional teams including IT, HR, Legal, Facilities, Procurement, and Finance.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to identify emerging risks, implement scalable solutions, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing security operations, contract guard force programs, vendor relationships, governance models, and operational performance metrics.
• Ability to operate effectively in high-pressure environments while managing multiple priorities and making timely, informed decisions.
• Deep understanding of global security operations, cultural dynamics, and industry-leading security practices across multiple geographies.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to establish credibility and promote security as a trusted business partner and subject matter expert.
• Demonstrated passion for innovation, technology adoption, and challenging traditional approaches to improve operational effectiveness.
• Advanced firsthand technical proficiency, including experience with Python or equivalent scripting languages to build automations, manipulate datasets, and develop operational tools independently.
• Experience leveraging generative AI and large language models (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Gemini) to improve workflows, reporting, analytics, risk management, and decision-making.
• Proven history of personally developing and deploying AI-enabled solutions that delivered measurable operational improvements, efficiencies, or risk reduction outcomes.
• Ability to strategically evaluate and champion emerging AI capabilities, influence adoption across teams, and guide technology investment decisions within the security function.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in regional or global corporate security operations, including contract guard force management.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent combination of education, military, law enforcement, or corporate security leadership experience will be considered.
• Executive presence with the maturity, confidence, and humility necessary to build trust, influence decisions, and lead effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Energetic and purposeful leader with a strong commitment to operational excellence and delivering exceptional business outcomes.
• Process-oriented professional who values collaboration and builds strong interpersonal relationships across cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to effectively engage and communicate upward, downward, and across the organization with credibility and professionalism.
• Initiative-taking, highly accountable, and driven by continuous improvement and high-performance standards.
• Inspirational people leader with a demonstrated commitment to mentoring, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong situational awareness and sound judgment with the ability to make effective decisions in complex, fast-paced, and high-pressure environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of discretion, integrity, and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated firsthand proficiency in generative AI platforms and large language models including tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and Gemini with the ability to apply advanced prompt engineering, multi-step workflow automation, and AI-assisted analysis and reporting as a regular part of daily work.
• The Senior Director must arrive as a confident, experienced AI practitioner: someone who has been using AI daily for a significant period, can teach and coach others on AI tools and techniques, and has concrete examples of AI-driven workflow automations they personally delivered.
• The ideal candidate uses AI the way a skilled professional uses any core tool; instinctively, fluently, and with measurable results. Day-to-day, this means independently writing or prompting code, building and iterating on AI-assisted workflows, prompting and deploying large language models for operational tasks, and using data analysis to drive decisions without needing technical support to do so.
• The Senior Director will also be expected to accelerate AI adoption across the security function, serve as a credible internal resource on AI application and best practices, and apply AI to strategic planning, risk modeling, threat intelligence, and workforce optimization from the moment they step into the role.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute regional physical security, resiliency, and crisis management programs across the Americas, ensuring alignment with global security strategy and evolving business needs.
• Oversee all security operations, including perimeter protection, guard force management, investigations, executive protection support, workplace violence prevention, and event security.
• Direct the implementation of physical security controls, complex security technology projects, and standardized operating procedures to protect personnel, facilities, and assets.
• Serve as regional incident commander for significant events, leading emergency response, crisis coordination, business continuity, and cross-functional recovery efforts.
• Conduct security risk assessments and ensure compliance with internal governance standards, industry best practices, and external risk controls.
• Partner with business leaders, technical teams, and cross-functional stakeholders to integrate security, safety, resiliency, and continuity initiatives into business operations.
• Manage security vendors, contract services, KPIs, SLAs, dashboards, and analytics to drive operational performance, service quality, and informed leadership decision-making.
• Serve as the functional AI leader for Corporate Security by designing, building, and deploying AI-enabled workflows, automations, and analytical tools to enhance threat intelligence, investigations, risk modeling, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making; drive adoption of AI technologies across the organization through hands-on execution, governance, training, and continuous optimization of AI-assisted security operations.
• Lead organizational transformation initiatives, including process improvement, technology adoption, and security awareness and training programs.

Benefits

• supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career
• comprehensive benefits package
• participation in a bonus and a stock award program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree