Chief Security Officer, VUPS

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

About The Position

Vanderbilt University Public Safety (VUPS) is a comprehensive, accredited department composed of more than 450+ professionals dedicated to ensuring a safe, secure, and inclusive environment for the Vanderbilt community. VUPS includes commissioned police officers, community service officers, emergency paredness professionals, workforce safety specialists, and administrative personnel. Operating under a community-oriented policing model, VUPS emphasizes proactive engagement, service, and respect across all interactions. The department supports a diverse and growing university footprint that spans the Nashville campus, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, regional clinical sites, and an expanding network of extended campuses and national locations. As Vanderbilt continues to grow its presence beyond Middle Tennessee, including locations such as New York City (Chelsea campus), San Francisco, and West Palm Beach, VUPS is evolving to deliver a consistent, enterprise-wide safety and security model. This includes standardized policies, integrated technologies, and coordinated operations that can scale effectively across geographies while adapting to local environments and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in security management, criminal justice, emergency management, public administration, or a related field is required.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in physical security, preferably within a large, complex, multi-site, or campus-based environment.
Demonstrated experience supporting or leading security operations across multiple locations or jurisdictions.
Proven success managing integrated physical security systems and enterprise-level programs at scale.
Strong knowledge of access control, video surveillance, and credentialing technologies, including system integration and lifecycle management.
Demonstrated ability to lead policy development, strategic planning, and large-scale operational initiatives.
Experience driving change management and leading cross-functional collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups.
Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, align, and communicate effectively with senior leaders and operational teams.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
Professional certifications such as Certified Protection Professional (CPP) through ASIS International, or similar credentials, are preferred.
Experience in higher education, healthcare, research institutions, or similarly complex organizations is preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead a university-wide physical security governance framework that ensures consistency, accountability, and scalability across all campuses and locations.
Develop and maintain enterprise security standards, policies, and procedures that can be applied consistently across existing and future campuses.
Align physical security strategy with institutional priorities, capital planning, and the university’s long-term national growth strategy.
Serve as the senior advisor to university leadership on physical security risks, trends, and investment priorities.
Design and implement a scalable security operating model to support extended campuses and national locations, including New York City (Chelsea campus), San Francisco, West Palm Beach, and future sites.
Establish baseline security requirements and deployment frameworks for new campus launches, ensuring speed to operation without compromising standards.
Provide strategic oversight and guidance to Director-level security leaders at extended campuses, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards while accommodating local needs.
Partner with university leadership on site selection, due diligence, and pre-opening security planning for new locations.
Lead the standardization, integration, and lifecycle management of all physical security systems, including access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, alarm systems, and credentialing platforms.
Ensure interoperability and scalability of systems across campuses, enabling centralized visibility and decentralized execution.
Oversee vendor strategy, procurement, and system implementation to deliver cost-effective and future-ready solutions.
Leverage advanced analytics and emerging technologies to enhance situational awareness, risk detection, and operational efficiency.
Oversee enterprise-wide physical security risk assessments, audits, and vulnerability analyses, ensuring timely mitigation and continuous improvement.
Develop and implement standardized protocols for incident response, in coordination with Emergency Management and the Security Operations Center (SOC).
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and university policies across all jurisdictions.
Integrate physical security systems and data into broader campus safety, emergency response, and business continuity frameworks.
Lead collaboration across Public Safety, VUIT, Facilities, Card Services, Medical Center partners, and other stakeholders to ensure cohesive and aligned security operations.
Partner with Facilities to embed security design standards into new construction and renovation projects across all campuses.
Serve as the primary liaison with external law enforcement, emergency management agencies, and security partners across multiple regions.
Lead and develop a high-performing, multi-location team of security professionals, including campus-based Directors and the Technology Services Assistant Director and Manager.
Establish clear roles, expectations, and performance standards across centralized and distributed teams.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement aligned with VUPS values.
Promote ongoing professional development and ensure adoption of best practices and emerging trends in campus and enterprise security.