Director of Safety and Emergency Management

American Chemical Society

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Safety and Emergency Management provides enterprise‑level strategic leadership, governance, and oversight for ACS’s safety, security, emergency management, and organizational resilience programs. The role is accountable for the design, execution, and continuous improvement of ACS’s life‑safety infrastructure, emergency response capabilities, physical security posture, and business continuity framework. This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability, integration, and continuous improvement of ACS’s life‑safety infrastructure, emergency response operations, physical security systems, and business continuity capabilities. This role reports to the Chief Financial Officer and resides within the Treasurer & CFO Division. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, partnering with Facilities, IT/Workplace Technology, HR, Communications, and external agencies to mitigate enterprise risk, guide crisis response, and protect ACS’s people, assets, and mission.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Security Management, Emergency Management, Risk, Public Safety, Facilities Management, or a related field, or the equivalent level of experience and certifications
15+ years of progressive experience in security operations, emergency management, risk management, or life‑safety leadership roles.
10+ years of experience managing employees and contractors
10+ years of experience managing vendors and external partners
Hands‑on experience with: C•CURE or similar access control platforms Everbridge or similar mass notification systems Lynx or similar active alerting tools EHS/compliance platforms (e.g., SAI360)
Demonstrated success developing and leading SOPs, EAPs, drills, after‑action reviews, and risk mitigation programs.
Strong contract/vendor management experience with measurable performance oversight.
Excellent communication, crisis‑leadership, and cross‑organizational collaboration skills.
Deep knowledge of OSHA/EHS regulations, NFPA and life‑safety codes, and industry best practices.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively at the executive and enterprise level, including crisis leadership, risk communication, and cross‑organizational influence.

Responsibilities

Own ACS’s physical security strategy, standards, programs, and operating models across multiple facilities and sites across the United States.
Oversee daily operations and governance of C•CURE access control, badge administration, credentialing, and zoning policies.
Manage security vendor relationships, includinriskg guard services, systems integrators, and technology partners, ensuring SLA adherence and high operational standards.
Conduct regular threat, vulnerability, and risk assessments; maintain and govern a formal risk register ensuring mitigation strategies are prioritized, tracked, and reported to senior leadership.
Stay aware of trends, studies, or evaluations that might inform our understanding of security threats.
Maintain visibility into emerging technologies, security platforms, and continuity‑related software upgrades to ensure ACS’s program remains modern, resilient, and aligned with industry best practices.
Serve as the enterprise owner of the ACS Emergency Action Plan (EAP), with authority over procedures, escalation protocols, and response governance for evacuation, shelter‑in‑place, and lockdown scenarios.
Direct and govern the planning, execution, evaluation, and continuous improvement of enterprise emergency preparedness exercises, including evacuation, shelter‑in‑place, lockdown/active‑threat scenarios, and tabletop exercisesLead oversight of the Everbridge mass notification system, ensuring SMS/voice/email delivery reliability, up‑to‑date contact data, message templates, escalation paths, and all‑clear workflows.
Manage the Lynx active incident alerting ecosystem (desktop splash alerts, panic/lockdown button governance, incident logging).
Ensure PA, strobes, alarms, Lynx, and Everbridge follow defined test cadences with results tracked, published, and remediated.
Oversee compliance against life‑safety codes, local regulations, OSHA/EHS guidance, and ACS internal standards.
Ensure annual testing of alarms, strobes, fire panels, emergency power, and communications systems is completed and documented.
Lead ACS’s response readiness for high‑risk or high‑visibility events, including those with external stakeholders or large gatherings.
Maintain oversight of EHS inspections, hazard abatement, safety walkthroughs, and regulatory compliance.
Develop and deliver safety training, awareness materials, and compliance reporting in collaboration with HR/EHS partners.
Support ergonomics, chemical safety (if applicable), and general workplace safety programs.
Own and govern ACS’s Business Continuity Program, including enterprise plan maintenance, cross‑departmental readiness, scenario planning, and executive reporting.
Conduct continuity exercises and scenario planning to validate departmental preparedness.
Define, track, and analyze resilience KPIs (e.g., time‑to‑notify, system availability, drill performance, risk‑reduction metrics) and present insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
Manage relationships with key software and technology vendors to ensure system reliability, contract compliance, and timely delivery of enhancements.
Develop, approve, and govern enterprise security and safety policies, SOPs, RACI models, and escalation matrices, ensuring version control, organizational adoption, and annual review.
Oversee staff training for emergency procedures, system use, drills, and response expectations.
Serve as a senior advisor to executives during incidents, briefings, and after‑action reviews.
Maintain a unified, accurate repository of safety documentation (Nucleus).
Provide enterprise leadership and functional direction for security, emergency management, and risk mitigation programs, including leadership of cross‑functional working groups and oversight of internal resources and external partners.
Lead a cross‑functional working groups supporting security, emergency management, and risk mitigation.
Routinely review potential safety & security risks and ACS’ emergency preparedness and report to senior leadership.
Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and functional direction to Facilities/Security personnel and vendor leadership to ensure consistent enterprise standards and outcomes.
Serve as ACS’s primary executive liaison to external agencies, building management, and emergency responders for incident planning, coordination, and response.