Director Safety & Security

Ardent Health•Brentwood, TN

18h

About The Position

Ardent Health is a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid-sized urban communities across the U.S. With a focus on people and investments in innovative services and technologies, Ardent is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. Through its subsidiaries, Ardent delivers care through a system of 30 acute care hospitals, 24,000+ team members and more than 280 sites of care with over 1,800 affiliated providers across six states. POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Safety and Security is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing enterprise-wide safety and security programs across a multi-hospital, multi-state healthcare organization. This role ensures compliance with regulatory standards, promotes a culture of safety, and safeguards patients, staff, visitors, and assets. The position encompasses emergency preparedness, physical security, and overall safety initiatives to mitigate risks and maintain operational continuity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Safety Management, Security Administration, Emergency Management, or related field of study.
7+ years of progressive experience in healthcare safety, security, and emergency preparedness.
Strong knowledge of regulatory standards (OSHA, NFPA, Joint Commission, CMS).
Proven ability to lead multi-site operations and manage complex projects.
Excellent communication, leadership, and crisis management skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree, preferred.
Certifications such as Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP), Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP), or CPP (ASIS), preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and maintains enterprise-wide emergency management plans, including natural disasters, pandemics, and critical incidents.
Coordinates emergency drills, training, and exercises to ensure organizational readiness.
Serves as the primary liaison with local, state, and federal emergency and public safety agencies.
Leads business continuity and disaster recovery planning to ensure operational resilience.
Designs, implements, and oversees security protocols, including access control, surveillance, and incident response.
Manages contracted security services and ensure adherence to performance and quality standards.
Conducts comprehensive risk assessments and vulnerability analyses across all facilities.
Oversees investigations of security incidents and drive corrective and preventive actions.
Establishes, enforces, and monitors compliance with safety policies aligned with OSHA, Joint Commission, and other regulatory bodies.
Analyzes safety performance metrics to identify trends and implement preventive and corrective measures.
Provides strategic leadership for safety and security programs, collaborating with executives, administrators, and operational leaders to embed safety into organizational culture.
Leads, mentors, and manages departmental staff and resources, including budgeting, professional development, and performance management.