Physical Security Manager

UL Research Institutes • Evanston, IL

19h • Onsite

About The Position

The Physical Security Manager develops, implements, and maintains the physical security program for UL Research Institutes (ULRI) and UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE). The role protects employees, visitors, facilities, assets, intellectual property, and business operations across multiple locations. It oversees security systems and programs such as access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, alarm monitoring, visitor management, key control, incident response, and security risk assessments. The manager establishes security standards, identifies and mitigates risks, and supports a safe, secure, and compliant workplace. The position reports to the Director of Facilities and Expansion.

The manager also leads security infrastructure projects and partners with project management, design teams, and internal stakeholders to incorporate security requirements throughout facility planning, design, construction, commissioning, and occupancy. The role manages vendors, integrators, monitoring providers, contractors, and equipment manufacturers, and supports emergency preparedness, crisis management, business continuity, and security response. It monitors security metrics and compliance and prepares leadership reporting while supporting audits and regulatory inspections.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; relevant fields include Criminal Justice, Security Management, Business Administration, Risk Management, Facilities Management, Information Technology, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in physical security, corporate security, facilities security, or a related discipline.
• At least 3 years of experience managing enterprise security systems and vendor relationships.
• Experience supporting physical security programs in multi-site corporate environments.
• Experience with access control systems, CCTV platforms, visitor management, alarm monitoring, and other electronic security technologies.
• Experience conducting security risk assessments and supporting security infrastructure projects.
• Strong project management skills, including managing security infrastructure projects from planning through implementation.
• Ability to manage vendors, contracts, and budgets.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including evaluating physical security risks and developing practical mitigation strategies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate security risks, requirements, and recommendations across organizational levels.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and influence stakeholders across ULRI-ULSE.

Nice To Haves

• Experience within corporate real estate and facilities or laboratory, testing, research, or manufacturing environments.
• Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Physical Security Professional (PSP), Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Certified Facility Manager (CFM), or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve physical security standards, policies, procedures, and programs across the organization.
• Manage physical security systems and technologies, including access control, badge and credential administration, CCTV, intrusion detection, alarms, visitor management, and key control.
• Conduct physical security risk assessments for new and existing facilities; identify threats and vulnerabilities and recommend risk mitigation measures.
• Establish physical security requirements for office, laboratory, and testing environments.
• Lead physical security incident response and investigations involving unauthorized access, theft, workplace violence concerns, vandalism, and other security-related events, coordinating with internal and external partners as appropriate.
• Manage physical security infrastructure projects, including access control upgrades, CCTV deployments, visitor management implementations, security command center enhancements, and new facility security installations.
• Partner with project management, design teams, and internal stakeholders to establish and implement security requirements through facility planning, design, construction, commissioning, and occupancy.
• Manage security vendors, integrators, monitoring providers, contractors, and equipment manufacturers, including scopes of work, service-level performance, budgets, maintenance, and system upgrades.
• Support emergency preparedness, crisis management, business continuity, evacuation planning, and security response during facility emergencies and other significant events.
• Develop and monitor security metrics, dashboards, access audits, incident trends, system performance, and compliance activities.
• Prepare leadership reporting and support internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.
• Contribute to other Real Estate & Facilities and organization-wide initiatives as required.

Benefits

• Bonus compensation based on position level.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
• 401(k) matching of up to 5% of eligible pay.
• Additional 4% investment into the employee retirement savings fund after the first year of continuous employment.
• Depending on the role, flexible working arrangements may be discussed with the manager.
• Paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior