Senior Protective Intelligence Specialist

Vanguard•Malvern, PA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Global Risk and Security (GR&S) at Vanguard enables business strategy, protects client and Vanguard interests (e.g., assets and data), and stewards a strong risk culture. Our teams leverage enterprise-wide insights, deep expertise, and trusted advice so that across Vanguard leaders and crew drive faster, stronger, risk-informed decisions. Within GR&S, the Enterprise Security and Fraud (ES&F) sub-division is responsible for the global protection of Vanguard crew, property, data, and client assets. We are the trusted advisors that protect the pride of Vanguard with state-of-the-art security and fraud capabilities. We are a world-class destination of highly engaged, passionate, and diverse talent expected to continuously learn and develop in an ever-changing security landscape. Our crew are our greatest resource – by joining our team you will build collaborative long-term relationships and enjoy a suite of benefits that includes comprehensive health and wellness care, work-life balance, and an investment in your future at its core.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies, security studies, psychology, criminal justice, international relations, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum five years of related work experience with three years experience in protective intelligence, executive threat assessment, or a closely related security discipline in a corporate setting.
Strong understanding of behavioral threat analysis and pathway to violence frameworks as applied to people protection and executive risk (BTAM, WAVR-21, etc).
Strong open‑source intelligence (OSINT) skills, including the ability to identify, collect, evaluate, and analyze publicly available information to support protective intelligence and threat assessment.
Proven ability to think critically and assess incomplete, ambiguous, or conflicting information.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief senior leaders clearly and calmly.
High ethical standards and discretion when handling sensitive executive and corporate information.

Responsibilities

Protective Intelligence & Behavioral Threat Assessment Identify, collect, and analyze intelligence related to threats against senior executives, including fixation, grievance, insider risk, and targeted hostility.
Conduct behavioral threat assessments focused on executive risk, evaluating indicators of intent, capability, and imminence using structured, evidence‑based industry standard methodologies.
Assess executive exposure related to travel, events, residences, offices, and public appearances.
Monitor open-source, proprietary, and internal data sources to identify emerging or escalating risks to executives and their families.
Produce timely, actionable intelligence products that directly inform executive protection posture, resource allocation, and decision‑making.
Direct Support to Executive Protection Operations Partner closely with executive protection teams to provide intelligence support for executive travel and event security; protective advance planning; elevated threat or crisis situations; instances of inappropriate approaches or communications.
Translate intelligence assessments into clear, operationally relevant recommendations for EP leaders and agents.
Support real-time or near‑real‑time threat monitoring during sensitive executive movements or engagements.
Serve as a trusted intelligence advisor during high-risk situations involving executive leadership.
Behavioral Threat Analysis & Tradecraft Apply strong intelligence tradecraft, including structured analytic techniques, hypothesis testing, bias mitigation, and confidence assessment.
Conduct in‑depth analysis of concerning or otherwise inappropriate communications, online behavior, and other indicators relevant to executive targeting.
Distinguish between credible threats, non‑credible expressions, and noise—providing defensible, well‑reasoned assessments.
Maintain rigorous standards for sourcing, documentation, validation, and analytic transparency.
Program Development & Capability Building Contribute to the design, maturation, and governance of the executive protective intelligence program.
Help develop and refine: threat assessment frameworks and standards; intelligence workflows and escalation protocols; playbooks for executive‑specific threat scenarios; metrics to measure program effectiveness and impact.
Identify gaps in executive threat detection, assessment, or response and propose innovative solutions.
Lead protective intelligence engagements and collaboration with investigations, legal, Crew Relations, and other key internal stakeholders.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement Stay current on emerging threats to executives, including trends in fixation, activism, insider risk, and online targeting.
Explore new tools, data sources, and analytic methods to enhance early detection and assessment of executive threats.
Contribute to a culture of curiosity, learning, and continuous improvement within the Vanguard physical security organization.