Security Manager, Aviation & Maritime

Overall Purpose Of The Job

The Security Manager – Aviation & Maritime (SM-A&M) is the Phoenix-based people and operational manager for the Aviation & Maritime Security team. The role is responsible for leadership, workforce oversight, quality assurance, operational governance, capability development and consistent 24/7 service delivery across the Phoenix-based Coordinating Security Specialist, Security Specialist – Information & Analysis, Aviation Security Editor, and Aviation Security Intelligence & Editorial Supervisor roles.

The SM-A&M is the key professional report and Phoenix interface to the Global Security Manager, Operations – Aviation & Maritime, based in Dubai. The role translates global functional direction into effective local execution and ensures Phoenix operations remain aligned with global Aviation & Maritime priorities, standards, client commitments and follow-the-sun requirements.

The SM-A&M works closely with the GRC Manager on local workforce, administrative, facility, technology and operational matters, and collaborates with International SOS security colleagues globally, notably the Sydney and London Global Threat Monitoring teams.

Key responsibilities

• Provide direct line management and day-to-day leadership for the Phoenix-based Aviation & Maritime Security team, including objectives, conduct, engagement, performance, development and operational readiness.
• Oversee the Phoenix-based Coordinating Security Specialists, Security Specialists – Information & Analysis, Aviation Security Editors, and Aviation Security Intelligence & Editorial Supervisor.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment support, onboarding, role certification, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, performance management and professional development.
• Ensure clear accountability between formal people management and the technical, analytical, editorial and workflow leadership delegated to the Aviation Security Intelligence & Editorial Supervisor and other senior specialists.
• Oversee high-quality 24/7 delivery of aviation and maritime security assessment, advice, assistance, monitoring, alerting, intelligence, editorial, case-coordination and client-support activities.
• In coordination with the GRC Manager, ensure rosters, workload allocation, shift handovers, on-call coverage, leave planning, surge arrangements and business-continuity measures support operational and client requirements.
• Act as the senior Phoenix escalation point for significant incidents, complex client requests, service concerns, quality issues, staffing constraints and operational disruptions.
• Serve as the key professional report and primary Phoenix interface to the Global Security Manager, Operations – Aviation & Maritime in Dubai, maintaining a regular operating cadence for priorities, risks, decisions, performance, resourcing and escalation.
• Implement global Aviation & Maritime functional direction in Phoenix and provide timely local insight to inform global standards, strategy, workforce planning, service development and risk decisions.
• Coordinate closely with the Sydney and London Global Threat Monitoring teams and other International SOS security teams to support follow-the-sun coverage, alerting continuity, shared situational awareness, handovers, escalation and consistent client outcomes.
• Work in close partnership with the GRC Manager to align functional security requirements with Phoenix administrative, workforce, facilities, technology, scheduling, safety and assistance-centre needs.
• Own management oversight of quality assurance, client complaint review, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, lessons learned and continuous improvement across Phoenix security outputs.
• Ensure procedures, work instructions, quick-reference guides, training materials and knowledge resources remain current, controlled, accessible and consistently applied.
• Monitor service metrics, quality trends, case activity, alerting performance, client feedback, staffing capacity and corrective actions; escalate material risks and implement improvements.
• Provide senior aviation and maritime security expertise during client engagements, escalations, briefings, consulting, training, exercises, sales support, service reviews and product discussions as required.
• Participate in or support crisis management, incident management, operational surge activity and post-event reviews when activated or designated.
• Promote a safe, accountable, resilient and client-oriented workplace and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures and occupational health and safety requirements.

Required Skills and Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of aviation security, aviation operations, global security risk, crisis management, intelligence analysis, alerting and client advisory services; maritime security knowledge is desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of 24/7 security operations, follow-the-sun service models, workforce planning, shift operations, escalation management and business continuity.
• Strong people-management capability, including objective setting, coaching, performance management, employee development, difficult conversations and team culture.
• Strong understanding of intelligence and editorial workflows, quality assurance, content-management systems, case management and governance of client-facing security products.
• Ability to translate global functional direction into practical local priorities, operating plans, controls and measurable outcomes.
• Advanced stakeholder-management skills across matrixed, multicultural and geographically distributed teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, briefing, facilitation, negotiation and client-engagement skills.
• Strong digital literacy, including AI, Microsoft 365, reporting tools, case-management systems, content-management systems and collaboration platforms.

Required Competencies

• Leading and developing people
• Operational judgment and decision-making
• Global and cross-functional collaboration
• Client focus and service orientation
• Quality, governance and continuous improvement
• Strategic execution and accountability
• Resilience and composure under pressure
• Cultural awareness and adaptability
• Clear written and verbal communication

Required Work Experience

• Typically 8 or more years of relevant experience in aviation security, aviation operations, intelligence, risk management, crisis management, corporate security, military, law enforcement, government or a comparable operational environment.
• Demonstrated people-management experience in a 24/7, shift-based, security, intelligence, assistance or other time-sensitive operational environment.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams that produce assessments, alerts, intelligence, editorial content, operational advice, case coordination or client-facing security services.
• Experience working across regions and time zones in a matrixed international organization, including coordination with remote functional leadership.
• Experience managing service quality, client escalations, complaints, corrective actions, operational metrics and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Experience supporting crisis or incident management and senior stakeholder decision-making.
• Client-facing, consulting, training, exercise, product or commercial-support experience is desirable.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aviation, security studies, intelligence studies, international relations, risk management, emergency management, business or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Formal leadership or management training is desirable.
• Relevant aviation security, intelligence, crisis management, safety, risk, quality or project-management certifications are advantageous.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality, professional standards and system-access requirements associated with the role.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a global, multicultural and cross-functional team.

Required Languages

• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Additional languages relevant to global operations are advantageous.

Travel / Rotation Requirements

• Domestic and international travel dependent on business needs, normally not exceeding approximately 10% of working time.
• Availability outside standard business hours may be required for significant incidents, urgent escalations, business continuity and leadership support to a 24/7 operation.
• Ability to participate in an on-call or escalation arrangement and to deploy domestically or internationally at short notice when designated.
• Must possess, or be able to obtain, a valid passport.