Associate Director

About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY

Northeastern University seeks an Associate Director, Security Technology to provide senior-level leadership for the design, deployment, governance, and continuous improvement of security technology across its global campus network. This role has enterprise scope and strategic responsibility for physical security systems, infrastructure, and technology standards that support public safety, emergency management, and institutional resilience worldwide.

The Associate Director serves as a subject matter expert and strategic partner to senior safety leadership, facilities, IT, and global campus stakeholders. The role balances strategy, architecture, and governance with operational oversight and complex project execution. This position plays a critical role in shaping the university’s long-term security technology roadmap while ensuring reliable day-to-day performance across diverse domestic and international environments.

This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and decision-making authority and directly influences capital planning, vendor strategy, system standards, and risk reduction efforts across Northeastern’s global footprint.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public safety, information technology, engineering, criminal justice, homeland security, or a related field.

• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in security technology, physical security systems, or enterprise IT environments.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-site or enterprise-scale security technology programs.

• Strong project and program management skills, including capital planning and vendor management.

• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to executive, technical, and non-technical audiences.

• Experience working in highly regulated or complex environments such as higher education, healthcare, research, or large enterprise.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.

• Professional certifications in physical security, project management, or security technology.

• Experience supporting international operations or global campus environments.

• Demonstrated people management and team leadership experience.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Global Program Ownership 30%

• Lead the enterprise security technology program for Northeastern’s global campus network, including CCTV, access control, alarms, emergency phones, radio systems, and emerging security platforms. 

• Define and maintain global standards, architectures, and lifecycle strategies for security technology systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and resilience across all regions. 

• Partner with senior safety, IT, facilities, and international leadership to align security technology strategy with institutional risk, growth, and capital planning priorities. 

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on security technology investments, risk mitigation strategies, and system capabilities.  

Project and Capital Program Management 25%

• Act as the university’s senior security technology project lead for major renovations, new construction, and campus expansions across domestic and international sites.

• Represent public safety interests in design and construction meetings with Facilities, Design and Construction, architects, engineers, and external partners.

• Lead complex, multi-site security technology projects from concept through design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and transition to operations.

• Develop scopes of work, technical specifications, budgets, schedules, and risk assessments for capital and operational projects.

Operational Oversight and System Governance 25% 

• Provide executive oversight of daily security technology operations, ensuring system reliability, compliance, and performance across the global network.

• Establish and enforce governance, testing, maintenance, and audit processes for all security technology systems.

• Serve as system owner and primary administrator for enterprise public safety technology platforms, including servers, networks, and integrations.

• Ensure cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory considerations are embedded into all physical security technology deployments.

Leadership and Cross-Functional Coordination 10%

• Lead and develop security technology staff through clear expectations, mentoring, workload prioritization, and performance management.

• Coordinate work across internal teams, including public safety operations, emergency management, IT, and facilities.

• Manage and oversee external vendors, integrators, and consultants, including performance monitoring and contract compliance.

Training, Consultation, and Stakeholder Engagement 10% 

• Provide expert consultation and technical guidance to public safety leadership, campus partners, and international sites.

• Develop and deliver training, documentation, and operational guidance for security technology users and stakeholders.

• Support emergency response, crisis management, and business continuity efforts through technology readiness and system integration.

Additional Information:

Background Check: A Comprehensive background check is required for this position.

On-Call: This position may need to assume the role of on-call incident leader for domestic emergencies. This position is required to be 24/7 on-call to activate and coordinate identified emergency response teams when appropriate or to activate and coordinate the Emergency Operations Center when required.

Travel: Occasional travel required to NEU sites and campuses in North America and when appropriate, international regions, including to high-threat environments, for site assessment and emergency planning efforts in coordination

with International Safety and Security. In case of a serious emergency, may be expected to travel on short notice.

Position Type

Safety and Security

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

110S

Expected Hiring Range:

$76,335.00 - $107,823.75

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.