Global Head of Physical Security Field Operations (f/m/d)

We help the world run better
At SAP, we keep it simple: you bring your best to us, and we'll bring out the best in you. We're builders touching over 20 industries and 80% of global commerce, and we need your unique talents to help shape what's next. The work is challenging – but it matters. You'll find a place where you can be yourself, prioritize your wellbeing, and truly belong. What's in it for you? Constant learning, skill growth, great benefits, and a team that wants you to grow and succeed. 

As the Global Head of Physical Security Field Operations (f/m/d), you are responsible for developing and enhancing SAP’s Global Physical Security vision, mission and strategy on a global level. This will include aligning all regions to the same regulatory, certification, and audit compliance standards, to oversee entire organizational budget on a global level and to manage the tactical and operational side of physical security operations.

What you’ll build

• Accountable for decision making with a very high level of regulatory, compliance, financial, and brand impact and/or a very high complexity of work and life safety.

• Accountable for customer engagement, knowledge management, quality assurance and organizational learning. Transfer the relevant knowledge across organizational boundaries.
• As this role is an executive role with both internal, and often customer facing exposure, it is expected that you maintain the highest level of professionalism in all activities to represent the organization internally and externally, while serving as a trusted advisor and ambassador for SAP and affiliated companies.
• Manage security program areas related to the efficiency of the financial, operational and overall compliance of the organization. Improve the effectiveness of the organization and its processes.
• Possess deep understanding of their industry and identify and collect key market information/trends and apply to the organization/processes.
• Serve as mentor/coach/thought leader.
• Accountable for successful and consistent delivery of multiple programs, projects, crisis response and travel security case management up and down the organization.
• Manage relationships with global, regional and local senior management as well as internal and external service providers and business partners.
• Understand and able to convey to team members and business stakeholders the purpose of physical security policies.
• Navigate a large global corporate landscape to drive increased security compliance, both from a policy and operational execution perspective.
• Listen, understand, and navigate unique security challenges, as well as global and country specific compliance requirements.

• Establish and manage key business relationships within SAP, including senior leaders across Facilities, Security, HR, IT, Line of Business and other areas.

• General understanding of the value of technology investments in physical security, and ability to partner and help drive Global Security Operations into a defined technology strategy with the respective SLT leaders.

• Leader of processes and interfaces across organizational boundaries inside and outside of Global Physical Security management that relates to area of responsibility.
• This role requires a data driven leader, capable of achieving operational excellence by providing best practices, problem solving, and guidance/leadership for improvements related to complex matters within his / her area of responsibility.
• Area of responsibility is Global, and the role serves as part of the Global Physical Security, Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
• Develop and provide reporting to in-line and executive management related to KPIs, SLAs and other internal and external goals/objectives/programs.
• Responsible for hiring and development of talent for the future of the organization.
• Conduct performance/salary management and all matters related to people management.
• This role is typically accountable for 8-12 direct reports and a significant number of indirect reports, contract personnel, and third-party suppliers.
• Area 1: Develop main strategy for organization on global level
  • Serve as a full-time member of the Field Operations Security Program Area (SPA) working group.
  • Serve as consulted member of several governance development workgroups which may include intelligence, investigations, crisis management and travel security, events and personnel protection, awareness and enablement, and applications and technology.
• Area 2: Oversee entire organizational budget on a global level.
• Area 3: Manage the tactical and operational side of Physical Security Field Operations on a global level.
  • Oversee 24/7/365 SOC staffing and operations responsible for regional alarm monitoring, response and communications.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in higher education certificates required, master’s degree or equivalent preferred.

• Very good understanding of security operations and SOC framework.

• Extraordinary communication skills; sense for urgency and excellent communication skills for executive communication.

• Ability to handle stress and perform during emergency situations.
• Fluent English language skills and working knowledge (reading, writing, spoken) knowledge of German. Additional languages considered a bonus, e.g., Portuguese or Spanish.
• Solution-oriented working mentality.

• Established network as well as established contacts to relevant operations or other providers/networks.

• Ability to present and discuss Operational Security topics with executive management, SAP customers and auditors.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years working experience in Global Corporate Security or a combination of equivalent experience (military, law enforcement, private security, etc.)
• Experience with large scale security operations in a multinational cloud company environment required.
• Very good understanding of cloud environment requirements, data center security, and physical security.
• Experience with external providers/networks or comparable organizations required.
• Membership on advanced level in professional body (e.g. ASIS, OSAC) preferred.

Where you belong

The Global Physical Security Field Operations Team is part of the Global Physical Security organization. The Global Physical Security Team is part of the SAP Global Security organization within the Office of the Customer Service & Delivery (CS&D) board area of SAP.

Bring out your best
SAP innovations help more than four hundred thousand customers worldwide work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, SAP has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end business application software and related services for database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. As a cloud company with two hundred million users and more than one hundred thousand employees worldwide, we are purpose-driven and future-focused, with a highly collaborative team ethic and commitment to personal development. Whether connecting global industries, people, or platforms, we help ensure every challenge gets the solution it deserves. At SAP, you can bring out your best.  

We win with inclusion
SAP’s culture of inclusion, focus on health and well-being, and flexible working models help ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can run at their best. At SAP, we believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company, and we invest in our employees to inspire confidence and help everyone realize their full potential. We ultimately believe in unleashing all talent and creating a better world.

SAP is committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provides accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAP and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to Recruiting Operations Team: Careers@sap.com.

For SAP employees: Only permanent roles are eligible for the SAP Employee Referral Program, according to the eligibility rules set in the SAP Referral Policy. Specific conditions may apply for roles in Vocational Training.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity,  gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local legal requirements.

Successful candidates might be required to undergo a background verification with an external vendor.

We are ethical and compliant
Our leadership credo: Do what’s right. Make SAP better for generations to come. We believe that great leadership extends far beyond the mere pursuit of business goals. We value and foster leadership that is driven with purpose and integrity. Our leaders are role models who uphold SAP’s values and shape SAP’s culture of integrity, by demonstrating and championing ethical and compliant behavior towards all stakeholders.

AI Usage in the Recruitment Process

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Please note that any violation of these guidelines may result in disqualification from the hiring process.

Requisition ID: 445232  | Work Area: Administration  | Expected Travel: 0 - 40%  | Career Status: Management  | Employment Type: Regular Full Time   | Additional Locations:  #LI-Hybrid