Senior Security Specialist - Headquarters Security Program

Senior Security Specialist - Headquarters Security Program Job #: req34100 Organization: World Bank Sector: General Services Grade: GG Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 9/3/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).  It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.   

Headquarters (HQ) Senior Security Specialist

The position of Headquarters Senior Security Specialist (SSS) is established in Corporate Security, Global Corporate Solutions, and reports to the Manager, Corporate Security. The HQ SSS is responsible for overseeing the operational security program at the World Bank Group Headquarters (HQ) campus in Washington, DC, and the Corporate Liaison Office in New York City. The main components of the program include security incident prevention, preparedness, and response, 24/7 guard force operations conducting security access control and incident response, the visitor pass and ID Office, , security systems and CCTV, security incident case analysis, the Headquarters Command Center (HQCC), security risk assessment and analysis, and event security.

The HQ SSS supervises the HQ Security Service, comprised of a team of HQ Security Specialists who oversee the day-to-day management of the security program. The incumbent serves as the Contract Manager overseeing the following contracts: 1. HQ Guard Force (200 personnel comprised of armed Special Police Officers [SPOs], unarmed Security Officers, Fire Marshals, security systems engineers, and the ID Office), 2. Headquarters Command Center (HQCC) consisting of 14 watch personnel, and 3. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Hemorrhage Control Kits Global Services Program.

The success of the Operational Security Program for World Bank Group HQ relies on actively maintaining close working relationships with an array of internal clients, including various units within Global Corporate Solutions and other Corporate functions, Corporate Secretariat, Member State Executive Directors and Advisors, and the WBG Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Equally important to this success is an active network of external stakeholders, including local and federal law enforcement agencies operating in the Washington metropolitan area, the IMF, and other international organizations based in Washington and New York.

NOTE: Depending on business need, the successful candidate may be included in Corporate Security’s GG Supervisor global duty station rotation after a period of three to four years. 

Responsibilities

Operational Security Program Oversight
• Supervise the team of Security Specialists responsible for implementing security risk management at the World Bank Group’s Headquarters campus in Washington DC and New York City.
• Coordinate the security arrangements for large, ad hoc events at the Headquarters campus, and for the Annual and Spring Meetings (see below).
• Leverage industry best practices to maintain optimal of programmatic effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the development, implementation, testing, and continuous improvement of comprehensive security, safety, and incident management plans for WBG HQ in line with the Corporate Security Management Team’s guidance.
• Oversee all components of the Operational Security Program, including security access control (via the Visitor Pass and ID Office), fire life safety, electronic security systems and CCTV, security incident case analysis, executive protection, and the HQCC.
• Evaluate and continuously improve the effectiveness of physical security measures, including emergency preparedness, business continuity, crisis management, disaster recovery, and facility evacuation planning.
• Manage the team’s preparation of and updates to security risk assessments for WBG HQ, including assessments for conferences, meetings, and VIP visits, when necessary. 
• Security Program Components:
o HQ Security Guard Contract: Manage all aspects of the HQ Security and Fire Life Safety Services contract as the designated Contract Manager. This includes regular engagement with WBG Procurement to ensure that the vendor complies with quality assurance requirements in accordance with the contract.
o Direct quality assurance and operational audit mechanisms to measure and monitor vendor compliance for service delivery, client satisfaction, and financial performance.
o Incident Reporting and Due Diligence: Ensure appropriate fact-finding is conducted to examine security incidents impacting WBG personnel, assets and operation, to include threat activities, missing items, scams and damage to WBG property.
o Immediately notify and refer any security incident to the Ethics and Internal Justice Service Vice-Presidency when initial fact-finding indicates that a staff member may be involved in misconduct.  
o Oversee security reporting and documentation component of the WBG Asset Management System as it pertains to lost or stolen WBG assets.
o Headquarters Command Center Program: Oversee the designated HQ security specialist in management of the Headquarters Command Center (HQCC) contract vendor to ensure that plans and procedures are in place in its mission to provide a safe and secure environment for WBG personnel and guests at WBG HQ facilities.
o Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Global Services Program: In collaboration with the WBG Health Services Directorate, oversee the designated HQ security specialist in management of the AED Equipment and Bleeding Control Kits Global Services Program contract vendor to ensure the installation of necessary equipment at all WBG HQ buildings and country offices, and the service management program is established at each location to track equipment-readiness verification inspections.           

Annual/Spring Meetings and Major Event Security Coordination
• Act as the WBG Event Security Coordinator for the WBG/IMF Annual and Spring Meetings (AM/SM) while overseeing the entire team’s activities in managing the implementation of the security program throughout the Meetings.
• Serve as the senior liaison between Corporate Security and Corporate Secretariat on all event security matters.
• Oversee the production of thorough event security risk assessments and develop specialized security procedures for the AM/SM.
• Coordinate the relationship with IMF HQ Security to achieve consistency of risk management implementation, including the establishment of the AM/SM perimeter and managing access control for staff, meeting attendees, and VIPs.
• Liaise with host country authorities (e.g., U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, U.S Department of State Diplomatic Security, Metropolitan Police Department, DC Fire and EMS, DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency) to secure event venues, support crisis management, and ensure emergency response readiness.

Security Monitoring and Policy Advisory
• Oversee the Security Specialist team’s situational awareness of security-related trends in Washington, DC, and New York City.
• Capitalize on relationships with U.S. government and security agencies to obtain, process, and report to Corporate Security management on relevant security developments and to take the lead in seeking agency support for WBG facilities and staff as directed. 
• Maintain open communication with WBG senior management and the Emergency Management Team (EMT) via the Manager/Chief Security Officer to transmit information on unfolding significant security events, ongoing risk assessments.
• Advise the Corporate Security Management Team on policy, governance, and the implementation of security access control procedures under the WBG Policies and Procedures Framework.
• Oversee periodic revisions of the WBG Procedure – Security Access Control at WBG Headquarters and provide recommendations for improvements in fire life safety, crisis management, and overall operational security.

Stakeholder Engagement and External Coordination
• Actively engage with a broad array of stakeholders, including internal clients (Global Corporate Solutions, Corporate Secretariat, Member State Executive Directors and Advisors, WBG SLT) and external partners (host country authorities, international organizations, diplomatic missions).
• Establish new and maintain existing relationships with local and federal authorities, police, fire services, and other security agencies to facilitate the provision of protective measures.
• Coordinate joint security operations and determine threat levels, in collaboration with host country counterparts, to implement appropriate protection measures for visiting Heads of State/Government and high-level officials.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree with 8 years of relevant experience or a bachelor’s degree in combination with 10 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree. A career level diploma (at least 3 consecutive years of training) from a military or police institution, college, or academy may on an exceptional basis substitute for a bachelor's degree, combined with ten years of command experience or equivalent experience outside the military or police.
• Experience in major event security coordination, to include coordination of threat monitoring, mitigation measure implementation, and client/organizer engagement.
• Track record of successfully managing security guard contracts at large, multi-building institutional campus, including a multi-stage procurement bid process.
• Demonstrated knowledge of industry best practices and innovation in large, multi-building office facilities security management.
• Track record of maintaining constructive working relationships with both internal, corporate stakeholders (including non-Security senior stakeholders) and external partners.
• Fluency in written and oral English. 
• In-depth knowledge of the institutional, political, and sociocultural dynamics that drive the security challenges facing the WBG in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
• Demonstrated successful experience in managing relationships between senior institutional stakeholders (Board of Directors-level) and Corporate Security, with positive outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience with operational planning to effectively plan, direct, organize and coordinate diverse activities to ensure effective delivery of a work program.
• Track record of excellent interpersonal and people management skills, with ability to interact effectively with high performing teams of security professionals.
• Demonstrated capacity to persuasively communicate threats and risk mitigation to non-security professionals including senior management. Confirmed capacity to develop and socialize security responses to protect staff and assets in operations in increasingly hostile environments.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.