Middle East Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager

Role Overview

Middle East Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager at Air Products, based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Company Overview

Founded in 1940, Air Products is a world-leading industrial gases company with a history of innovation and operational excellence. The company operates a mature Industrial Gases business, an expanding Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) portfolio delivered through the Project Delivery Organization, and a diverse portfolio of Joint Ventures across the Middle East region.

Role Purpose

The Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager serves as Air Products' primary operational security interface with Joint Venture partners within Saudi Arabia. The role ensures security arrangements are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved in line with host nation regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and industry best practice. This is a hands-on operational position requiring direct engagement with Joint Venture leadership, site teams, and third-party security providers to identify gaps, implement corrective actions, and build effective, sustainable security capability.

Key Responsibilities

Joint Venture & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the operational security interface with Joint Venture partners within Saudi Arabia, ensuring security arrangements are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved in line with host nation regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and industry best practice.
• Engage directly with Joint Venture leadership, site teams, and third-party security providers to identify gaps, implement corrective actions, and mentor teams in building effective and sustainable security capability.
• Work alongside partners to achieve compliance rather than simply identifying deficiencies.
• Build, maintain, and sustain effective, credible, and professional working relationships with internal functions, Joint Venture partners, service providers, and host-nation stakeholders to support collaboration, trust, and effective security outcomes.
• Act as a central coordination point across internal functions (Facilities, Engineering, Projects, Legal, Safety, HR) to ensure integrated and aligned security delivery.

Operations & Incident Management

• Provide governance and oversight of the Monitoring & Response Centre (MaRC), ensuring effective monitoring, response, and operational discipline.
• Routinely act as the incident leader for security incidents, business disruptions, and crisis situations.
• Support senior leadership during the escalation and management of significant events.
• Directly engage in CCTV and alarm monitoring, access control systems, communications dispatch, and on-site security coordination when required, demonstrating leadership by example during both routine operations and elevated threat conditions.
• Ensure all security incidents managed through the Monitoring & Response Centre (MaRC) are accurately reported, documented, retained, and suitable for escalation and briefing to business leadership and key stakeholders.

Security Process & Governance

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of security and incident response processes, ensuring consistent application across Joint Ventures in coordination with the Regional Risk, Crisis & Security Manager and the Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC).
• Provide governance and oversight of the badge management and access control program, ensuring appropriate controls, auditability, and compliance across the assigned security network.
• Ensure consistent and impartial application of Air Products security policies, standards, and procedures by all security personnel and service providers.
• Handle sensitive, classified, and business-critical security information with absolute discretion and integrity, ensuring compliance with Air Products' confidentiality requirements, legal obligations, and data protection standards.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and manage third-party security provider performance, including attendance, timesheet validation, KPI scorecards, and enforcement of service level agreements where required.
• Oversee deployed third-party security personnel, ensuring effective monitoring, response, and operational discipline.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance security effectiveness, operational resilience, and cost efficiency, including the optimisation of physical security technologies and operational workflows.

Regulatory & Authority Management

• Manage engagement with governmental and regulatory authorities, coordinating inspections, addressing findings, and tracking corrective actions to closure in a timely and sustainable manner.

Project Support

• Support capital project security delivery, acting as the primary deputy to the Project Security Manager for the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project until asset transfer.

Strategic Partnership

• Partner closely with site leadership and employees to anticipate risks, strengthen preparedness, and embed a strong security culture, with a clear objective of protecting Air Products' people, assets, reputation, and long-term investments within Saudi Arabia.
• Act as the Arabic-speaking deputy from a governance, Joint Venture, and host-nation engagement perspective when required, supporting the Regional Global Asset Protection Leader who retains strategic oversight of regional security.

Qualifications & Experience

Mandatory

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in security operations, security management, risk, or crisis response within an industrial, energy, infrastructure, public sector, or commercial environment.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (Security Management, Risk Management, Business Continuity, Project Management) or equivalent proven professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in operational security leadership, including incident management or incident command, supervising teams or service providers, and managing performance and contributing to individual capability development.
• Practical knowledge of physical security fundamentals, including contract security guard management, incident reporting and response, and workplace and site security controls.
• Proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive security information with discretion, integrity, and sound professional judgement.
• Experience working effectively in a multicultural and matrixed business environment, with the flexibility to collaborate across functions and locations.

Desirable

• Direct experience supporting or engaging with Joint Venture partners, government entities, or multi-stakeholder operating models.
• Demonstrated involvement in security process improvement, assurance activities, or operational standardisation, beyond day-to-day supervision.
• Experience coordinating with regulatory or governmental authorities, including inspections, corrective actions, and compliance follow-up.
• Exposure to project or construction-phase security, particularly within large capital projects or asset transfer environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Fluent English (written and spoken) with the ability to prepare professional reports, brief leadership, and participate effectively in incident and operational communications.
• Working proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, sufficient for reporting, tracking actions, and performance monitoring.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, operate effectively under ambiguity, and adapt to changing risk conditions.
• Sound judgement, cultural awareness, and the ability to operate effectively across organizational and external boundaries.

Additional Information

• The role operates within a complex, multi-business environment encompassing a mature Industrial Gases business, an expanding EPC portfolio, and a diverse portfolio of Joint Ventures.
• The position has a direct impact on the safety, security, and resilience of Air Products' workforce, as well as the protection of critical assets and long-term investments.
• The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and requires regular interaction with senior internal stakeholders, Joint Venture leadership, external service providers, and host-nation authorities.
• Reference #LI-LG1