Director, Safety & Security (Pakistan)

Director, Safety & Security (Pakistan)

Entity: Aga Khan University (AKU)

Location: Karachi, Pakistan

About the Aga Khan University:

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries distributed across three continents. As an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries in which it exists and has campuses, programs and/or teaching hospitals in Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of impact, quality, relevance and access; and AKU is a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Role Purpose:

The Director, Safety & Security will oversee and lead all safety and security operations across AKU campuses and locations in Pakistan, ensuring a protected, resilient, and compliant environment throughout campuses and facilities. S/he will provide proactive risk mitigation, timely guidance on emerging threats, and trusted guidance to senior leadership and will build effective relationships with key government and law enforcement stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

1) Strategy & Governance:

• Translate the University’s strategic direction into a country safety & security strategy, aligned with global security principles and best practices; standardize core processes and introduce continuous improvements.
• Provide risk based advice to senior leadership; ensure material risks are clearly communicated to senior management and the Board.
• Establish and track KPIs for security operations, investigations, compliance, and emergency preparedness.

2) Operations & Incident Management:

• Oversee all campus safety and security operations nationwide, including guard force management (in house and outsourced), access control, surveillance, and patrols.
• Lead incident response, security investigations, and information gathering; ensure fair, objective, and policy compliant case handling.
• Conduct root cause analyses; implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce recurrence and strengthen controls.
• Coordinate VIP movements and major institutional events with relevant external agencies.

3) Emergency Management, EHS & Compliance:

• Direct Emergency Preparedness, disaster planning, drills, and exercises; serve as focal point for major incidents.
• Ensure compliance with EHS, life safety, and institutional security standards; maintain compliance with ISO/JCIA intents and applicable national laws/regulations.
• Liaise with regulators and authorities to meet legal and regulatory requirements across all sites and hospitals.

4) Stakeholder Engagement & Government Liaison:

• Build and maintain trust based relationships with key government, law enforcement, and civil administration stakeholders; coordinate for law and order information and operational support.
• Coordinate with government entities for visas, work permits, and related clearances for expatriates/repatriates.

5) Security by Design & Projects:

• Partner with design, development, and engineering teams to embed “Security by Design” into refurbishments and new builds, reducing opportunities for crime and enhancing resilience.

6) People, Vendors & Capacity Building:

• Lead and develop security managers and teams; manage vendor performance and third party contracts with strong oversight to minimize legal and operational risk.
• Drive capacity building, succession planning, and professional development in partnership with HR.
• Promote organizational learning and knowledge sharing to uplift security maturity.

Eligibility Criteria / Requirements:

• An officer of the rank of Lt. Col/Col with bachelor’s degree (master’s degree in relevant field desirable); trained in Military Academy with service/specialization in intelligence, or related fields, including extensive complex incident investigation experience.
• Strong military background with minimum 25 years of service and extensive command and strategic management experience.
• Broad experience in Security, Safety, Strategic Management, Project Management, Crisis Management, and Business Continuity Planning
• Proven track record of developing and implementing strategic and operational security solutions.
• Experience of managing budgets and understanding financial management systems.
• Experience leading large in house and outsourced security teams, with strong knowledge of employment legislation and workforce management practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and critical thinking skills.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, integrity, and ability to handle confidential information.
• Effective communication and leadership skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Demonstrated adaptability, creativity, and ability to manage diverse challenges.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

Comprehensive Reference checks will be conducted.