AirNav - Security Lead (Physical Security Domain)

The Security Lead (Physical Security Domain) is responsible for leading the delivery, implementation, and oversight of all physical security requirements across AirNav Ireland’s operational and critical national infrastructure facilities. The postholder ensures full compliance with the NCASP and all relevant aviation security regulations, leads enterprise-wide threat and risk functions, leads major incident investigations, and drives security resilience and continuous improvement in alignment with national and international best practices.

The post holder will be responsible for the implementation of a fully compliant Security Management System (SeMS) within the physical domain across a large company portfolio of critical national infrastructure sites, facilities, assets and amongst all staff, contractors and visitors. The post holder must ensure that all security activities within the physical security domain are carried out within the scope of the security management system and comply fully with the requirements as defined by related International, European and National regulations.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Compliance Management:

Ensure the compliant implementation of all relevant legal, regulatory, and business/quality standards and ensure compliance is measured, assessed, and continuously improved
Ensure end-to-end implementation of and compliance with the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) in consultation with the Security Manager, identify & communicate changes and establish appropriate processes, policies, and procedures
Ensure the compliance of the company’s Security Management System (SeMS) Programme, identify gaps & improvement opportunities, and proactively mitigate against potential non-compliances
Interpret emerging International, European and National regulatory changes and develop implementation plans
Act as a security advisor to the Security Manager on physical security risk and lead organisational alignment with critical national infrastructure protection frameworks

Threat and Risk Management:

Conduct comprehensive security surveys, inspections, tests, audits and contingency exercises of the company’s facilities, processes, security services and security posture
Lead the integration of aviation threat intelligence feeds and conduct Threat analysis and Risk Assessments (TARA’s) across the company’s portfolio of sites, facilities and assets
Ensure effective threat and risk management processes and procedures are implemented and applied in a consistent manner
Ensure that vulnerability mapping is undertaken, regularly assessed with appropriate mitigations and action plans delivered to eliminate vulnerabilities in so far as is reasonably practicable
Ensure the delivery of both the insider threat strategy & plan and the rolling overall security strategy & plan, provide informed inputs to the future plans and ensure the deliverables are achieved with effective measurement tools applied
Ensure that all facilities, assets and people are protected from acts of unlawful interference and lead key projects focused on enhancing the company’s security infrastructure and posture to an appropriate level
As Lead Threat and Risk Assessor, ensure that all security occurrences are analysed, processed, investigated and reported in a compliant manner with lessons learned identified and effectively communicated
Ensure the full risk assessment programme is completed on an annual basis across all main centres and relevant remote sites with detailed reports, analysis, and risk treatment plans
Conduct regular reviews of the security risk register, ensure the risk profile is managed and ensure communication and alignment with the enterprise risk register
Ensure that appropriate reporting systems and processes are in place including voluntary & confidential reporting systems

Service Delivery:

Enhance the security operational efficiency standards and overall compliance level through appropriate and achievable objectives
Identify appropriate security systems, equipment and solutions which deliver improved security performance, reliability, sustainability, and reporting
Establish processes for determining the maturity of the SeMS programme
Lead the change in security processes, procedures and systems for both planned and unplanned changes in line with change management processes
Establish key contractor service level agreements (SLA), ensure effective ongoing monitoring & reporting on SLA performance
Provide appropriate professional guidance & support for non-security related contractor SLAs to ensure contractor activity is in compliance with security standards
Proactively engage with contract managers from key contracted services, ensure that they are kept informed of relevant regulatory, business and ongoing security requirements.
Ensure that security management plans are provided, assessed and approved for all civil works and that appropriately specified security systems and equipment are defined and adopted for all upgrade works or new civil works at any company facility
Review and approve proposed security management plans for any key events which may have an impact on the security integrity of a facility and ensure security oversight during such or events
Deliver adequate crisis, contingency and emergency response plans, drills & tests and ensure that there are clearly established & tested response protocols and processes which are regularly tested for effectiveness
Implementation of the action and mitigation plans from audits, inspections and test programmes and update the security risk register with validated improved mitigations
Ensure the security Just Culture is effectively communicated and implemented across the company
Provide expert input into security-by-design for security related projects, new infrastructure, upgrades and long-term capital projects.
Ensure technical security systems are fit for purpose, resilient and compliant to continuously protect the company against acts of unlawful interference.

Culture, Communications and Training:

Support the implementation of the Security Culture programme among all staff, visitors and contractors
Support the development of the annual security communications strategy and plan
Support the development of the annual training programme and ensure that all relevant training (regulatory and non-regulatory) is identified, scheduled and delivered effectively
Develop computer-based training modules for management, staff and contractors
Ensure that contractors have appropriate security induction and awareness
Ensure that the security accountabilities and responsibilities are clearly communicated and understood by all relevant persons within the company and ensure that audit processes are in place to assess effectiveness
Improve the security culture across the company among staff, visitors, and contractors with demonstratable measures of effectiveness
Coordinate and assume the role of secretary at the respective SeMS Committee and Security Risk Group (SRG) meetings along with other fora and groups as required
Attend external security partner meetings including law enforcement, airport security, key contract partner meetings and represent the company as a key liaison point of contact
Establish beneficial partnerships, identify collaboration opportunities, and cost efficiency planning including industry lead performance improvements with manufactures, suppliers, service providers and contractors etc through supplier architecture standardisation and other effective approaches

General Duties:

Deputise for the Security Manager as required and supervise any support resources
Provide ongoing briefings to the Security Manager to ensure that important information is shared in a timely manner
Conduct performance appraisals of support staff and coordinate leave and related training/work related activities
Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures, health & safety regulations, data protection, records management, and security protocols in line with the related role and tasks
Attend technical, general, soft skills, Health & Safety and Security related training courses
Prepare executive level reports, dashboards and briefings as required.
Other duties as may be required by the Security Manager, Safety Director or the business

Reports To: Security Manager
Direct Reports: Relevant Security Management System (SeMS) Team Members

RELATIONSHIPS
Internal: In addition to direct reporting relationships above the post holder is required to liaise with all personnel and Directorates in the company.
External: The postholder is required to liaise with all appropriate external bodies, providers, suppliers, and companies.

PERSON SPECIFICATON
Essential:

A third level qualification in a business, security or risk related discipline is essential
Previous experience in a senior Security Lead role or similar for a minimum period of 3 years preferably in aviation security, state security, military security, policing or critical national infrastructure protection
Proven experience and competency in risk management processes
A strong knowledge of the International, European and National security regulatory requirements
Must have a high level of integrity, be efficient, reliable, trustworthy, discrete, flexible as well as professional in appearance
Proven track record in the enhancement of security efficiency standards, process, and performance improvement in compliance with regulatory obligations
Effective analytical skills, experience in occurrence management and incident response
Effective communication, organisational, interpersonal, multi-tasking, timekeeping, report writing and ICT (SharePoint & MS Office suite) skills
Must have the ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels both internally and externally, multi-task and meet deadlines whilst working calmly under pressure
Ability to effectively work on own initiative, make well considered decisions, prioritise effectively, be practical in approach and engage professionally and courteously with others

Desirable:

Experience in the effective development and efficient delivery of security training programmes to a range of personnel at varying levels
Experience leading incident/occurrence investigations including multi-agency investigations with a recognised qualification
Experience liaising with government departments, national police services, intelligence agencies or aviation authorities
Direct experience in the implementation and or delivery of a SeMS programme is desirable
Experience in an aviation related entity is desirable
Experience of integrated management systems is desirable
Qualification in risk assessment is desirable
Effective audit management skills and related experience is desirable
Effective project management skills with previous experience are desirable

How to Apply
Applications (Cover letter & CV), giving full details of experience and suitability for the position, should be emailed to the Human Resources Directorate at [email protected] no later than 16:00hrs on Friday 6^th February 2026.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must have the right to work and live in the EU.

AirNav Ireland is an Equal Opportunity Employer