FIFA is looking for a new Director Safety, Security and Access. The present incumbent Helmut Spahn will retire in March 2027.
‘FIFA’ stated that as the organizer of some of the biggest and most iconic sport events in the world FIFA leads the way in the sport and event industry.
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The Position
Key tasks:
- Defining and driving FIFA’s global safety, security, access, and accreditation strategy for the tournaments and the events worldwide;
- Leading and developing the Safety, Security and Access subdivision including the people, the resources, the priorities, and the budgets;
- Acting as a trusted Advisor to the senior leadership on the strategic and the operational security matters;
- Collaborating with the local FIFA Subsidiaries, the Host Associations, the Local Organizing Committees, the public authorities, the venue operators, and the international stakeholders to ensure aligned and effective event security operations;
- Overseeing the development and implementation of the security concepts, the operational plans, the inspections, the assessments, and the risk mitigation measures;
- Continuously reviewing and enhancing FIFA’s security regulations, the standards and the procedures to address the emerging risks and the evolving industry trends;
- Driving collaboration between the public and the private security stakeholders to ensure integrated and effective security delivery;
- Supporting the development of safe, inclusive and accessible football environments through partnerships with the confederations and the other key stakeholders;
- Leading the development, training and supervision of FIFA’s Security Officers network;
- Representing FIFA at the international institutions and forums including organizations such as the United Nations, Interpol, the Council of Europe, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the African Union; and
- Delivering the workshops, the conferences, the training programs, the reports, and the presentations that strengthen the security capabilities across the FIFA ecosystem.
‘FIFA’ further stated that we work hard at FIFA. We are dedicated, ambitious and innovative. And we respect our values. Always. For all roles we seek talented people with an entrepreneurial spirit and a global mindset.
Specific Competencies
The specific competencies we require for this position are:
- A university degree in Law, Security Studies, or a related field, or equivalent police or military education;
- Minimum 15 years of experience in the senior security roles connected to the large-scale international sporting events, ideally within football.
- Extensive expertise in the event security operations, the international security frameworks and the complex risk environments;
- Proven success in leading the large-scale international projects and working effectively with the public and the private security authorities;
- Demonstrated experience in managing and developing the teams in a complex, multicultural environment;
- Strong understanding of football governance, the stakeholder management and the global sports landscape;
- Excellent judgment, decision-making ability and a high level of accountability;
- Resilient, proactive, solution-oriented, and comfortable operating in the fast-paced, high-pressure environments;
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence and engage the senior stakeholders globally;
- Fluent in English, additional language skills, particularly French, Spanish, Arabic, or Portuguese, are highly valued; and
- Willingness to travel internationally as required.
Perks and Benefits
The biggest benefit of a career at FIFA is the privilege to work for the beautiful game and create something that matters.
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Alongside that privilege we also offer some extra perks and benefits:
- Health and Fitness: The regular football sessions for all abilities, plus onsite gym;
- Home Office: Up to two days of home office per week if work permits and home office allowance for all;
- Language Courses: Offered to all the staff to aid personal and professional growth;
- Continuous Learning: FIFA cares about your development and encourage internal mobility and offering a variety of training and education to help achieve it;
- Pension: Flexible pension benefits with generous employer contributions;
- Relocation Assistance: A dedicated team will be on hand to support your relocation;
- Sustainability: FIFA supports all employees using public transport;
- Vacation: Maintain a healthy work/life balance with a generous vacation allowance; and
- Volunteering: Make an impact beyond your regular role and bond with the colleagues by volunteering with one of our partners.
FIFA
FIFA is the global governing body for football. Its vision is to make football truly global, diverse and inclusive for the benefit of the entire world. The last FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar in 2022 attracted more than five billion viewers and the last FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 was the greatest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup™ that inspired millions of girls and women around the globe. The opportunities for growth are exciting.
FIFA is a modern organization with over 800 passionate employees who are Living Football every day. Its headquarters are based in Zürich, Switzerland, and it has offices in Miami (US), Paris (France) and Rabat (Morocco), plus 11 regional offices from New Zealand to India, South Africa, Panama and Paraguay.
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