Director, Physical Security

What You’ll Do

The Director of Physical Security is responsible for protecting Samsung Semiconductor’s people, intellectual property, and high-value assets across all U.S. DSA facilities. This includes the leadership of our Secure Zone R&D environments, which operate at TSA-level security standards to protect next-generation semiconductor research and classified development projects.

Reporting to the Head of Information Security, the Director will lead a unified, high-performance organization that fuses physical, information, and operational security into a single, mission-driven capability. This leader must embody the DSA Security Group’s philosophy of “lead by example” — demonstrating integrity, discipline, and mentorship to guide a blended workforce of vendor officers, contractors, and internal professionals toward excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-layered physical security strategy that protects personnel, intellectual property, and facilities while enabling innovation and operational agility.
• Lead all physical security programs across U.S. operations, including San Jose HQ, regional offices, and high-security R&D sites.
• Maintain TSA-level access and screening procedures, credentialing protocols, and visitor management systems for controlled facilities.
• Build a long-term vision that integrates physical, cyber, and insider-risk protection within DSA’s “Fusion Security” model.
• Establish measurable objectives and KPIs for readiness, performance, and risk reduction across all physical security domains.
• Partner with Engineering, Facilities, HR, EHS, Legal, and IT to align security programs with business operations, compliance mandates, and employee experience.

Operations & Technology

• Oversee 24/7 security operations, including access control, command center, incident response, and emergency management across all sites.
• Ensure Secure Zone operations adhere to DS-Korea and Korean Government Core Technology protection requirements for restricted access and controlled environments.
• Drive modernization of security infrastructure, integrating smart surveillance, AI-driven analytics, and automation to enhance efficiency and threat detection.
• Lead continuous readiness reviews, drills, and crisis simulations for executive leadership and site teams.
• Integrate operational data into DSA’s Fusion Center to enable real-time situational awareness across physical and cyber domains.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments covering personnel, facility, and supply-chain security across the enterprise.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., California SB 553, OSHA, DHS CFATS as applicable).
• Manage relationships with law enforcement, intelligence, and emergency services to maintain coordinated response and threat intelligence sharing.
• Lead DSA’s Workplace Violence Prevention and Incident Management Program, ensuring consistent reporting, action, and training across all sites.

Leadership, Mentorship & Team Development

• Lead by example, setting the standard for professionalism, accountability, and service excellence.
• Build a mission-driven, high-performance team culture that blends vendor security officers, contract staff, and internal employees into a unified and motivated workforce.
• Provide hands-on mentorship, coaching, and professional development to elevate team performance and career growth.
• Cultivate a culture of trust, continuous improvement, and cross-discipline collaboration between physical and information security.
• Promote safety awareness, proactive communication, and readiness as core values across the organization.

Financial & Project Management

• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets for all physical security programs and technology initiatives.
• Lead major projects, including Secure Zone buildouts, facility expansions, and security technology upgrades.
• Apply structured project management frameworks to ensure disciplined planning, risk control, and transparent reporting.
• Drive cost optimization through strategic sourcing, vendor performance management, and automation.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Security Management, Criminal Justice, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years of progressive experience in corporate security or critical infrastructure protection, with at least 5 years in senior leadership.
• Experience in high-security or classified environments (TSA, DoD, or CMMC-compliant operations) strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor diverse teams, including contractors and third-party service providers.
• Deep knowledge of physical security technologies, operations centers, and systems integration.
• Exceptional judgment, communication, and crisis leadership under pressure.
• Certifications strongly preferred: CPP, PSP, PMP, CISM, or CISSP.
• Lead from the front—visible, accountable, and mission-focused.
• Mentor future leaders within the team to build long-term capability.
• Build an inclusive, performance-oriented culture where every officer, contractor, and staff member understand their role in protecting innovation.
• Inspire excellence through trust, discipline, and shared purpose.

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