Head of Physical Security Operations (Americas)

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

About the Role

Cadence is seeking an experienced and highly capable Head of Physical Security Operations (Americas) to lead all physical security operations across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. This leader will serve as the primary regional point of contact for all security matters in the Americas—including physical security operations, risk management, incident response, insider threat coordination, workplace violence prevention, and security support for high-security engineering environments.

In addition to regional oversight, the selected candidate will assume global program leadership for one strategic domain—such as Risk Assessments, Executive Protection, Event Security, Security Design Standards, or Travel Risk. This ensures the individual contributes both to high-quality local execution and global strategic impact.

This role is critical to maintaining the safety, continuity, and resiliency of Cadence’s most mature and operationally significant region.
 

Key Responsibilities

Regional Leadership & Ownership

• Serve as the senior-most Global Security authority for the Americas region, acting as the direct POC for site leaders, HR, Legal, Workplace, IT, Engineering, and executive offices.
• Lead the development and implementation of a risk-informed, scalable physical security program across corporate offices, R&D facilities, customer-facing centers, labs, and executive sites.
• Conduct ongoing threat, vulnerability, and geopolitical assessments informed by U.S. regulatory conditions, crime trends, supply chain considerations, protest activity, and critical-infrastructure risks.
• Ensure compliance with state, federal, and local regulatory requirements, while aligning regional processes with global security standards.
• Support corporate initiatives involving acquisitions, expansions, and real estate strategy.
   

Operational Excellence & Incident Response

• Oversee daily security operations across all regional sites, including access control, guard force performance, incident tracking, visitor management, video surveillance, alarm systems, and emergency response protocols.
• Serve as incident commander for major events—including workplace violence, threats, natural disasters, protests, cyber-physical convergence incidents, and executive-level escalations.
• Drive partnership with the Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) to ensure real-time monitoring, accurate intelligence flow, and rapid response to events.
• Manage and refine emergency preparedness, business continuity alignment, and crisis communication workflows within the region.
   

Global Program Leadership

(Assigned based on candidate strengths)
Examples include:

• Global Risk Assessment Program – methodology, tooling, cadence, governance
• Executive Protection Program – planning, protection standards, risk monitoring
• Event Security Program – global protocols, vendor selection, site security design
• Security Design & Standards – for all global expansions and new-build projects
• Travel Risk & Duty of Care – tools, intelligence, protocols, emergency support
• Insider Threat – Physical Layer – coordination with HR, Legal, IT, and Ethics
   

Responsibilities include:

• Develop global frameworks, SOPs, standards, KPIs, and reporting structures.
• Lead global working groups, partnering with other regional security leaders.
• Present program updates to executive stakeholders with clear roadmaps and metrics.
• Use an “AI-first mindset” to embed automation, analytics, and efficiency into all program elements.
• Continuously mature global governance and operational integration.
   

Cross-Functional & Executive Engagement

• Advocate for security priorities with executive teams, engineering leadership, and strategic business partners.
• Collaborate closely with HR, Legal, Ethics, Workplace Services, IT, and Business Continuity to align policies, investigations, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide security support and planning for executive meetings, board meetings, customer summits, and high-visibility events.
• Participate in real estate planning and design reviews for new sites and major renovations.
   

People Leadership & Vendor Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Americas-based security managers, supervisors, and contracted personnel.
• Manage regional budgets, cost optimization strategies, vendor performance, and contract compliance.
• Drive high standards of professionalism, accountability, and service delivery across all third-party partners.
• Build a culture that emphasizes integrity, collaboration, urgency, and operational excellence.
   

Qualifications

Required

• 12+ years of progressive security leadership experience in large-scale corporate security, law enforcement, military, intelligence, or high-tech environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-site or multi-country security operations.
• Strong crisis management, emergency response, and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Proven track record in building security programs (not just maintaining operations).
• Strong understanding of access control, CCTV, SOC operations, visitor systems, and integration technologies.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to brief executive leaders and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
   

Preferred

• Experience supporting R&D labs, engineering environments, semiconductor facilities, or high-security IP-sensitive operations.
• Certifications such as CPP, PSP, CFE, CTM, ICS/EM training, or equivalent.
• Experience owning or contributing to a global security program in a multinational environment.
• Familiarity with North American and LATAM risk landscapes, labor laws, security regulations, and compliance frameworks.

Why This Role Matters

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Lead physical security for Cadence’s largest and most complex operating region.
• Shape and own a global program that elevates security standards worldwide.
• Protect mission-critical innovation that powers the modern semiconductor, AI, and systems-design ecosystem.
• Play a key role in building a world-class, future-proof global security organization.

The annual salary range for California is $161,000 to $299,000. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.

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