Middle East Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager

At Air Products, we reimagine what’s possible. By tapping into the motivation of our people and our collective experience, we create the ideas and innovations that drive us forward. When we come together – where every voice is heard and everyone knows they belong and matter – we create solutions that launch people into space, support lifesaving care in hospitals, and enable the construction of groundbreaking, world scale production facilities.

Reimagine What’s Possible 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager serves as Air Products’ primary operational security interface with Joint Venture partners within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ensuring security arrangements are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved in line with host nation regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and industry best practice.

This is a highly hands‑on operational role, requiring active involvement in day‑to‑day security operations rather than passive oversight. The position demands direct engagement with Joint Venture leadership, site teams, and third‑party security providers to identify gaps, implement corrective actions, and mentor teams in building effective, sustainable security capability. The role is expected to work alongside partners to achieve compliance, not merely highlight deficiencies.

The Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager has additional responsibility for the Monitoring & Response Centre (MaRC) and oversight of deployed third‑party security personnel, ensuring effective monitoring, response, and operational discipline. The role routinely acts as the incident leader for security incidents, business disruptions, and crisis situations and supports senior leadership during the escalation and management of significant events.

Operational credibility is central to the role. When required, the Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager will directly engage in CCTV and alarm monitoring, access control systems, communications dispatch, and on‑site security coordination, demonstrating leadership by example during both routine operations and elevated threat conditions.

The role partners closely with site leadership and employees to anticipate risks, strengthen preparedness, and embed a strong security culture, with a clear objective of protecting Air Products’ people, assets, reputation, and long‑term investments within Saudi Arabia.

While strategic oversight of regional security remains with the Regional Global Asset Protection Leader, this role acts as the Arabic‑speaking deputy from a governance, Joint Venture, and host‑nation engagement perspective when required.

NATURE AND SCOPE

The Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager is responsible for the operational management, governance, and continuous improvement of security operations supporting Air Products’ Joint Ventures and assets within Saudi Arabia. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and requires regular interaction with senior internal stakeholders, Joint Venture leadership, external service providers, and host‑nation authorities.

The position has accountability for the effective delivery of security operations, incident response, and service provider performance, with direct impact on the protection of people, assets, reputation, and investments.

DIMENSIONS:

Air Products’ Middle East operations represent a strategic growth market, encompassing a mature Industrial Gases business, an expanding Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) portfolio delivered through the Project Delivery Organization, and a diverse portfolio of Joint Ventures operating across the Region.

The Security Operations & Joint Venture Manager operates within a complex, multi‑business environment, requiring regular engagement with internal functions, Joint Venture partners, project teams, contractors, and host‑nation stakeholders. The role supports both operational assets and major capital projects, often within high‑risk or rapidly evolving security environments.

The position has a direct impact on the safety, security, and resilience of Air Products’ workforce, as well as the protection of critical assets and long‑term investments, requiring sound judgement, cultural awareness, and the ability to operate effectively across organizational and external boundaries.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

This position is accountable for the following end results:

• Professional Stakeholder Relationships
  Build, maintain, and sustain effective, credible, and professional working relationships with internal functions, Joint Venture partners, service providers, and host‑nation stakeholders, supporting collaboration, trust, and effective security outcomes.
• Confidentiality and Information Stewardship
  Handle sensitive, classified, and business‑critical security information with absolute discretion and integrity, ensuring compliance with Air Products’ confidentiality requirements, legal obligations, and data protection standards.
• Operational Effectiveness in a Complex Environment
  Demonstrate the ability to manage multiple priorities, operate effectively under ambiguity, and adapt to changing risk conditions, while working collaboratively within cross‑functional and multi‑stakeholder environments to achieve security objectives.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the operational security interface with Joint Venture partners within Saudi Arabia, ensuring security arrangements are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved in line with host nation regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and industry best practice. This includes direct engagement with Joint Venture leadership, site teams, and third‑party security providers to identify gaps, implement corrective actions, and mentor teams in building effective and sustainable security capability, working alongside partners to achieve compliance rather than simply identifying deficiencies.
• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of security and incident response processes, ensuring consistent application across Joint Ventures in coordination with the Regional Risk, Crisis & Security Manager and the Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC).
• Ensure all security incidents managed through the Monitoring & Response Centre (MaRC) are accurately reported, documented, retained, and suitable for escalation and briefing to business leadership and key stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance security effectiveness, operational resilience, and cost efficiency, including the optimisation of physical security technologies and operational workflows.
• Provide governance and oversight of the badge management and access control program, ensuring appropriate controls, auditability, and compliance across the assigned security network.
• Act as a central coordination point across internal functions (Facilities, Engineering, Projects, Legal, Safety, HR) to ensure integrated and aligned security delivery.
• Manage engagement with governmental and regulatory authorities, coordinating inspections, addressing findings, and tracking corrective actions to closure in a timely and sustainable manner.
• Support capital project security delivery, acting as the primary deputy to the Project Security Manager for the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project until asset transfer.
• Ensure consistent and impartial application of Air Products security policies, standards, and procedures by all security personnel and service providers.
• Monitor and manage third‑party security provider performance, including attendance, timesheet validation, KPI scorecards, and enforcement of service level agreements where required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Mandatory

Candidates must meet the following criteria to be considered for the role:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in security operations, security management, risk, or crisis response within an industrial, energy, infrastructure, public sector, or commercial environment.
• Fluent English (written and spoken) with the ability to prepare professional reports, brief leadership, and participate effectively in incident and operational communications.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Security Management, Risk Management, Business Continuity, Project Management) or equivalent, proven professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in operational security leadership, including:
  • Incident management or incident command
  • Supervising teams or service providers
  • Managing performance and contributing to individual capability development
• Proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive security information with discretion, integrity, and sound professional judgement.
• Experience working effectively in a multicultural and matrixed business environment, with the flexibility to collaborate across functions and locations.
• Working proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, sufficient for reporting, tracking actions, and performance monitoring.
• Practical knowledge of physical security fundamentals, including:
  • Contract security guard management
  • Incident reporting and response
  • Workplace and site security controls

Desirable

• Direct experience supporting or engaging with Joint Venture partners, government entities, or multi‑stakeholder operating models.
• Demonstrated involvement in security process improvement, assurance activities, or operational standardisation, beyond day‑to‑day supervision.
• Experience coordinating with regulatory or governmental authorities, including inspections, corrective actions, and compliance follow‑up.
• Exposure to project or construction‑phase security, particularly within large capital projects or asset transfer environments.

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Founded in 1940, Air Products is a world-leading industrial gases company and has a proud history of innovation, operational excellence, with an unwavering commitment to safety and environmental stewardship. Working together, we are taking our passion and diverse backgrounds forward to reimagine what’s possible and generate a cleaner future for our customers, our communities, and the world.