We're looking for a Head of Safety & Security to join our team in London as part of our Operations function.
Your Role: You will be responsible for Safety & Security at Ascential’s premium, market leading business to business events in Europe, the US and Asia. This role is vital not only to the effective operation of our events, but also in protecting the reputation of Ascential and our brands, as well as keeping our customers and employees safe. You will be an experienced safety and security professional who is able to work effectively with senior stakeholders across our business and our Event Operations team in particular.
You will also be responsible for managing relevant relationships with local authorities, police forces, venues and major customers, as well as mitigating risks, including managing emerging threats and dynamic situations on site. The role may suit someone who wishes to work on a part-time basis, flexing to full-time in the lead up to and during events as required. We do this through our events, intelligence products and advisory services.
Key Responsibilities
Pre-show support
- Development and management of incident and crisis management plans (including business recovery considerations) - liaising with event operations and communications teams as well as other key stakeholders in relation to such plans.
- Horizon scanning for threats and risks using watch services and other intelligence in the lead up to and during events to identify and adapt plans to better manage S&S risks.
Security
- Accountable for reviewing and signing of security schedule and dot plan
- Operations team will provide a brief on the event timetable and use of the venue to inform this plan.
- Operations team must sign off on the budget.
- The Head of Safety & Security must work with the operations team to find solutions when recommendation and budget does not align, and put together a clear business case when additional budget is required.
- Responsible for advising additional security concerns and requirements needed per show.
- Responsible for pre-show communications with the security team.
- Responsible for managing special security arrangements (e.g. with high profile speakers, offsite events and partner activations, police involvement).
- Responsible for providing security and risk level brief to show team and security team.
Safety
- Review venue regulations to ensure our sponsor portal is compliant.
- Review relationship with Abraxys/Health & Safety & Floor Manager provider - ensuring remit and responsibilities are clear and communicated.
- Review sponsor portal health & safety pages.
- Responsible for setting safety policies for events - for build, open and breakdown
- Working in conjunction with operations to ensure that these are agreed, documented, enforced and monitored. Responsible for ensuring that operations team, in particular, but where necessary full show team, have relevant safety qualifications and training.
- Responsible for reviewing first aid coverage for shows.
- Responsible for completing show risk assessments.
Onsite Security
- Responsible for full brief to the security team and main point of contact for suppliers onsite.
- Should be onsite and available for full tenancy and event timetable.
- Responsible for ensuring security schedule and dot plan is adhered to and adjustments are made where deemed necessary.
- Must work with operations where the budget is impacted.
- Responsible for monitoring overall show security and making recommendations where security levels agreed pre-show are seen to fall short onsite.
- Onsite point of contact for sponsors Head of Security for beach / city activations.
- Escalation point for security incidents on site - should be first responder.
- Responsible for implementation of the crisis plan where appropriate.
Safety
- Responsible for monitoring of safety regulations onsite.
- Escalation for safety incidents onsite.
- Must work in conjunction with operations when assessing safety calls such as show open, overcrowding, session queues and crowd control risks etc.
- Responsible for safety briefs for Abraxys, first aiders, show team.
Post Event
- Production of post event Safety & Security review, including learnings for discussion & recommended next steps.
Your Experience
- Considerable experience of safety and security relevant to the requirements of this role, ideally involving large scale events of several thousand people in multiple countries.
- Strict confidentiality, discretion, professionalism, dependability, and situational sensitivity are essential.
- Ability to work collaboratively with senior stakeholders including event Leaders, the Event Operations team and other staff on site.
- Ability to diffuse emerging threats and dynamic situations as they arise.
- Strong skills in leadership and communication (both written and verbal).
- Ability to multitask, and have strong project management skills. Self-starter and able to work under pressure and meet deadlines while managing multiple tasks.
- Willing and able to travel internationally (Europe, US and Asia) as required to support multiple events. Recognising that travel can be for multiple days or on weekends.
If you don't meet every single requirement, we'd still encourage you to apply. At Ascential, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role we would still like you to apply.
Who are we?
Ascential takes the world’s leading brands to the heart of what’s next for their industries.
We do this through our events, intelligence products and advisory services. Our 700 people serve a global customer base from more than 100 countries in the large and growing Marketing and Financial Technology sectors. Ascential plc is listed on London Stock Exchange. Find out more here:: ascential.com
Why Choose Us?
Two divisions. Three continents. One great culture.
We strive for the highest standards in everything we do. But that’s not just for our customers. We want working for Ascential to be the best career move you’ve ever made.
Ascential is a people-powered company, and we’re committed to supporting each and every one of them. We publish an annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report that sets out our goals, commitments and progress so far. We invest in Employee Groups, empowering them to run educational events, support charities that they’re passionate about, and share experiences with colleagues. These groups include Able to Thrive, Ascential Pride, Black in Business and Empower Women's Network. And our inclusive recruitment practices and early talent programmes help us to bring curious, passionate people from every walk of life into our team.
We’re committed to ensuring that the impact of our business on our environment - and the communities we operate in - is a positive one. That means making sure that each event we run is the most sustainable it’s ever been. We also default all of our pension plans to ESG options, so that our people’s savings are invested in ways that help rather than hinder our planet.
Helping people to connect and drive progress isn’t a business-only goal. We know that the world is a better place when we all lead with heart, supporting charitable causes that make a difference. We provide opportunities to give back through Volunteer Days, our Employee Groups and our charity partner, The Prince’s Trust.
We value output, not hours. Most of our roles ask for 1-2 days a week in your nearest office. But if that’s not possible for you, let’s talk. Flexible work conversations are actively encouraged here, and always will be.
Only you know what’s most important to you. That’s why we offer benefits packages that you can tailor to your needs. These include:
- 25 days of holiday per year - with an option to buy/ sell upto 5 days
- Pension, Life Assurance and Income Protection
- Flexible benefits platform with options including Private Medical, Dental Insurance, Critical Illness and the Ascential Shares Scheme
- Employee assistance programme, season ticket loans and cycle to work scheme
- Volunteering opportunities and charitable giving options
- Great learning and development opportunities.
We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable during the process, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.
If we inspire you, why not join and inspire us? Find out more
