Director, Physical Security

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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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Equal Opportunity Employment Policy 

Samsung Semiconductor takes pride in being an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to excel, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status.

When selecting team members, we prioritize talent and qualities such as humility, kindness, and dedication. We extend comprehensive accommodations throughout our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, neurodivergent individuals, or those requiring pregnancy-related support. All candidates scheduled for an interview will receive guidance on requesting accommodations.

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