Job Description

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.

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 eventsincluding 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

• 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

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

• Lead physical security for Cadences largest and most complex operating region.
• Shape and own a global program that elevates security standards worldwide.
• Protect missioncritical innovation that powers the modern semiconductor, AI, and systemsdesign ecosystem.
• Play a key role in building a worldclass, futureproof global security organization.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Cadence is committed to equal employment opportunity throughout all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other protected class.

Privacy Policy

Job Applicant: Please see the privacy policy here .

Eligibility Information

The annual salary range for California is $161,000 to $299,000. Benefits include paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, and a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options.

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