UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply
NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Chief Safety Officer (CSO) reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The Chief Safety Officer (CSO) at NYU Abu Dhabi is a senior executive responsible for the strategic direction, operational excellence, and comprehensive integration of all campus safety functions. Reporting directly to the COO and working closely with NYU’s Global Campus Safety leadership, the CSO oversees critical areas including risk management, emergency preparedness, threat assessment, community engagement, and 24/7 safety operations.
This role is paramount in cultivating a trusted, student-centered, and globally aligned safety environment. The CSO will lead a newly modernized Campus Safety Department, operating under a Hybrid Strategic-Operational Model, ensuring a proactive and responsive approach to campus security.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Vision
- Set and implement a comprehensive campus safety strategy that aligns with NYUAD’s mission, global standards, and local context.
- Lead strategic planning initiatives to proactively identify trends, gaps, and opportunities across risk, threat, and safety domains.
- Collaborate with NYU Global to ensure alignment with international campus safety protocols, standards, and systems.
- Promote a culture of preparedness, continuous improvement, and data-informed decision-making across the safety function.
Operational Excellence & Emergency Management
- Oversee all campus safety functions, including Operations, Risk & Threat, Emergency & Continuity, and Community Engagement.
- Ensure robust 24/7 coverage through operational readiness, shift supervision, incident response protocols, and dispatch coordination.
- Direct the design, testing, and evaluation of emergency preparedness plans, including evacuation, lockdown, shelter-in-place, and business continuity strategies.
- Serve as the university’s Incident Commander during major safety events and crises, coordinating with local authorities and NYU’s global risk network.
Student-Centered Safety & Campus Engagement
- Foster a visible and responsive Campus Safety presence within the NYUAD community, ensuring services are accessible, inclusive, and equitable.
- Partner with Student Affairs to support holistic student wellbeing, mental health referrals, and early intervention practices.
- Lead or co-chair safety-related working groups on student conduct, campus climate, and bystander intervention.
- Champion educational programs on personal safety, emergency awareness, and harm reduction.
Risk & Threat Governance
- Direct the integration of behavioral threat assessment with enterprise risk management strategies.
- Monitor and interpret threat data, intelligence reports, and emerging risks; communicate findings to senior leadership.
- Oversee case management processes for individuals of concern, including interdepartmental coordination and follow-up actions.
- Promote a university-wide culture of situational awareness, risk anticipation, and responsible reporting.
Compliance, Policy, and External Liaison
- Ensure campus compliance with applicable UAE safety regulations and institutional protocols.
- Develop, review, and maintain campus safety policies, Clery-like disclosure standards, and reporting structures.
- Act as primary liaison to local and federal UAE authorities, including law enforcement, civil defense, and emergency services.
- Represent NYUAD in regional and global safety forums; build relationships with peer institutions and professional bodies.
