Purpose
The Associate Director of Protective Services and Special Events is a senior Global Security leader accountable for the strategic direction, oversight, and risk management of all major company events worldwide. With deep expertise in public safety and large-scale event operations, this role ensures the safety and security of participants, executives, and assets through proactive threat assessment and development of resilient event security architectures. The position collaborates cross-functionally with Global Security, Legal and Compliance, HR, Business Support Group, Event Planners, AbbVie business functions, and Executive Leadership to deliver exceptional, compliant events while systematically mitigating risks using a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR)-inspired event risk rating framework.

Responsibilities

• Direct the security planning and operational execution – in collaboration with event planners – for high-impact internal and external events (e.g., product launches, scientific summits, international conferences), leading multi-disciplinary event security teams.
• Develop and implement dynamic security plans, including access management, emergency response protocols, and tailored executive protection strategies for events of varying complexity and risk levels.
• Utilize a structured event risk rating methodology, modeled after SEAR standards, to assess and classify each event based on threat, profile, and vulnerability factors; develop tailored mitigation strategies and allocate resources commensurate with the assigned risk level.
• Lead pre-event security risk and vulnerability assessments in collaboration with Protective Intelligence, leveraging intelligence sources and collaborative partnerships with law enforcement, government agencies, and specialized event security vendors.
• Oversee event incident management, real-time intelligence monitoring requirements, and response plans, ensuring readiness to address evolving threats during events.
• Ensure event safety and security practices are compliant with regulatory requirements (e.g., PhRMA Code, FDA rules), internal policies, and global standards.
• Manage vendor relationships and contract requirements for security service providers and secure transportation, maintaining a focus on professionalism, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Champion crisis communication procedures, staff training on emergency protocols, and promote situational awareness for all event stakeholders.
• Implement a continuous improvement framework by reviewing post-event debriefs, security performance analytics, and adjusting protective strategies accordingly.
• Serve as the company’s lead security executive at events, representing Global Security leadership and acting as primary escalation point for safety and protective matters.