AVP, Head of Protective Security

Description and Requirements
AVP, Head of Protective Security
Location: 200 Park Ave, NYC
About MetLife's Global Corporate Security Team
Our Global Corporate Security team is a strategic business enabler focused on solving real business challenges through thoughtful, intelligence-led security solutions. We operate as a trusted partner across the enterprise, leveraging actionable insights, advanced analytics, and deep subject-matter expertise to anticipate risks and support informed decision-making. Grounded in a philosophy of resilience and business outcomes, we design protective strategies that not only safeguard our people and brand but also enhance operational agility, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and empower the organization to pursue its ambitions without disruption.
About the Role:
We are seeking an accomplished and strategic security leader to serve as our Head of Protective Security, overseeing Executive Protection, Event Security, Aviation Operations, and Global Travel Security. This is a high-impact role responsible for developing and managing an integrated protection program that safeguards our executives, employees, assets, and operations worldwide.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience across protective security disciplines, exceptional judgment, and the ability to operate confidently in fast-moving, complex environments. This leader will shape strategy, manage a high-performing global team, and ensure our protective programs align with business priorities and evolving risk landscapes.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, mentor, and develop a global team of protection specialists.
• Build a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement while managing budgets, resources, and key vendor relationships.
• Drive the design and ongoing evolution of a scalable, intelligence-led protective security program.

Executive Protection & Aviation Operations

• Oversee personalized protection programs for C-suite executives and high-risk individuals.
• Manage close protection details, residential security, advance operations, threat intelligence, and 24/7 protective monitoring.
• Direct aviation-related security operations and executive travel protocols.

Global Travel Security

• Lead global travel risk management, including pre-trip risk assessments, secure transport planning, itinerary security, and emergency response.
• Partner with travel management teams to embed security into corporate travel policies.

Event Security

• Develop and execute comprehensive security plans for major corporate events, board meetings, and high-profile gatherings.
• Lead venue assessments, manage access control, coordinate with law enforcement, and ensure safe executive participation.

Risk Management & Incident Response

• Oversee ongoing threat intelligence, vulnerability assessments, and crisis preparedness.
• Lead investigations, produce after-action reports, and deliver corrective action plans.
• Develop and implement crisis management frameworks for senior leadership protection.

Collaboration & Compliance

• Partner with Legal, HR, Cybersecurity, Technology, Resilience, Compliance, and Operational Risk to align programs with business needs and regulatory standards.
• Ensure protective programs meet local, national, and international requirements and best-in-class peer benchmarks.

Innovation & Training

• Stay current on emerging threats, technologies, and industry best practices.
• Develop and deliver security awareness and personal safety training for executives and staff.

Essential Experience and Skills:

• 10-15 years of experience in security operations and/or executive protection, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute holistic, scalable, intelligence-led protective security programs.
• Strong leadership, project management, and influence skills in matrixed environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; multilingual capability is a plus.
• Proven expertise in risk assessment, intelligence analysis, and crisis response.
• Ability to operate confidently in ambiguous, fast-moving, high-pressure situations.
• Experience delivering security solutions in complex, highly regulated environments.
• Strategic mindset with knowledge of information security risk, geopolitical risk, and AI in a protective security context.

Key Stakeholders:
Global Leadership, Travel, Cybersecurity, Human Resources, Legal, Technology, Resilience, Operational Risk, and Compliance.
Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.
The expected salary range for this position is $180K-$230K. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation and stock-based long-term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
$180K-$230K
#BI-Hybrid