Director Safety & Security

Ardent Health is a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid-sized urban communities across the U.S. With a focus on people and investments in innovative services and technologies, Ardent is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. Through its subsidiaries, Ardent delivers care through a system of 30 acute care hospitals, 24,000+ team members and more than 280 sites of care with over 1,800 affiliated providers across six states.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Safety and Security is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing enterprise-wide safety and security programs across a multi-hospital, multi-state healthcare organization. This role ensures compliance with regulatory standards, promotes a culture of safety, and safeguards patients, staff, visitors, and assets. The position encompasses emergency preparedness, physical security, and overall safety initiatives to mitigate risks and maintain operational continuity.

• Develops and maintains enterprise-wide emergency management plans, including natural disasters, pandemics, and critical incidents.
• Coordinates emergency drills, training, and exercises to ensure organizational readiness.
• Serves as the primary liaison with local, state, and federal emergency and public safety agencies.
• Leads business continuity and disaster recovery planning to ensure operational resilience.
• Designs, implements, and oversees security protocols, including access control, surveillance, and incident response.
• Manages contracted security services and ensure adherence to performance and quality standards.
• Conducts comprehensive risk assessments and vulnerability analyses across all facilities.
• Oversees investigations of security incidents and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Establishes, enforces, and monitors compliance with safety policies aligned with OSHA, Joint Commission, and other regulatory bodies.
• Analyzes safety performance metrics to identify trends and implement preventive and corrective measures.
• Provides strategic leadership for safety and security programs, collaborating with executives, administrators, and operational leaders to embed safety into organizational culture.
• Leads, mentors, and manages departmental staff and resources, including budgeting, professional development, and performance management.
• Travel up to 50% of the time to our markets as needed.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Safety Management, Security Administration, Emergency Management, or related field of study.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in healthcare safety, security, and emergency preparedness.
• Master's degree, preferred or years of experience equivalent
• Certifications such as Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP), Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP), or CPP (ASIS), preferred.

Knowlege, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of regulatory standards (OSHA, NFPA, Joint Commission, CMS).
• Proven ability to lead multi-site operations and manage complex projects.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and crisis management skills.

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