Physical Security Architect
2 days ago
Cleveland
Job Description Engagement Overview • Candidates must have branch or multi-site in Banking or Retail experience (250+ sites minimum), • Full-time remote contract - 40 hours/week, EST hours required, • 6+ month contract with the possibility of extension to 1–2 years, • PSP (Physical Security Professional) or similar preferred, • This is NOT a hands-on keyboard design or deployment role. It is a strategic leadership position Leadership Attributes & Soft Skills • Executive presence with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to C-Suite and senior stakeholders, • Strategic thinker who connects branch-level decisions to enterprise-wide security posture, • Collaborative leader who builds consensus across technical teams, PMO, facilities, and external partners, • Calm and decisive under pressure; guides teams through critical incidents without losing strategic focus, • Highly organized; manages multiple concurrent programs and shifting priorities with ease, • Self-driven and accountable; operates effectively with minimal oversight in a remote environment, • Define, document, and govern architectural standards for physical security systems across all branch environments, • Develop and maintain the branch physical security technology roadmap aligned with corporate security strategy and regulatory frameworks, • Ensure consistent design principles, technology standards, and best practices are applied bank-wideExecutive Engagement & Program Leadership, • Serve as the primary liaison to the client's C-Suite, providing regular technical briefings and status updates — daily and weekly cadence, • Lead the Physical Security workstream within large-scale programs (new builds, renovations, technology refreshes) in close partnership with the PMO, • Define project scope, sequence deployments, manage risks, and ensure security deliverables align within overall program timelinesMulti-Workstream Coordination, • Lead and provide technical direction to architects and engineers across multiple concurrent workstreams, • Coordinate across IT infrastructure, Facilities, Construction, Security Operations, and other workstreams to deliver cohesive solutions, • Review and approve design documents, architecture diagrams, and bills of materialsSolution Design & Integration Oversight, • Serve as design authority for branch physical security systems: CCTV/video surveillance, intrusion detection and alarms, access control, duress and life-safety systems, • Oversee integration architecture connecting security systems with IT infrastructure, alarm monitoring, and identity management platforms, • Balance security requirements, user experience, and cost-effectiveness across the branch networkVendor & Technology Governance, • Drive evaluation, selection, and standardization of security technologies and vendor solutions across the portfolio, • Manage relationships with external integrators and service providers, ensuring adherence to technical requirements and quality standards, • Enforce solution consistency across multiple vendor products, platforms, and service contractsRisk Management & Governance, • Chair or participate in design review boards to oversee branch security architecture decisions, • Contribute to risk assessments and mitigation planning for new implementations and change events, • Provide senior-level support during critical incidents, guiding engineering teams toward root-cause resolution and long-term fixes, • PSP (Physical Security Professional) CPP, CISSP, or Certified Security Architect certification, • 8+ years of progressive experience designing and implementing physical security systems across multi-site, branch, retail, or distributed facilities environments; financial services experience strongly preferred, • Deep expertise in CCTV/VMS, alarm and intrusion detection, electronic access control, and duress/life-safety systems — architecture, integration, and network dependencies, • Proven ability to develop and enforce enterprise-scale technical standards and reference architectures across numerous locations, • Strong understanding of networking as it applies to security systems: IP connectivity, PoE, VLANs, LAN/WAN, bandwidth considerations, • Demonstrated experience leading technical workstreams within large-scale programs, including stakeholder management at the executive level, • Familiarity with alarm monitoring workflows, security operations center models, and escalation/incident response frameworks, • Experience coordinating across IT, Facilities, Security Operations, PMO, and external vendors in a matrixed environment, • Proficiency with documentation standards: architecture diagrams, design specs, as-built records, and standards documentation, • Banking or financial services industry experience, particularly with regulatory and compliance requirements (FFIEC guidelines, audit frameworks, UL alarm certification standards), • Familiarity with major physical security platforms in banking: Lenel access control, major VMS and camera systems, alarm monitoring and integrated physical security management software, • Understanding of how physical security intersects with cybersecurity frameworks and enterprise risk policies, • Prior experience in a senior security architecture role with multi-site delivery responsibility VgNiB5GnSn