Director – Health, Safety, Security, and Emergency Services

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Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Facilities Services, the Director of Health, Safety, Security, and Emergency is NAIT's senior leader responsible for creating and sustaining a safe, secure, and resilient campus environment. This role provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for three institutional functions:

• NAIT Protective Services (NPS)
• Health, Safety, and Environmental Services (H&S)
• Emergency Management & Business Continuity (EMBC)

The Director ensures NAIT's community—students, staff, faculty, partners, and visitors—are supported by high-performing safety programs, evidence-based prevention strategies, reliable emergency response structures, and a culture of shared responsibility for safety and risk reduction.

The Director leads policy development, strategic planning, operational oversight, quality assurance, and collaborative partnerships with internal and external agencies. The role also leads EMBC readiness activities including program maintenance, exercises, testing, and continuous improvement to ensure NAIT can effectively respond to and recover from emergencies or business disruptions.

This position has direct leadership responsibility for approximately 50 staff, including AUPE, MAE, and specialized technical personnel, and manages an operating budget of approximately $6 million.

Leadership Mindset and Capacity

NAIT's leaders are expected to model specific behaviours, mindsets, and capacities that shape our culture and ensure long-term institutional success. As a Business Unit Leader, the Director is expected to demonstrate:

• Demonstrates inclusive and adaptive leadership by fostering trust, openness, and flexibility in response to diverse perspectives and changing campus needs.
• Communicates a clear, institution-focused vision for safety and security, aligns departmental goals with long-term strategies, and applies systems thinking to proactively manage risk.
• Fosters a high-performing, inclusive team by supporting staff development, engagement, and collaboration.
• The Director leads a diverse team, manages a $6 million budget, and advances safety, inclusion, and continuous improvement through strategic leadership and expert risk management.
• Drives ongoing improvements and innovation in safety culture and emergency readiness through evidence-based, strategic leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic planning and expert leadership across Protective Services, Health, Safety and Environment, and EMBC ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
• Develop institutional policies, quality assurance frameworks, standards, and training programs related to Health & Safety, Environmental, Security, Emergency management, and Business continuity.
• Chair institution-wide committees including the Health & Safety Advisory Committee and JWSHSCS.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert to senior leadership on organizational risk, emerging threats, and prevention strategies.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with external agencies including provincial regulatory bodies, law enforcement, first responders, and emergency management partners.

Operational Management of Protective Services, HSE, and EMBC:

• Lead, coach, mentor, and support leaders and staff across all three departments.
• Ensure operational excellence, continuous improvement, and strong customer service.
• Provide oversight for incident response, investigation, reporting, violence-prevention strategies, and safety compliance.
• Oversee threat/risk assessments, CPTED reviews, and implementation of safety technology such as access control, alarms, emergency phones, and surveillance infrastructure.
• Direct and manage the development of operating budgets, procurement decisions, and resource planning.
• Act as NAIT's senior spokesperson on matters of safety and security when required.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of NAIT's EMBC program.
• Ensure documentation, readiness tools, and program records are accurate and up to date in all areas, to minimize risk to the institution.

Skills & Abilities:

• Exceptional leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Strong knowledge of:
• • Occupational Health & Safety legislation
• Emergency management and business continuity standards.

• Crime prevention, threat assessment, and security operations.

• Ability to lead through crisis and make sound decisions with limited information.

• Strong communication skills, including ability to act as spokesperson in high-pressure situations.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and influence partnerships.
• High emotional intelligence, tact, and conflict-resolution ability.
• Ability to lead major institutional programs involving risk, compliance, and safety culture.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field such as Public Safety, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Occupational Health & Safety, or a relevant discipline.
• Extensive experience (7+ years) in safety, security, emergency management, or related fields.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and large operational programs.
• Training or certification in one or more relevant areas is preferred:
• • Occupational Health & Safety
• Incident Command System
• Emergency Management
• Business Continuity
• Experience working in post-secondary institutions is an asset.

Applicants with education credentials earned outside of Canada should have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services (WES), International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or the Comparative Education Services (CES).

Remuneration: $112, $148,829.20 annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

Please Note: NAIT is currently reviewing the job classification of this position.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.

About NAIT

We are proud to have been named one of Alberta's Top Employers for 14 consecutive years. Being part of a community that makes a difference in the lives of students, staff, industry clients and partners, NAIT's culture reflects our shared values of respect, collaboration, celebration, creativity, and accountability.

People are what make NAIT great, and we prioritize the employee experience. We offer benefits and unique perks focusing on health and wellness, work-life balance, recognition, and professional and personal growth. In addition to excellent vacation time, we offer paid time off between Christmas and New Year's.

NAIT supports a flexible work environment, enabling staff to request approval for on-campus, off-site, or hybrid work arrangements based on the nature of the role. Please note that remote positions require employees to reside within Canada.

NAIT is committed to fostering a safe environment that supports equity and cultivates inclusion through our Centre for Community and Belonging (CCB) and our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. We are a proud partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and Pride at Work Canada. While we encourage all qualified applicants to apply, only those being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations, please connect with us at