Principal, Global Event Security and Risk Management - Wikimedia Foundation

Principal, Global Event Security and Risk Management

The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Principal, Global Event Security and Risk Management to ensure secure participation in free knowledge globally. This role focuses on proactively identifying and mitigating risks to the Foundation and the Wikimedia movement, including enabling secure physical convenings and addressing enterprise risks.

Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, you will lead efforts to prepare for and address critical risks to the physical security of staff, community members, and participants in Wikimedia activities. You will coordinate with the Enterprise Risk Management working group and partner with internal teams (legal, grantmaking, communications, human rights, product security, trust & safety) and external groups (volunteer organizers, partners, security experts).

As the primary point person for physical security risk mitigation, you will stay informed on global geopolitical developments, identify emerging threats, and synthesize information from various sources. Your goal is to reduce vulnerability and minimize harm when threats materialize.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Wikimedia movement organizers to understand global challenges, mitigate risks, and define physical security best practices.
• Strengthen the Foundation’s enterprise risk management approach, including policy development and implementation.
• Lead risk and gap assessments, identifying, documenting, and tracking high risks in consultation with subject matter experts.
• Enhance the organization's expertise in identifying, mitigating, and addressing emerging physical security threats.
• Lead risk assessments for community conferences and events, consolidating input and communicating findings to stakeholders.
• Create emergency response plans for physical security threats, coordinating stakeholders and experts, and managing implementation.
• Be on-call for emergency alerts, escalating and responding to physical security threats, and leading emergency response working groups.
• Stay current on emerging geopolitical trends and physical security best practices.
• Brief Deputy General Counsel and senior leadership on recommendations for systems improvement, resource management, and financial considerations.
• Provide crisis support to internal teams working with at-risk communities.

Skills and Experience:

• Substantial professional experience in corporate and physical security across diverse geographic and political contexts, with a preference for experience in the global south.
• Substantial risk management experience, particularly in a leadership role.
• Substantial experience developing, communicating, and executing emergency response plans.
• Strong networking and analytical skills to process geopolitical trends and their impact.
• Strong communication skills for executive audiences, detailed response plans, and compassionate communication.
• Ability to remain calm and focused in ambiguous situations and plan actions in circumstances where individuals may be at risk of physical harm.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with subject-matter experts and leadership in threat modeling and contingency planning.
• Good people skills to lead and motivate lateral teams, even in high-intensity situations.
• Resilience in dealing with difficult subject matter and ability to practice self-care.
• Experience using digital security tools for secure and private communication at on-site events.
• Adaptability to online communities and technology, mastering new protocols and practices.
• Flexibility in working hours to respond to unanticipated situations, including nights, weekends, or holidays, and ability to meet across time zones (UTC-8 to UTC+1).

Important Qualities:

• Interest in the role of technology in culture and civic society.
• Readiness to assess and respond to risks with strong consideration of cultural context.
• Experience with internet technologies and their impact on human rights.
• Proactive problem-solving and comfort with ambiguity.
• Willingness to undertake moderate international travel (4-6 trips per year).
• Written and oral fluency in English; proficiency in Arabic, French, or Spanish is a plus.

About the Wikimedia Foundation:

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world where everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We are a remote-first organization with staff in over 40 countries.