Senior Manager, Meeting & Event Security (Hybrid – Shrewsbury, MA)

Job Overview

Charles River Labratories’ meetings and events are critical for communicating strategy, product launches and promotion, research and development, and business development. These events take place at offsite venues such as hotels and conference centers across North America and require comprehensive security planning and execution. The Senior Manager, Meeting & Event Security is responsible for managing the security of all offsite CRL meetings and events in North America (US and Canada), in compliance with CRL’s Global Meeting & Events Policy and applicable Global Operating Procedures (GOP).

This position demands an experienced professional who will serve as the primary representative of CRL Security at all meetings and events in North America. The ideal candidate must project confidence, authority, and approachability in equal measure — someone who is courteous, helpful, and service-oriented, while also being assertive and decisive when providing security guidance or enforcing security protocols. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with people, particularly in uncomfortable, sensitive, or high-pressure situations, is essential to success in this role. This manager will regularly interact with senior executives, large groups of employees, external vendors, and venue staff, and must always represent the security department with the highest standards of professionalism.

Primary Responsibilities

Meeting & Event Security Management

• Serve as the lead security presence at all assigned meetings and events, projecting professionalism, courtesy, and authority at all times.
• Manage and ensure compliance with CRL’s Global Meeting & Events Policy and all applicable Global Operating Procedures (GOP)
• Utilize the approved threat assessment web platform to assess all meetings and events taking place in North America (US and Canada)
• Perform security sweeps of meeting spaces and event venues before and after meetings to ensure the safety and security of the environment, equipment, and sensitive materials.
• Coordinate Access Control, as needed, to ensure only credentialed individuals participate in meeting spaces before, during, and after events.
• Present daily security briefings regarding current risks and security protocols
• Coordinate security plans onsite with the Meeting Management Team, Venue Security, and Law Enforcement as needed.
• Liaise with event planning agencies and hotel/venue security teams in advance of events and throughout the event lifecycle.
• Evaluate meeting agendas to determine the duration and level of security coverage required.
• Determine appropriate security staffing levels and contract with local security providers to support events when required.
• Train and manage contract security officers assigned to offsite meetings and events.
• Review venue types (hotels, restaurants, conference spaces) and make security and safety recommendations for attendees.\
• Conduct thorough and discreet investigations into any incidents occurring during events.
• Document and maintain incident reports in CRL’s case management system.
• Maintain all required records including: Meeting Assessment, Security Plan, Venue Floorplan/Grid, Meeting Agenda, Attendee List, and Post-Meeting Report

Primary Responsibilities continued:

Executive Committee & VIP Security

• Provide executive services support for Executive Committee members and other Highly Exposed Personnel (HEP) attending meetings and events.
• Coordinate closely with the Executive Services Team to ensure seamless security coverage at events with Executive Committee or CEO attendance.
• Develop and implement security plans including transportation, accommodations, and emergency response protocols in conjunction with the Executive Services Team.

Stakeholder Coordination & Communication

• Serve as the primary security liaison between CRL Security, business unit stakeholders, meeting managers, and external event planning agencies.
• Communicate proactively with business units to obtain pertinent information required to complete risk assessments well in advance of events.
• Coordinate with venue security teams and local law enforcement to align security plans and protocols.
• Provide clear, professional, and timely security guidance to event organizers, attendees, and third-party providers.
• Demonstrate the ability to handle sensitive or uncomfortable security situations with diplomacy, tact, and confidence — including enforcing security rules with senior leaders, VIPs, and large groups of employees.
• Communicate security measures and protocols to all relevant parties including event agencies, contractors, and attendees.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise team members assigned to the Meetings & Events Security Team.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and performance oversight to contracted direct report(s).
• Foster a team culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

•    Bachelor’s degree, advanced degree preferred.
•    Proven ability to work in a global environment.
•    10+ years of demonstrated progressive leadership and operational experience within the private sector or government.
•    Demonstrated investigative success.
•    Demonstrated ability to assess progress made against projects, financial targets, and policy implementations to reach team goals.
•    Experience developing and executing security-related programs at the leadership level.
•    Proven ability to lead change, collaborate, and be part of a high-performance culture.
•    Superior communications skills.
•    Demonstrated ability to collaborate and influence cross-functionally, domestically, and internationally.
•    Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and handle discreet areas of responsibility.
•    Threat assessment experience.
•    Must possess a US passport with no prohibitions on travel to Canada.
•    Ability to travel domestically and internationally (specifically Canada), at times on short notice.
•    Sound judgment and commitment to ethical conduct.
•    Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and other standard corporate software.

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Corporate security experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry.
•    Minimum 3 years of experience in meetings and event security or a similar customer-facing security management role.
•    Demonstrated experience managing security operations at large-scale offsite events (100+ attendees).
•    Experience working with executive-level personnel and VIP protection.
•    Experience managing and directing contract security personnel.

Professional & Interpersonal Skills:

The interpersonal and communication skills required for this position are paramount. This Senior Manager is routinely the only onsite member of CRL Security and will regularly represent the department in high-visibility, multi-risk environments.
•    Exceptional professionalism — must always represent CRL Security with the highest standards of conduct.
•    Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse groups including senior executives, employees, vendors, and venue staff.
•    Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and confidently in sensitive, or high-pressure situations.
•    Strong customer service orientation — able to provide security guidance in a manner that is respectful, professional, and non-confrontational.
•    High degree of situational awareness.
•    Ability to exercise sound judgment and make confident decisions under pressure.
•    Discretion and integrity in handling sensitive and confidential information.

Travel Requirements
•    This position requires significant travel throughout North America up to 50% of the time.
•    Must be available to travel on short notice to support events across North America and internationally if requested by Global Security.
•    Travel may include evenings and weekends depending on event schedules.

Physical Requirements
•    Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events.
•    Ability to conduct security sweeps of large venues.
•    Ability to respond quickly in emergency situations.

Compensation Data

The annual pay range for this position in the USA is $125K – $155K USD. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, location and any collective agreements, if applicable. Remote candidates located outside of the USA should be aware that the relevant pay range varies based on country and location.