Chief Safety Officer (CSO)-New York University ...

Chief Safety Officer (CSO)

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi), an innovative, globally focused institution located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of chief safety officer (CSO). This is an on-site leadership role that requires relocation.

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research-intensive university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai form the backbone of NYU’s global network, a university comprising an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enables the seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activities. Students come from more than 120 countries, bringing their unique languages and perspectives together in a truly global community.

Reporting to the chief operating officer (COO) and serving in a senior executive role, the CSO administers and manages the strategic direction, operational excellence, and comprehensive integration of all campus safety functions. Working closely with NYU’s Global Campus Safety leadership, the CSO oversees critical functions including risk management, emergency preparedness, threat assessment, community engagement, and 24/7 safety operations. The CSO will lead a newly-modernized Campus Safety Department, operating under a Hybrid Strategic-Operational Model and ensuring a proactive and responsive approach to campus security. This role is paramount in cultivating a trusted, student-centered, and globally aligned safety environment.

Qualifications

An advanced degree (master’s degree or higher) in criminal justice, public safety, emergency management, public administration, or a related field and a minimum of 12 to 15 years of progressively responsible experience in campus safety, public safety, or law enforcement, including senior/executive leadership roles, are required. Other requirements include demonstrated success leading in multicultural and international environments, preferably within higher education or mission-driven institutions; expertise in behavioral threat assessment, enterprise risk management, emergency planning (NIMS/ICS), and community policing; and a deep understanding of higher education dynamics, student affairs integration, and community safety models. See full job posting for preferred qualifications.

Application and Nomination

NYU Abu Dhabi has selected Spelman Johnson, a leading executive search firm, to assist with leading this search. Review of applications will begin February 6, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. Please submit your resume and cover letter via https://apptrkr.com/6850634

• Contact J. Scott Derrick at [email protected] *protected email* for confidential inquiries.
• Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email [email protected] *protected email* .

Visit the New York University Abu Dhabi website at https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/

NYUAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

NYUAD will also make reasonable accommodations for prospective employees (pre-conditional offer of employment), including modifications or adjustments that would enable a qualified prospective employee with a disability to engage in the application or interviewing process.