Director of Institutional Security of UNIL

Ref 2586202 | Date: 19 Oct 2026 University of Lausanne - Direction

Introduction ----------------
A leading international teaching and research institution, UNIL has more than 5'000 female and male employees and 18'000 students, distributed between the Dorigny campus and the CHUV and Epalinges sites. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, recognition of individuals, responsibility, and the development of an open, respectful, and stimulating work environment.

Presentation -----------------
In order to carry these issues to the highest level of the institution, the University of Lausanne is looking for its future: Director of Institutional Security of UNIL

Reporting to the University Directorate, the holder ensures the strategic and operational management of UniSEP, the department responsible for institutional health, safety, and security issues. At the head of a department of approximately 30 female and male employees, he/she defines and carries an integrated institutional vision of security, advises the Directorate in its decisions, and guarantees the consistency of the systems deployed at the University scale. This senior management function involves a strong capacity for leadership, anticipation, and influence, as well as an ability to intervene in complex and sensitive environments, particularly in crisis situations.

Information related to the position --------------------------------
Start date: date to be agreed
Contract duration: Indefinite
Activity rate: 100%
Workplace: Lausanne, UNIL campus, Mouline annex

Your responsibilities ------------------------
In your capacity as Director of Institutional Security, you define and implement, in close collaboration with the University Directorate, the institutional strategy regarding health, safety, and security. You exercise a central role in advice, management, and coordination, ensuring the consistency of security systems and their alignment with the strategic priorities of the University. As such, you will notably be required to:

• Ensure the strategic and managerial direction of UniSEP, by defining the department's priorities, its organization, its objectives, and the allocation of its human and financial resources;
• Design and propose to the Directorate the institutional strategy regarding health, safety, and security, and then manage its implementation and evolution;
• Advise the Directorate and the various governance bodies of UNIL on strategic, organizational, regulatory, and operational issues related to security;
• Guarantee global, coherent, and integrated security governance, covering notably occupational and student health, the security of persons and property, safety, fire protection, as well as the articulation with information security governance;
• Develop an institutional approach to risk management, define prevention priorities, and propose adapted measures based on identified risks;
• Anticipate developments in threats, risks, technologies, and regulatory requirements to allow the University to continuously adapt its systems;
• Manage the preparation and management of sensitive or crisis situations, in coordination with the Directorate and the various internal and external stakeholders;
• Actively participate in the permanent crisis prevention unit of the UNIL Directorate;
• Structure and develop the institutional security network and strengthen coordination between the faculties, services, and partner entities of the University;
• Guarantee the availability of necessary expertise in the various fields falling under UniSEP and ensure the development of skills of the institution's actors;
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and institutional requirements falling within the scope of UniSEP;
• Represent the University, upon delegation from the Directorate, to competent external authorities and partners at the cantonal and federal levels;
• Develop and maintain a network of high-level partners, notably with security authorities, rescue organizations, public institutions, as well as academic and specialized partners;
• Ensure the financial management of the department, budgetary management, reporting, and evaluation of the resources necessary for the accomplishment of its missions.

Your profile ----------------
For this leading strategic function, we are looking for a personality recognized for leadership, vision capacity, and the ability to unite people around complex and transversal issues. You benefit from:

• A university Master's degree or title deemed equivalent;
• Confirmed experience of at least 8 years in leading an entity within a large-scale organization, public or private, including the management of multidisciplinary teams;
• Significant experience of at least 5 years in crisis management and in complex or sensitive situations;
• Confirmed professional experience of at least 5 years in one of the fields related to health, safety, security, or risk management;
• Solid experience in the strategic, organizational, and financial management of an entity;
• An excellent ability to articulate strategic vision and operational reality, to set priorities, and to transform institutional orientations into concrete systems;
• A deep understanding of institutional workings and public service as well as relations with external authorities and partners;
• Solid skills in the fields of risk analysis, prevention, incident management, emergency plans, and crisis management