Stephen King
Security Professional
Summary
Experienced security management professional with a background in both military and commercial sectors. Demonstrates proficiency in leading large teams and safeguarding valuable resources. Strategic influencer known for employing diplomacy and integrity to drive organizational strategy. Capable of effectively communicating with stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives and board members.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Security Manager
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
04.2019 - Current
- Lead on strategic security for a geographically dispersed organization, focusing on the Nordic and Baltic regions, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Drive a positive security culture across the region to ensure the safety and the physical and protective security of personnel, information, commercial premises and residential properties
- Deliver expert guidance and support on security policies and serve as a trusted advisor during critical incidents and crisis situations.
- Maintain regular interaction with senior internal and external stakeholders, including Ambassadors, 1HMG partners, and local authorities, fostering collaboration and ensuring alignment.
- Provide mentorship and oversight to a diverse team of Security Managers spanning eight countries, along with their respective guarding teams, offering tailored guidance and training to enhance physical security measures.
- Enhanced security for high-profile events and VIP visits, such as UK Ministerial trips, conducting comprehensive security risk assessments and venue reviews to mitigate potential threats.
- Charged with ensuring that business continuity plans and other emergency drills are established and tested.
Head of Security
British Council
11.2015 - 03.2019
- Strategic lead on security as the principal point of contact across a Nigeria operation comprising of more than 250 staff and four offices
- Managed operations, continually evaluating the security environment and collating any incidents drawing on open and other intelligence sources
- Provided accurate and reliable security updates to the Senior Leadership Team
- Liaised with the Global Security team (UK), UK government agencies, Nigerian security services, NGOs and commercial security providers
- Developed and reviewed security plans and protocols to provide a best practice model that has been adopted across the national operation including business continuity plans
- Negotiated a new guarding contract saving £50K in protection costs, liaised with all parties and set up vendor SLAs.
Security Risk Advisor
Nigerian Agip Oil Company
08.2015 - 11.2015
- Responsible for the security within a gas recycling plant, a residential base and five remote production facilities
- Developed security policies, standard operating procedures, site-specific security plans and emergency response plans
- Enforced journey management policy for staff movements and set up physical and technical security measures to locations
- Fostered close relations with governmental security agencies and local emergency services to augment in-house security
- Maintained and rehearsed contingency plans, including evacuation and medical emergencies.
Security Manager
FLSmidth
04.2014 - 08.2015
- Managed security for a cement technical management provider, including two major processing factories
- Presented security briefings, audited accommodation and monitored activities throughout the country
- Developed key documents including site surveys, crisis management plans and took responsibility for all journey management
- Investigated any security incidents or breaches in coordination with the local security teams
- Provided daily guidance to the Managing Director by updating threat assessments and provided briefings on countrywide security incidents.
Offshore Security Consultant
Control Risks Group
06.2013 - 04.2014
- Supervised security during a pipeline-laying project as an embedded security consultant on-board a salvage recovery vessel
- Liaised closely with local Armed Forces ensuring that sufficient security coverage was achieved
- Conducted security training, briefings and exercises with all personnel arriving in the operating area
- Briefed the client’s management team on all pertinent security risk management issues and recommendations.
Warrant Officer
British Army
09.1987 - 04.2013
- Served a full military career for over twenty-five years, achieving the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two
- Culminating in a secondment as a Military Advisor to the Nigerian Armed Forces
- Advised senior military leaders in the riverine and Counter-terrorism operations and supported training opportunities, delivery and content for the Nigerian military
- Supported personnel in career advancement, provided counsel on relevant training and carried out vetting and background checks
- Managed personnel on operations and coordinated the logistical resupply of remote locations, ensuring the delivery of support while operating in a hostile complex environment
- Extensive international experience from training the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Saudi Arabia National Guard and the Sierra Leone Army.
Education
Master of Science - Security Management
University of Portsmouth
Portsmouth 08.2021 - 10.2023
BTEC Level 5 - Security Management And Consultancy
Control Risks Group
06.2013 - 06.2013
BTEC Level 5 - Business Continuity Management
Business Continuity Institute
07.2011 - 12.2012
BTEC Level 5 - Management & Leadership
Wessex Business School
01.2012 - 08.2013
IOSH Certificate - Managing Safety
Institute of Occupational Safety And Health
01.2013 - 03.2013
Skills
Gives specific security guidelines and recommendations for new and ongoing projects using presentations, written updates and social media
Strong attention to detail demonstrated through the dedicated design and implementation of crucial security policies, plans and procedures alongside the ability to complete detailed security audits
Meets deadlines by thorough planning, setting goals and monitoring progress
Builds valuable relationships by collaborating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, by nurturing partnerships and mentoring and motivating staff to meet organisational targets
Culturally sensitive and adept due to operating in challenging environments and within diverse areas of operation Obtained multi-national experience in Eastern Europe, Brazil, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia
Was awarded the Government Security Group Inspirational Leadership Award in 2022
Websites
Affiliations
- ASIS, Member
- Security Institute, Member
- Business Continuity Institute, Associate Member
Timeline
Master of Science - Security Management
University of Portsmouth
08.2021 - 10.2023
Security Manager
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
04.2019 - Current
Head of Security
British Council
11.2015 - 03.2019
Security Risk Advisor
Nigerian Agip Oil Company
08.2015 - 11.2015
Security Manager
FLSmidth
04.2014 - 08.2015
BTEC Level 5 - Security Management And Consultancy
Control Risks Group
06.2013 - 06.2013
Offshore Security Consultant
Control Risks Group
06.2013 - 04.2014
IOSH Certificate - Managing Safety
Institute of Occupational Safety And Health
01.2013 - 03.2013
BTEC Level 5 - Management & Leadership
Wessex Business School
01.2012 - 08.2013
BTEC Level 5 - Business Continuity Management
Business Continuity Institute
07.2011 - 12.2012
Warrant Officer
British Army
09.1987 - 04.2013