Director of Safety and Security (51518)

Gradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.

Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and EcoChillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Why work here

At Gradian, you'll work alongside others who get genuinely fired up by complex problems, see your work go from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years, and know that while we're developing the technologies critical for AI infrastructure to scale, our culture remains people-first by design.

It is core to our identity that we operate as one team — driving to win together, energizing others, and building lasting relationships that make the work fun and rewarding.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Director of Safety and Security to lead the design, implementation, and ongoing management of physical security and employee safety programs across our U.S. and Mexico locations. This person will build and standardize protocols that protect our people, facilities, and assets, while partnering closely with EHS, HR, IT, and Operations leadership to proactively identify and mitigate risk. This is a hands-on, build-it role — ideal for someone who can set strategy and also get into the details of vendor selection, system implementation, and site-level protocol design.

Essential Responsibilities:

Physical Security Infrastructure

• Design and oversee installation of camera/CCTV systems across U.S. and Mexico facilities, including vendor sourcing, evaluation, and contract negotiation

• Establish footage retention, storage, and system maintenance standards; ensure compliance with local data/privacy laws in each country
• Develop and manage badge access and entry protocols, including visitor management and credentialing standards
• Design differentiated security approaches for high-volume sites and extended/non-standard operating hours

Policy & Protocol Development

• Create, document, and maintain security policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) covering access control, incident response, emergency evacuation, and site-specific risk factors
• Define hours-of-operation security requirements per site based on risk assessment (location, crime data, hours, headcount, asset value)
• Ensure protocols are locally adapted and legally compliant for both U.S. and Mexico operations

Cross-Functional Risk Management

• Partner with EHS to align safety and security protocols and ensure integrated incident response
• Work with HR on workplace violence prevention, threat assessment processes, and employee safety communication/training
• Collaborate with IT on access control system integration, network/camera system security, and data protection for security systems
• Serve as an escalation point and cross-functional liaison during security incidents

Program Leadership

• Conduct site security assessments and audits; prioritize investments based on risk
• Manage relationships with security vendors, guard services, and technology providers across both countries
• Track incidents, near-misses, and trends to proactively adjust protocols
• Develop budget for security infrastructure, staffing, and vendor contracts
• Provide regular reporting to leadership on security posture, incidents, and program maturity

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in corporate security, physical security, or safety/security management, including multi-site responsibility

• Experience operating in both the U.S. and Mexico strongly preferred (bilingual English/Spanish a plus)
• Demonstrated experience selecting and managing security vendors (camera systems, access control, guard services)
• Working knowledge of access control and CCTV/VMS platforms
• Experience building policy from the ground up, not just maintaining existing programs
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, particularly with HR, EHS, and IT
• Ability to travel between U.S. and Mexico sites as needed

Benefits:

• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Group term life insurance coverage
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
• 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
• 401k matching
• Company-paid events
• Annual safety shoe allowance
• Education assistance program

EEO Statement:

Gradian Thermal Solutions is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status.

Employment decisions at Gradian are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.