Head of Safety

FIFA27 will be established as the Local FIFA Subsidiary in Brazil, to work together with FIFA HQ in Zurich and globally, to deliver the biggest women's sporting event in the world, the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 ("FWWC2027").

Please submit your CV in English, as it will be reviewed by an international team.

The position

The Head of Safety & Security is responsible for establishing and leading the Safety & Security functional area for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027. The role sets the strategic direction for all safety and security planning and delivery activities. This includes designing and implementing a robust, compliant and integrated safety and security programme. The Head of Safety & Security will be responsible for building and managing a high-performing team, overseeing the recruitment of managers, as well as procuring qualified external suppliers. The role drives cross-functional coordination, stakeholder engagement and legacy-building in safety and security operations, contributing to the delivery of a safe, secure and welcoming tournament environment.

Key responsibilities

• Establish the Safety & Security Department, define its structure and lead its strategic and operational direction from inception through tournament delivery and dissolution.
• Lead the recruitment, onboarding and line management of departmental managers.
• Define staffing needs, role profiles and deployment models to ensure adequate resourcing across all tournament sites.
• Lead the procurement of private safety and security suppliers, including defining scopes of work, evaluating proposals, and overseeing contracting and performance management.
• Lead the planning, delivery and oversight of the tournament-wide Safety & Security Strategy, Operational Plan and supporting policies.
• Manage relationships and integration with domestic and international public authorities, law enforcement and private partners.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent implementation across stadiums, non-competition sites and ancillary events.
• Oversee the development and implementation of site security plans, risk assessments, tailored training programmes, emergency and contingency planning and crowd management strategies.
• Direct the planning and operational delivery of frontline safety and security services (e.g. stewards, private security, team and match officials security programme).
• Establish effective command, control, communication and coordination structures (C4) for all safety and security operations.
• Lead audits and quality control across all security providers to ensure performance and compliance with standards and contractual obligations.
• Oversee the implementation of robust access control systems and coordinate closely with the Accreditation & Access function.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable FIFA regulations, local (including federal and state) legislation and licensing requirements for safety and security operations.
• Drive planning integration with key FIFA functions (e.g. venue management, medical, guest operations) and local operational teams.
• Contribute to the strategic objective of delivering a legacy of improved safety and security capacity in Brazil.

Your profile

• University degree in security management, public safety, law enforcement, risk management or a related field.
• Advanced training or professional certification in security or risk management is highly desirable.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in safety and/or security roles, preferably in major international sports events or complex multi-site operations.
• Proven experience in leading security planning and delivery at major tournaments or mass gatherings in Brazil.
• Demonstrated expertise in risk assessment, emergency planning and integrated stakeholder coordination.
• Experience working with national and local law enforcement, intelligence services, fire and rescue authorities and private security providers in Brazil.
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and large-scale outsourced contracts.
• Strategic and analytical thinker with strong planning and execution capabilities.
• Ability to lead complex operations under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively across cultures and institutions.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills; able to motivate and guide diverse teams toward common goals.
• High level of political and cultural sensitivity and discretion.
• Advanced IT proficiency including MS Office suite, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Right to live and work in Brazil.
• Willingness to travel nationally and work extended hours during tournament periods.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written)
• Fluent in Portuguese (spoken and written)
• Ability to re-locate to Rio de Janeiro

The FIFA Women's World Cup is the greatest women's sporting event on the planet, showcasing the best players in the world on the biggest stage. In 2027, history will be made as Brazil welcomes the tournament to South America for the first time ever.

This landmark event will unite the world through an unprecedented celebration of women's football, inspiring billions of fans across the globe. As we prepare to host teams and supporters from every corner of the world, we're looking for passionate, talented individuals to be part of history and help deliver an unforgettable tournament.

Join us and play your role in making FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 a truly extraordinary experience that celebrates and elevates women's football.

Tagged as: Brazil, Full Time, women's football