The posting
Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Integrity.
As the Security and Emergency Services Manager you will own physical security and emergency preparedness for Vulcan Elements manufacturing operations, based primarily at the Benson, NC facility with supporting responsibility for the Durham, NC R&D site. This is a build-it role: you will stand up the site security program as Benson comes online, establish the physical safeguards required for handling export-controlled technology and Controlled Unclassified Information, and create the emergency services program from the ground up — drills, response plans, an internal emergency response team, and working relationships with the fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies who will show up when something goes wrong. This is a full-time, day shift, on-site position with on-call responsibility for after-hours incidents.
Responsibilities
Physical Security Operations
- Own physical security for the Benson manufacturing facility — perimeter, access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance, screening of visitors, alarm response, key and lock control — and provide the same program oversight to the Durham R&D site.
- Administer the electronic access control and video management systems: credential issuance and revocation, access tiers by area and role, badge audits, and camera coverage that actually supports investigations rather than just recording.
- Build and maintain the site security plan, post orders, and standard operating procedures, and keep them current as the facility, headcount, and process footprint change.
- Run the visitor, contractor, and vendor security program, including pre-arrival screening, escort requirements, and badge accountability.
- Conduct risk and vulnerability assessments of facilities, equipment, and material flows; prioritize findings by likelihood and consequence and drive corrective actions to closure.
- Lead internal investigations into theft, unauthorized access, policy violations, workplace threats, and other security incidents, producing documentation that holds up to legal and customer scrutiny.
- Establish and document the physical protection safeguards necessary including maintaining visitor access records, visitor access badging, and controlling physical access devices.
- Maintain audit-ready records and be the site point of contact for customer, prime contractor, and government assessments of physical security.
- Support future facility clearance or classified-work requirements if and as they arise, including readiness for the personnel and physical security obligations that accompany them.
Emergency Services Program
- Create and run the site emergency services program: emergency action plans meeting 29 CFR 1910.38, hazard-specific response procedures, and an Incident Command structure aligned with NIMS/ICS that people can execute under stress.
- Build the drill and exercise calendar and lead it — evacuation and shelter-in-place drills, fire, medical, chemical release, severe weather, power and utility loss, and security threat scenarios — including tabletop exercises for site leadership.
- Write the after-action reports that matter: document what failed, assign corrective actions, verify closure, and show the trend over time.
- Own coordination with Benson Fire Department, Johnston County Emergency Management, EMS, and local law enforcement — pre-incident planning, facility familiarization walkthroughs, hazard and material disclosure, and joint exercises so responders know the building before they need to enter it.
- Develop response procedures specific to rare-earth magnet manufacturing hazards, including combustible metal powder fires and the Class D extinguishing agents they require (NFPA 484), hydrogen and other compressed and flammable gases, high-temperature furnace and molten metal operations, and confined space rescue.
- Maintain and test emergency notification and mass communication systems, muster and accountability procedures, and emergency contact and call-out trees.
- Manage the site crisis management plan and business continuity interfaces, aligned to recognized practice such as NFPA 1660, and keep leadership rehearsed in their roles.
- Own emergency equipment readiness — AEDs, first aid and trauma supplies, eyewash and shower units, fire extinguishers and suppression systems, spill response materials — including inspection schedules and documentation.
Emergency Response Team
- Stand up, staff, and lead the site incident command and emergency response function, defining scope of response, member selection criteria, and the boundary between what the team handles and what waits for outside responders.
- Build the training and qualification program for team members — first aid, CPR, and AED; incipient and, where scoped, structural fire response consistent with 29 CFR 1910.156; spill and hazardous material response consistent with 29 CFR 1910.120(q); and rescue — and keep certification and medical surveillance records current.
- Establish medical response capability meeting 29 CFR 1910.151, including response time expectations and coordination with occupational health.
- Schedule and lead recurring hands-on team drills, equipment checks, and skills evaluations.
Guard Force, Budget, and Vendor Management
- Own the contract security force: scope of work, vendor selection, post coverage model, post orders, training requirements, performance metrics, and day-to-day accountability.
- Manage staffing levels, coverage continuity, and cost, and hold the vendor to documented performance rather than headcount alone.
- Build and manage the security and emergency services operating and capital budget, including justification for technology and staffing investments.
- Manage service contracts for alarm monitoring, access control and video system maintenance, fire and life safety inspection, and emergency response equipment.
- Recruit, train, and develop any direct Vulcan Elements security staff as the function grows.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Work with Engineering and Operations during facility expansion and new process introduction so security and emergency response are designed rather than retrofitted.
- Partner with HR on workplace violence prevention, threat assessment, background screening, and termination and access removal procedures.
- Deliver security and emergency preparedness training and onboarding content that employees remember and build supervisors ability to run their own area evacuations and accountability.
- Report security and emergency preparedness KPIs to leadership — incident and investigation trends, access control audit results, drill completion and performance, corrective action aging, guard force performance — and use them to direct where attention goes next.
Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, security management, emergency management, or a related field, or equivalent education and/or experience.
- 7+ years of progressive security experience, including at least 3 years leading security operations at a site level with responsibility for personnel, procedures, and vendor performance.
- Demonstrated experience managing a contract guard force, including post orders, scheduling, coverage, training, and performance management.
- Hands-on administration of enterprise access control and video management platforms (for example LenelS2 OnGuard, Software House C•CURE 9000, Genetec Security Center, Avigilon, Milestone, Honeywell Pro-Watch), including credential management and video review for investigations.
- Experience developing emergency action and response plans, running drills and exercises, and coordinating directly with fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies.
- Proven incident investigation and case documentation capability, including interviews, evidence handling, and reports written for legal, insurance, or regulatory audiences.
- Comfort operating with real authority and autonomy in a fast-moving environment where the program does not yet exist and must be built.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust and credibility with the floor, with site leadership, and with outside agencies.
- Current first aid, CPR, and AED certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days.
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.
Desired Skills
- Security leadership experience in manufacturing, defense industrial base, pharmaceutical, or other critical infrastructure settings.
- Law enforcement, military, or federal security background with supervisory or command experience.
- ASIS certification (CPP, PSP, or PCI) or equivalent professional credential.
- FEMA ICS training (ICS-100/200 minimum; ICS-300/400 preferred) and NIMS familiarity.
- Industrial fire brigade, HAZWOPER, technical rescue, or EMT/EMR training.
- Familiarity with industrial hazards involving reactive or combustible metals, compressed and flammable gases, and high-temperature process equipment.
- North Carolina Private Protective Services licensure (security guard, private investigator, or firearms).
- Experience supporting facility clearance requirements under 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM) or serving as a Facility Security Officer.
- Working knowledge of physical security requirements in a federally regulated or export-controlled environment — ITAR/EAR, CUI safeguarding under DFARS/NIST SP 800-171, or comparable federal security standards.
Work Environment and Demands
- On-site position with on-call availability for after-hours security and emergency incidents, including nights, weekends, and holidays as circumstances require.
- Must be able to perform activities including climbing ladders and stairs, lifting (up to 35 lbs), walking, standing for extended periods, balancing, and stooping.
- Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment, including the potential for respiratory protection and hearing protection and associated fit testing and medical clearance.
- Work is performed in both office and active manufacturing environments; the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Must be able to respond to emergencies on foot across the full facility footprint, including exterior areas in all weather conditions.
