Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Working in partnership with the Newsgathering teams, you will be responsible for the planning and coordination of our newsgathering efforts, including our field operations teams. You will utilize your on-the-ground knowledge and experience to provide bespoke planning advice to the business and executives on safety and security risk and mitigation for field deployments, particularly in hostile environments. This includes other WBD business units that require detailed planning in hostile or expeditionary environments. 

You will have regional and as required global responsibility.  This includes assisting planning of High Risk tasks, advising senior managers and field teams, directing and coordinating logistics and developing or reviewing Risk Assessments authored by security advisors in the field, often with limited notice, particularly in hostile and/or remote environments.

This position will manage emergency security communications while on duty, ensuring all requests for support have been met/dealt with in line with the CNN Security Team SOPs, monitoring of intelligence platforms and OSINT, and ensuring tracking applications functionality.  The FSM must also support and make recommendations to the DoS with project implementation, including inventory, equipment procurement and improvements to the training program within CNN.

This role will also be required to deploy to complex, austere and challenging environments, to support the business during all deployments, where they will deploy as an SRS with field teams, operationally manage security operations forward, or act as an incident commander during crisis. In addition, whilst London-based, this role will require you to deploy worldwide to support hands-on with field teams as required.

The Field Security Manager (FSM) will assume responsibilities for the Director of Security (DoS) when not present. Dynamic decision making is required. The role will require oversight of SRS functions, adherence to SOPs, and be a team SME on security deployments across the region. The FSM must liaise directly with the CNN Newsgathering leadership team, Director of Coverage and other key stakeholders for all tasks with an emphasis on High Risk tasks, when on duty.

This role reports directly to the DoS EMEA and will be under the guidance of the Global Senior Director of Security and CNN’s EMEA Leadership team .

Areas of Responsibility

• Oversee in-field assigned SRSs and CNN newsgathering teams as needed to ensure operations in the field are aligned with CNN management and executive editorial and safety goals.
• Collaborate with the Planning futures team, Directors of Coverage and Field Teams on planning assignments including authoring risk assessments and risk mitigation plans before and during deployment. 
• Oversight of movements while teams are deployed, ensuring the execution of the plan or making adjustments as necessary in real-time, with consideration of editorial needs as well as conditions on the ground
• Advise Senior Managers on Risk in relation to their Risk vs Reward decisions relating to deployments and tasks in High Risk locations, to ensure informed decisions in relation to risk.
• Be prepared to deploy in direct support of Field Teams as SRS, deploy as forward Operational Security lead, or deploy in reaction to Crisis incidents, often reactively to Breaking News events.
• Ensure subject matter expertise in conflict environments, with a proven ability to find, interpret, and effectively utilize intelligence and OSINT information to shape effective, risk conscious Newsgathering
• Ensure non-technical equipment (including kit, “go-bags,” PPE, safety gear, troops supplies, etc.) are up to date and work, with responsibility for keeping track of inventory, advising and communicating the correct use of safety equipment
• Be part of the “follow the sun” approach between our CNN International Bureaus, this will include being the primary point of contact in an emergency, while on duty, for any incident within the region or globally, while on duty.
• Respond to and advise with respect to emergencies including, but not limited to, med-evac, terror attack, war zone incidents, kidnap, ransom, civil unrest etc.
• Liaise as appropriate with corporate Risk Management, Travel, and WBD Corporate security functions, in consultation with or independent of the DoS.
• The FSM must ensure that the 24/7 Emergency Rota is updated at all times, in consultation with the DoS.
• Support the Futures Team on management of SRS team Visas, travel, hotels and other support, as required.
• Management and updating of  CNN  records, ensuring we are complaint with the CNN Security team SOP’s and remain market leading throughout all our trainings delivered to staff, freelancers and contributors.
• Seek Training opportunities that contribute to the organization and may be outside typical security remits 
• Prepare and deliver training across the WBD organization, develop maintain close/productive relations with EVPs and above. 
• Capture lessons learnt in relation to safety or security incidents to promote institutional learning and best practice.

Selection Criteria

• Proven experience working with editorial teams planning field assignments
• Expertise in the regions in which teams might be deployed
• Delivery of Internal Training
  • HEFAT
  • Emergency briefings – For breaking news deployments
  • Bespoke Solutions for unusual assignments
  • Internal workshop and awareness sessions
• Strong project management, communication, and organizational skills
• Technically savvy with the ability to manage Microsoft Office 365
• A strong network across the media security industry, governments, NGOs and known as a leading figure and acknowledged as a font of knowledge and experience on high risk security matters.
• Significant operational management experience, with a proven track record in assisting in the shaping and driving of the delivery of the security functions with media industry or one within similar scale of complexity
• Relevant specialist in areas of training and delivery of forward security planning, within complex enviroments
• In-depth knowledge and experience of relevant legislation, codes of practice, guidance and operating procedures across own discipline within media security
• Thorough knowledge and ability to advise on specialist SRS subject, management of risks and mitigations.

Competency Assessment

WBD Leaders are:

Agile

• flexible with priorities
• Promote a constant state of reinvention
• Build teams that thrive on innovation
• Grow and nurture team members with an emphasis on succession

Accountable

• Design strategic and actionable plans
• Lead teams that deliver results
• Drive performance with actionable feedback
• Trust and empower their teams to deliver

Innovative

• Encourage bold decision-making and hiring
• Create an environment for creative thinking

Collaborative

• Break down silos and build partnerships
• Seek diverse perspectives
• Think and act globally
• Make proactive communications a priority 

Additional Information

Travel : This role will be required to travel and be present in to complex, austere and challenging environments, to support the business during any deployments and will act as Field SRS with Field Teams, or deployed Security IC, as required. This must be in line with CNN Security Team SOP for Security and Risk Specialists (SRS).  In addition, whilst London-based, this role could be asked at short notice to deploy worldwide to support hands-on as required.

What is on offer:

Working from our London office, you will have the opportunity to work for a truly global company. With global scope and local focus, we’ll find and share stories that matter to our audiences. You will have an influential role in supporting some of the best journalists in the world conduct their impactful work, be behind the camera during some of their most significant coverage and offer crucial advice to ensure their safety during this work.

Overview of the company / division:

CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in five different languages across all major TV, internet and mobile platforms reaching more than 392 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region and Latin America. The CNN digital network is consistently one of the top news and current affairs destination on the web.

 

Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/  along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.