Vice President, Global Physical & Data Center Security

About Nscale
Nscale is the GPU cloud engineered for AI. We provide cost-effective, high-performance infrastructure for AI start-ups and large enterprise customers.  Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Our GPU cloud bolsters technical capabilities and directly supports strategic business outcomes, including cost management, rapid innovation, and environmental responsibility.

We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you’ll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. If you join our team, you’ll be contributing to building the technology that powers the future.

About the Role (Job Purpose)

Nscale is seeking a Vice President, Global Physical & Data Center Security to define and lead the global physical security strategy across our rapidly expanding AI data center estate and corporate offices worldwide.

This executive role is accountable for the design, governance, compliance, and operational excellence of physical security controls across:
•    Nscale-owned AI data centers
•    Colocation facilities
•    Corporate offices
•    New construction and expansion sites across North America, Europe, and Asia

You will establish and scale a globally consistent physical security framework aligned to international standards including ISO 27001, ISO 22237, SOC 2, NIS2, Cyber Essentials Plus, NCSC guidance, and hyperscale / enterprise customer requirements.

This role combines strategic leadership with deep expertise in mission-critical infrastructure security. You will partner closely with Engineering, Construction, Operations, Compliance, Legal, and Customer teams to ensure security is embedded from site selection through steady-state operations.

What You’ll be Doing (Responsibilities)

Global Security Strategy & Governance
•    Defining and implementing Nscale’s global physical security strategy and multi-year roadmap.
•    Establishing estate-wide standards for data center and corporate office security.
•    Creating governance frameworks, policies, and KPIs to ensure consistent global execution.
•    Building and leading a high-performing global security organization.

AI Data Center Physical Security (Owned & Colocation)
•    Ensuring all facilities meet Nscale’s internal standards and external compliance obligations (ISO 27001 Annex A, ISO 22237 Part 6, SOC 2, NIS2, Cyber Essentials Plus, NCSC guidance, customer-specific requirements).
•    Overseeing structured physical security assessments across global sites.
•    Designing and standardizing multi-layered security architectures including:
          - Perimeter fencing, barriers, standoff, and hostile vehicle mitigation
          - Access control systems (readers, controllers, MFA authentication)
          - CCTV systems with appropriate coverage, retention, monitoring, and integration
          - Security zoning, cages, mantraps, turnstiles, and suite segregation
          - Intrusion detection, alarms, and environmental sensors
          - Secure loading bays, visitor management, and contractor processes
•    Embedding security-by-design into new builds, retrofits, and upgrades.
•    Translating hyperscale and regulated customer requirements into practical, scalable controls.
•    Overseeing global guard force strategy, SOC integration, and escalation frameworks.
•    Leading physical security incident response and crisis management planning.

Corporate Office Security
•    Overseeing global badge systems, access control, CCTV, and visitor management programs.
•    Standardizing corporate office physical security controls across regions.
•    Ensuring workplace safety and physical risk mitigation.
•    Overseeing executive protection programs as required.
•    Supporting secure office launches and relocations.

Construction, Expansion & Site Selection
•    Partnering with Real Estate, Engineering, and Construction to embed ISO 22237 design principles into all new facilities.
•    Conducting security risk assessments during site acquisition and development.
•    Ensuring security specifications are included in RFPs, design packages, and contractor scopes.
•    Overseeing acceptance testing, commissioning, and validation of all physical security systems.
•    Ensuring as-built documentation and system records are maintained in Nscale’s DMS.

Compliance, Audits & Customer Assurance
•    Acting as executive sponsor for physical security audits and customer due diligence.
•    Supporting tenders, RFPs, and hyperscale customer security reviews.
•    Ensuring audit readiness across all global facilities.
•    Driving continuous improvement based on audit findings and incident reviews.

Risk Management & Operational Oversight
•    Establishing global threat monitoring and regional risk frameworks.
•    Reviewing physical security incidents, access anomalies, and CCTV events.
•    Ensuring preventative maintenance, testing, and system resilience across all sites.
•    Defining metrics and executive reporting for board-level visibility.
•    Managing global vendors, integrators, guarding providers, and technology platforms.

About You (Skills / Qualifications)

Required
•    15+ years of experience in physical security leadership within data centers, critical
•    national infrastructure, hyperscale cloud, energy, telecom, or similarly high-security environments.
•    Demonstrated experience designing and scaling multi-site physical security programs globally.
•    Deep knowledge of:
          - ISO 27001 physical security controls
          - ISO 22237 data center design standards
          - SOC 2 physical controls
          - NIS2 and relevant regional regulatory obligations
•    Proven experience assessing colocation facilities and negotiating remediation with third-party operators.
•    Experience embedding physical security into large-scale construction programs.
•    Strong executive presence with the ability to engage board members, customers, and regulators.

Nice to Have
•    Experience with enterprise access control and video management platforms (e.g., Genetec or equivalent).
•    Background in hyperscale or AI infrastructure environments.
•    Experience operating across North America, EMEA, and APAC.
•    Security, risk, or project management certifications.

Leadership Profile
•    Strategic, globally minded, and operationally rigorous.
•    Comfortable operating at board-level and site-level detail.
•    Decisive and calm under pressure.
•    Strong cross-functional collaborator.
•    High integrity and trusted advisor across the organization.

What We Can Offer You
At Nscale, you'll find a collaborative, supportive, and innovative environment where your contributions spark real impact. We're building something extraordinary, and we want you at the core.
●    Highly competitive package (base + equity) with reviews every 12 months. 🚀
●    Join the fastest-growing tech startup, your chance to push boundaries, collaborate with brilliant minds, and make your mark on cutting-edge AI. ✨
●    Expect a dynamic progression plan tailored to your ambitions. Grow by trying new things, leading, challenging the status quo, and owning your impact, always with our full support. 
●    Human-First Flexibility: We treat you as humans first. 🫶🏽 Our flexible workplace trusts Nscalers to deliver, giving you the autonomy to shape your day around life's moments.
●    Join our thriving remote-first team. Geography is no barrier to impact or connection. We build seamless virtual collaboration, empowering you, wherever you work.

Equal Opportunities Statement
We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and are intended to provide a general overview of the position. The employee may be required to perform additional duties, tasks, and responsibilities as assigned by management, consistent with the skills and qualifications required for the role.

For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice: Here.