Specialist, Protective Operations

Your Role as the Protective Operations Specialist

The Corporate Security organization at The J.M. Smucker Co. is expanding its Protective Operations capabilities to protect one of our most valued assets: our people. This team supports senior executives, employees and key business operations through discreet, high-quality protective services; proactive threat mitigation; crisis and incident readiness; specialized technical security capabilities; and secure travel facilitation across the globe. We are seeking an experienced Protective Operations Specialist capable of operating in a small, high performing team environment. This role is responsible for conducting the full lifecycle of protective operations-advance work, secure transportation, risk assessments, executive movement coordination, travel security, cross functional planning, and rapid incident response. The ideal candidate thrives in dynamic environments, exercises impeccable judgment, and has a demonstrated history of protecting senior leaders with discretion, professionalism, and a high degree of emotional intelligence.

Location: Orrville, OH

Work Arrangements: Onsite 100% with frequent travel frequently, often on short notice, including internationally, and to adapt to constantly changing schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Key Responsibilities:

Protective Operations

• Conduct all aspects of executive protection, including advances, movement coordination, venue and site assessments, route planning, and contingency planning.

• Provide secure ground transportation for executives, primarily throughout Northeast Ohio, ensuring vehicle readiness, communications checks, and safe, defensive driving practices.

• Maintain a state of readiness for emergency response, rapidly assessing and addressing incidents to safeguard principals and staff.

• Develop, implement, and audit detailed protective plans for domestic and international travel, corporate events, board meetings, and offsite engagements.

• Protect confidential and sensitive information with strict adherence to privacy, legal, and company standards.

Strategic & Cross Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate regularly with internal business units (e.g., Executive Assistants, Corporate Security, HR, Legal, Information Security) and external stakeholders (venues, hotels, law enforcement agencies).

• Support security planning for major corporate events, travel programs, and special initiatives involving senior leadership.

• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement through after-action reviews, lessons learned, and refinement of protective protocols and SOPs.

Risk Assessment & Threat Mitigation

• Apply a holistic, intelligence informed approach to anticipating, identifying, and mitigating risk across physical, technical, operational, and reputational domains.

• Conduct risk assessments for travel, events, and locations, adjusting protective posture based on identified hazards or emerging threat indicators.

• Participate in counter-surveillance efforts and support technical, physical, or procedural security enhancements as required.

Operational Support & Documentation

• Produce high-quality documentation, including advance briefs, travel risk assessments, incident reports, and SITREPs.

• Maintain accurate logs, equipment inventories, and readiness documentation in accordance with Corporate Security standards.

• Participate in training, drills, and skill sustainment activities to uphold team readiness and operational excellence.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in executive protection, law enforcement, military special operations, or related protective discipline

Candidates must demonstrate proficiency or experience in one or more of the following specialty areas. Each represents a core capability within the Protective Operations Program and may influence role assignment.

Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM)

• 4+ years' experience conducting risk based TSCM sweeps or technical security inspections.

• Familiarity with RF detection tools, NLJDs, spectrum analysis, and technical search methodology.

• Experience documenting findings, managing equipment readiness, and coordinating remediation with technical teams

Protective Intelligence

• Certifications and/or proven experience in protective intelligence, threat monitoring, OSINT collection, or analysis.

• Ability to collect, triage, and synthesize threat indicators into actionable briefings.

• Active or prior security clearance preferred (DoD, DHS, Intel Community), but not required.

Training & Department Standards

• Experience managing or supporting training and development programs for security organizations.

• Ability to track certifications, sustainment cycles, and readiness metrics (Firearms [OPOTA], CPR/AED/ First Aid, Axon Taser, deescalation, etc.).

• Experience facilitating skill assessments, drills, or classroom instruction is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience supporting domestic and international protective travel operations.

• Proficiency in protective concepts including secure transportation, contingency planning, threat assessment, surveillance and counter-surveillance awareness, and emergency response.

• Ability to work effectively with highly confidential and sensitive information.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface professionally with senior leaders.

• Valid driver's license with a strong driving record; ability to meet Company driving standards.

• Ability to obtain/maintain authorization to carry under Company policy and applicable state/federal laws (e.g., CHL, LEOSA, if required by assignment).

• Ability to work long hours, including nights/weekends; significant flexibility and 24/7 on call availability with a 4 hour response time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Intelligence Studies, or related fields.

• 5+ years corporate executive protection experience supporting senior level leadership.

• Experience in intelligence collection/analysis, countersurveillance, technical security, or training program development (aligned to specialty tracks).

• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft 365; ability to prepare presentations and briefings for executive audiences.

• Experience coordinating global service providers, venues, drivers, and vendors.

• Ability to maintain composure and make sound decisions under pressure in ambiguous or rapidly evolving situations.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage concurrent tasks and complex schedules.

• Experience operating in austere or high-tempo environments, including the ability to walk, stand, or travel for extended periods.

• Basic Life Support(CPR/AED) certification, or ability to obtain within 6 months.

Physical & Functional Requirements

• Ability to lift, carry, and transport equipment.

• Ability to stand, walk, or sit for extended durations.

• Ability to perform protective physical tasks and maintain fitness requirements.

• Ability to travel internationally with limited notice.