Global Crisis Preparedness Lead (Time-Limited)

Overview

DNV operates in a global environment characterized by increasing geopolitical volatility, security uncertainty, military conflicts, and other external disruptions that can materially affect the safety and wellbeing of our people, as well as our operations, and business continuity. The war in the Middle East and Ukraine, alongside historical incidents in other high-risk geographies, underline the importance of strengthening our ability to proactively protect and support our people through robust and consistent crisis preparedness.

To address rising challenges in a changing world, we are strengthening our global crisis preparedness capability. Our goal is to ensure a more effective, consistent and scalable approach to readiness. The role of a Global Crisis Preparedness Lead will be central to building a proactive, resilient organization that safeguards employees worldwide in times of war, global and local conflicts, and other crises. The role will initially be established for two years, with the possibility of becoming permanent, and will report to Head of Group People Safety and Resilience.

DNV is the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by its purpose to safeguard life, property, and the environment, it empowers customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

About Group functions

Group functions in DNV are experts on finance and accounting, human resources, communication and sustainability, legal, tax and compliance – providing company-wide support, governance and strategic projects. Group also includes the strategic Research and Development unit, which provides science-based insights and foresight to tackle transformations and challenges across the industries served.

About the role

As Global Crisis Preparedness Lead, you will be a key advisor and coordinator across global, regional, and local teams—translating complex security developments into practical actions that protect people.

You will operate as a deployable expert (“flying squad”), offering practical support to high-risk locations, working alongside crisis teams on the ground when needed.

Working out of the UAE, your first priority will be to help the regional crisis team prepare for and manage situations similar to the exposures for colleagues in the GCC countries after February 28th 2026.

Key prioritized responsibilities include:

• Supporting the regional crisis team for GCC with on-the-ground decision making and execution of protective ‘shelter in place’ measures and relocation considerations to improve the safety of colleagues during aerial drone and missile attacks.
• Designing and executing a comprehensive passive defense life-safety strategy for GCC to protect employees and corporate assets within a multi-tenant building and distributed home-office environments against localized drone threats.

Longer-term responsibilities include:

• Monitoring geopolitical developments and converting them into actionable risk insights
• Advising leadership during natural disasters, military conflicts, accidents, and other crises with clear, structured decision support
• Strengthening global processes and procedures for ‘passive defense’, including escalation, hardening-in-place, relocation, and overall crisis coordination
• Leading vulnerability assessments and guiding protective measures (e.g. sheltering, safe zones, and other emergency infrastructures)
• Designing and running crisis simulations, drills, and preparedness programs in both local and global scope, on behalf of regional crisis teams and the DNV Group crisis team
• Supporting traveler safety in relation to developing and active crises
• Contributing to Group-level crisis forums and risk reviews
• You will not replace local accountability—but will significantly enhance global readiness, coordination, and decision quality.

What we offer

• A high-impact global role that is key in safeguarding human life
• Opportunity to shape and elevate crisis preparedness across a leading international organization
• Exposure to real-world, high-stakes situations at a global level
• A collaborative, purpose- and value-driven environment with a focus on safeguarding people
• Initial time-limited assignment with potential for permanence

About you

You are a seasoned professional from diplomacy, military, law enforcement, government, or corporate security—comfortable operating in ambiguity, pressure, and complex high-risk international environments.

You bring:

• Direct operational experience mitigating asymmetric risks in the GCC region, with a deep, practical understanding of localized aerial drone capabilities, targeting behaviours, and kinetic impact profiles.
• Proven ability to assess and physically reinforce leased spaces within multi-tenant high-rises and residential “home offices,” optimizing structural protection without disrupting daily business operations.
• A track record of standing fast during crisis – prioritizing physical hardening, workspace reinforcement and strict ‘shelter in place’ protocols over immediate evacuation.
• Experience sourcing, integrating, and managing discreet early-warning and threat-monitoring systems that alert key stakeholders without triggering mass panic.
• Practical experience maintaining corporate operational resilience and workforce cohesion during active regional security escalations.
• The tactical gravitas to advise senior executives, manage landlord/multi-tenant facility dynamics, and drive safety compliance without relying on formal authority.

You have:

• A strong understanding of geopolitical risk and modern conflict dynamics and warfare
• The ability to translate intelligence and emerging threats into practical protective actions
• An established professional network in security, government, or international environments

You are:

• Calm, decisive, and resilient in high-pressure situations
• Deeply familiar with the regulatory, corporate, and cultural nuances of operating within the Gulf region.
• A clear communicator who can simplify complexity into action
• Collaborative and culturally aware across global contexts
• Strategic in thinking, yet practical in execution
• Driven to protect people and contribute to organizational resilience

Security and compliance with statutory requirements in the countries in which DNV operates is essential. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as part of the offer process, in accordance with applicable country-specific laws and practices.