Joe M. Olivarez Jr.

Executive Vice President – Health, Safety, Security, Environment & Enterprise Quality (HSSE&EQ)

Jacobs is a 11.5B business, has 45K employees and operates in over 40 countries. In fiscal year 2014, Mr. Olivarez was selected to be the first global Security Leader in this capacity in the 60 – year history of Jacobs. His role was to build and lead the company’s integrated global security strategy. He is responsible for assessing, influencing and assisting the Company to mitigate security and resilience risks in a dynamic international business environment. The security and resilience model includes establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams to operate an intelligence driven and risk-based program. Due to his leadership, in 2019 his remit was expanded to include leading the Global Quality team, in 2021 the Operational Center of Excellence and in 2024 the combined HSSE&E organization.    

HSSE&EQ is a holistic operational and functional capability responsible for how we deliver an enable excellence to our clients and protect our people and communities where we serve around the world. Through our highly capable subject matter experts, refined and efficient process, leading technologies and forward leaning leadership we bring a level of assurance business delivery.   

The Operational Center of Excellence (OpCOE) are an embodiment of Jacobs' commitment to excellence and a critical enabler in our journey to be a company like no other. In this role, Olivarez is responsible for developing strategic direction, governance and assurance, research and ideation and knowledge sharing in the areas of Health Safety and Environmental, Security & Resilience and Quality. This is executed through the stewardship of two of Jacobs' “hero brands”– BeyondZero (HSE and Security & Resilience) and BeyondExcellence (Quality). The team provides thought leadership, direction, and pioneering practices to allow the company to deliver impactful solutions and services to our people, clients, and communities. 

Prior to joining Jacobs Mr. Olivarez spent eleven (11) years with Baker Hughes Incorporated (BHI) where he held increasingly responsible roles. Manager of Investigations, Director of Security Global Operations and Vice President Enterprise Security and Crisis Management, Western Hemisphere – HSSE). In these roles, he was the lead investigator for matters assigned to the Security Office globally. Investigations included, but were not limited to, allegations of violations of the Business Code of Conduct and criminal activities such as theft, fraud, workplace violence, conflicts of interest, drugs, kickbacks, and loss of intellectual property. His leadership led to the recovery/awards of over 30M USD back to the corporation. In addition, he was instrumental in transforming the program from a department to a function. His business approach to security led to the maturity of the team’s approach to enterprise security risk management, business planning, strategy development, resilience, country security programs, supply chain security (Customs Trade and Partnership Against Terrorism – CTPAT and Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard – CFATS, combining safety and security programs for chemical and radiological processes, mergers & acquisitions processes, governance, training, recruitment, intelligence acquisition and analysis, travel risks oversight, physical security and fiscal management. In addition, served on HSSE executive leadership team responsible for integrating safety, security and crisis operations across a 26B portfolio, 80K employees across 80 countries.   

Before joining BHI, Mr. Olivarez was the Vice President of an International Investigative and Security Management Consulting Company serving a variety of corporations in the Oil & Gas, Technology, Entertainment, Transportation, Real Estate and Financial Management businesses. Mr. Olivarez spent 10 years in the government and government defense security with General Dynamics as a Security Analyst and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a Special Agent.   

Mr. Olivarez received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Legal Research from Stephen F. Austin State University and Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston Executive Management Program. He has successfully completed leadership programs at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Yale Executive School of Management and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Domestic Security Executive Academy.    

He is a member of ASIS International, Board Member and current President 2025, ASIS International Chief Security Officer (CSO) Center (Past Chair), The Security Foundation (TSF), Board Member, United States State Department Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) – Council Member and Chair of Oversight & Governance Committee, International Security Management Association (ISMA) member and the FBI Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC).  

In 2018, Mr. Olivarez was selected as the International SOS Ambassador Duty of Care Award Winner. In 2020, Olivarez was recognized by IFSEC as IFSEC Top Global Influencers Security & Fire, Commercial – Head of Security category. In 2020, Jacobs was recognized by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) as Organization of the Year. In 2021, Olivarez was recognized by Security Magazine as Most Influential People in Security and was selected by ASIS International as the Don Walker CSO Center Executive Award.