Director, Public Safety
Company: San Diego Convention Center Corporation
Location: San Diego
Posted on: March 16, 2025
Job Description:
About The Role:Provides strategic leadership and oversight of
the Public Safety division, ensuring a safe and secure environment
for employees, clients, guests, and assets. Develops and implements
proactive security strategies, operational plans, and risk
management programs aligned with organizational goals. Directs all
aspects of facility security, emergency preparedness, asset
protection, crowd management, and vendor access control.
Collaborates with internal departments, clients, regulatory
agencies, and first responders to enhance safety, security, and the
overall guest experience. Leverages emerging technologies, industry
best practices, and data-driven approaches to continuously improve
security operations, mitigate risks, and support the Corporation's
commitment to exceptional service and operational excellence.What
You Will Do:
- Manages, mentors, and coaches a department manager and a team
of subordinate supervisors who oversee full-time and part-time
Public Safety staff.
- Provides leadership, direction, and performance oversight for
the division, ensuring alignment with organizational policies and
applicable laws.
- While the department manager may carry out certain supervisory
and operational tasks, the Director retains ultimate responsibility
for the overall leadership, performance, and compliance of the
division.
- Responsibilities include hiring, training, assigning work,
evaluating performance, and addressing disciplinary matters and
employee concerns.
- Conducts and oversees investigations as needed. Contributes to
the management and negotiation of the collective bargaining
agreement with Teamsters Local 542.
- Partners with the venue Leadership Team to align public safety
strategies with organizational priorities, enhance the guest
experience, safeguard the Corporation's reputation, and proactively
identify and mitigate safety and security risks. Ensures accurate
incident reporting, efficient resource allocation, and seamless
cross-departmental collaboration to support business continuity and
operational resilience.
- Develops, implements and maintains strategic plans around areas
of oversight, operational policies, procedures and standards for
internal security, traffic control, surveillance, patrol and
protection of assets under the control of the Corporation.
Collaborates with the information technology team to align physical
security measures with evolving cybersecurity programs, ensuring a
cohesive and resilient security environment.
- Takes initiative in seeking out new technologies that will keep
areas of oversight progressively moving forward in an industry
leadership role. Actively engaged with relevant industry
associations.
- Reviews and analyzes event requirements and develop appropriate
in-house security plans. Liaisons with clients in need of
specialized services (i.e. VIP escorting, protection services,
protestors etc.).
- Serves as the primary contact for all venue emergency incidents
and leads the Emergency Response Team. Develops, implements, and
ensures compliance with comprehensive emergency response,
evacuation, and business continuity procedures. Coordinates and
oversees regular emergency preparedness drills (fire, earthquake,
active shooter), ensuring staff readiness and regulatory
compliance.
- Cultivates strong partnerships with local, regional, and
federal emergency response agencies (SDPD, FBI, DHS, Harbor Police,
County Health), as well as neighboring businesses and venues.
Facilitates ongoing relationship-building activities, including
hosting the annual first responder's breakfast to enhance agency
familiarity with venue operations and key personnel.
- Develops and maintains an employee awareness and asset
protection program to proactively prevent losses and encourage
timely reporting of incidents. Oversees all security-related
investigations, including theft, injury, illness, and criminal
activity, ensuring consistent processes and thorough documentation.
Works collaboratively with Human Resources on employee-related
investigations, escalating to direct involvement when complex or
high-risk cases arise.
- Develops and oversees access control programs for vendors,
contractors, and clients, balancing efficient operational access
with rigorous security standards.
- Identifies vulnerabilities, analyzes loss trends, and develops
strategic plans and budgets to address risks. Allocates resources,
monitors division performance, and ensures accountability for
budget adherence and operational effectiveness.
- Provides expert input on safety and security considerations in
venue design and renovation projects, ensuring effective physical
security, emergency access, and safe egress.
- Develops, manages and monitors the division's annual budget,
including labor costs, operational expenses, revenue projections,
and upgrades to surveillance technology. Continuously evaluates
budget performance, implements cost-saving initiatives, and
assesses resource utilization to ensure efficiency and alignment
with operational goals.
- Oversees daily Public Safety operations, including scheduling,
staffing, and coverage for key facility locations (loading dock,
base, static posts, and mobile patrols). Monitors service levels
and adjusts staffing to align with operational needs and guest
expectations.
- Develops and enforces performance criteria for third-party
security providers contracted for events. Ensures all approved
providers maintain compliance with established standards.
- Responsible for enforcing Corporation policies, procedures,
rules and regulations, and regularly reviews and recommends updates
to ensure alignment with evolving risks, technologies, and industry
standards.
- Other duties may be assigned.What You Will Need:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in
Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Hospitality
or Venue Management. At least eight (8) years of progressively
responsible experience in public safety, security management, law
enforcement, or a related field, with at least five (5) years in a
supervisory or management capacity required. An equivalent
combination of education and directly related experience may be
considered.
- Experience in managing security operations for large public
venues, major corporate security programs, or law enforcement
command-level experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated leadership skills, including oversight of diverse
teams, operational planning, incident response, and interagency
coordination required.
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret incident reports,
security assessments, emergency procedures, regulatory documents,
and industry guidelines related to public safety and venue
security.
- Strong written communication skills to prepare clear and
objective reports, policies, and investigation summaries. Excellent
verbal communication skills to effectively convey information to
senior management, clients, regulatory agencies, law enforcement,
first responders, and the public.
- Able to confidently present security plans, risk assessments,
and emergency response strategies to executive leadership, clients,
and governing boards, and respond professionally to inquiries,
complaints, and high-pressure situations.
- Experience in scheduling, organizing and directing staff with
varying levels of authority (manager, supervisors and line
staff).
- Must be able to work under pressure and within short time
constraints.
- Need to have advanced abilities in the following areas:
- Principles of strategic and tactical leadership
- Principles of customer service and hospitality
- Principles of leadership, supervision and training
- Motivation, team development and creation of positive workplace
culture
- Principles and practices of basic accounting and budgeting
- Negotiate and implement facility contracts for services
- Preparation of clear and concise reports for Board and
Executive Leadership
- Research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods,
procedures and techniques
- Event management software systems
- While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly
remains in an office at a computer workstation and accesses
information from a computer. The employee is required to be mobile
to, from, and within the office suite, and will be required to
leave the suite and maneuver throughout the facility and at times
the city.
- Active and participatory membership in venue management or
security related associations highly desirable.
- IAVM Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS) (graduate
preferred)
- CPR/AED and First Aid Certified (preferred)Equal Opportunity
Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThe
contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate
against employees or applicants because they
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Keywords: San Diego Convention Center Corporation, San Diego , Director, Public Safety, Executive , San Diego, California
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