Director of Safety & Security

Cheeca Lodge & Spa | Islamorada, Florida Keys
Full-Time | Executive Leadership

Lead Safety & Security at One of the Florida Keys' Premier Resorts

Cheeca Lodge & Spa is seeking an experienced Director of Safety & Security to provide strategic leadership for the safety, security, emergency preparedness, and loss prevention functions of our luxury resort.

This is a senior leadership position for an accomplished security professional who understands that exceptional resort security goes well beyond patrol and incident response. The Director will be responsible for creating a comprehensive culture of safety while protecting our guests, team members, physical assets, and reputation.

Our ideal candidate brings significant leadership experience from a complex hospitality, healthcare, campus, corporate, or similarly large-scale environment and has the presence and judgment to balance strong security practices with the welcoming hospitality expected at a luxury resort.

The Opportunity

Cheeca Lodge & Spa is a large, multifaceted oceanfront destination encompassing guest accommodations, restaurants and bars, pools and waterfront areas, recreational activities, spa facilities, meeting and event venues, employee areas, and extensive resort grounds.

The Director of Safety & Security will develop and lead a comprehensive security and safety program appropriate for this diverse environment. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to resort leadership while remaining highly visible throughout the property and actively engaged with guests and team members.

Key Responsibilities

Safety & Security Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day oversight of the resort's Security Department.
• Recruit, train, develop, schedule, coach, and hold Security team members accountable for performance and professional standards.
• Establish departmental goals, operating procedures, post orders, patrol standards, and performance expectations.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence throughout the resort and regularly assess security and safety conditions.
• Develop appropriate staffing and deployment strategies based on occupancy, events, business levels, and identified risks.
• Partner with resort leadership to identify vulnerabilities and implement practical solutions that protect people and property without compromising the guest experience.
• Establish appropriate metrics and reporting to identify trends and measure the effectiveness of safety and security initiatives.

Resort Safety Program

• Develop, implement, and oversee Cheeca Lodge & Spa's comprehensive workplace and guest safety program.
• Conduct routine safety inspections and risk assessments throughout the property.
• Identify unsafe conditions, behaviors, and operational practices and work with department leaders to implement corrective actions.
• Establish systems for tracking safety incidents, hazards, corrective actions, and recurring trends.
• Partner with Human Resources, Engineering, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Recreation, and other departments to strengthen departmental safety practices.
• Develop and coordinate safety training for leaders and team members.
• Lead or participate in the resort's Safety Committee and ensure identified issues receive appropriate follow-up.
• Review accidents and incidents to identify root causes and recommend measures to prevent recurrence.
• Promote a proactive safety culture where prevention and personal accountability are part of everyday resort operations.

Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Management

• Develop, maintain, and regularly evaluate the resort's Emergency Action Plans and crisis-response procedures.
• Coordinate preparedness for hurricanes, severe weather, fire, medical emergencies, evacuations, active threats, missing persons, water-related incidents, and other potential emergencies.
• Plan and conduct emergency drills and tabletop exercises with resort leadership and team members.
• Establish clear emergency communication, command, evacuation, and accountability procedures.
• Maintain readiness of emergency equipment and supplies within the department's responsibility.
• Serve as a key member of the resort's emergency-response leadership team before, during, and following significant events.

Investigations & Loss Prevention

• Oversee investigations involving guest and employee incidents, theft, property loss, suspicious activity, accidents, and other security matters.
• Ensure investigations are professional, objective, thoroughly documented, and appropriately escalated.
• Maintain high standards for Security incident reports and investigative documentation.
• Identify trends involving loss, theft, access control, or other vulnerabilities and recommend corrective measures.
• Oversee key and electronic access-control practices as assigned.
• Partner with Human Resources and resort leadership on sensitive employee-related investigations when appropriate.
• Preserve evidence and maintain appropriate documentation when incidents may involve law enforcement, insurance claims, or litigation.

Guest & Employee Protection

• Ensure Security provides a professional, responsive, and hospitality-focused presence throughout the resort.
• Respond to and oversee significant guest and employee incidents.
• Manage difficult situations calmly and professionally while maintaining discretion and good judgment.
• Ensure Security Officers understand that they are both safety professionals and representatives of the Cheeca guest experience.
• Maintain appropriate security presence during weddings, conferences, special events, VIP stays, and other high-occupancy or high-profile activities.

Community & Agency Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with local law enforcement, Fire Rescue, emergency management officials, healthcare providers, and other community partners.
• Serve as the resort's primary security liaison with outside public-safety agencies.
• Stay informed regarding local conditions, emerging risks, crime trends, weather threats, and other issues that could affect resort operations.
• Coordinate with external agencies during emergencies and significant incidents.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as the resort's subject-matter expert and advisor on safety, security, emergency preparedness, and loss prevention.
• Keep senior leadership informed of significant incidents, emerging risks, trends, and recommended corrective actions.
• Participate in leadership meetings and resort planning initiatives.
• Develop and manage the Security Department budget, staffing plan, equipment needs, and operating expenses.
• Collaborate effectively with leaders throughout the resort to create practical solutions and strengthen overall operations.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible security, safety, loss prevention, public safety, or related experience.
• Significant management experience overseeing security or safety operations within a large resort, hotel, hospital, healthcare campus, corporate campus, university, entertainment destination, or similarly complex property.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing organizational safety programs.
• Strong knowledge of emergency preparedness, incident command, investigations, loss prevention, risk assessment, and crisis response.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and hold a professional security team accountable.
• Excellent investigative and incident-report writing skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with executives, employees, guests, law enforcement, and outside agencies.
• Excellent judgment and the ability to remain composed and decisive during emergencies.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and security-related technology.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule and respond to significant incidents or emergencies outside normal working hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• Luxury hotel or resort security leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Professional security, safety, or emergency management certification a plus.
• CPR/AED and First Aid certification or ability to obtain certification.
• Knowledge of Florida laws and regulations relevant to security and resort operations.
• Experience working with OSHA-related workplace safety programs.
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Creole a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Security Management, Emergency Management, Occupational Safety, Business, Hospitality Management, or related discipline preferred.

Leadership Profile

We're looking for a leader who is:

• Highly visible, approachable, and comfortable interacting with guests and employees.
• Proactive rather than reactive.
• Calm, confident, and decisive during challenging situations.
• An excellent communicator and report writer.
• Able to identify risks and develop practical solutions.
• Collaborative enough to build strong relationships across departments while maintaining appropriate accountability.
• Creative and forward-thinking about how technology, training, and prevention can improve resort safety.
• Passionate about developing people and building a professional Security team.
• Equally comfortable in an executive meeting, conducting a property inspection, responding to an emergency, or speaking with a guest.

Physical & Operational Requirements

This is an active resort leadership position and not solely an office-based role.

• Ability to walk and patrol extensive indoor and outdoor areas of the resort.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to respond quickly to incidents throughout the property.
• Ability to work outdoors in Florida Keys conditions including heat, humidity, rain, wind, and intense sun.
• Ability to work varying schedules and respond when significant emergencies or operational needs occur.

Full-Time Benefits Include

• 401(k) with employer matching
• Employer-Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• AD&D Insurance
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Discounts at Northwood Hospitality Properties

Join the Cheeca Lodge & Spa Leadership Team

Safety and security are fundamental to an exceptional resort experience. Our guests should be able to relax and enjoy paradise because a dedicated team is working behind the scenes to protect them, our employees, and our property.

As Director of Safety & Security, you'll have the opportunity to build upon our existing Security operation while developing a broader, proactive safety program for one of the Florida Keys' most recognized destination resorts.

If you're an experienced security and safety leader ready to take ownership of a complex operation and build a best-in-class program, we invite you to apply.