La Jolla Country Day School is seeking a collaborative, experienced, and community-minded Director of Security to lead campus safety and security operations across our PreK-12 campus. This position is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, families, visitors, and campus facilities.
The Director of Security provides strategic leadership for campus safety initiatives, oversees contracted security personnel, develops and implements security procedures, coordinates emergency preparedness efforts, and ensures effective security coverage for daily campus operations, student activities, athletic events, and special events. This individual partners closely with school leadership to assess risks, support crisis response, promote a culture of safety, and strengthen the systems and practices that protect our community.
The ideal candidate brings experience in school security, law enforcement, emergency management, or a related field, along with strong leadership skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to building positive relationships throughout a diverse school community.
What You'll Do- Campus Safety & Security Operations
- Maintain a visible security presence that promotes a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, families, and visitors
- Oversee daily campus security operations, including monitoring campus activity, enforcing school policies, managing access control procedures, and supporting campus operations
- Manage student arrival and dismissal operations, parking procedures, gate access, and traffic management strategies while evaluating opportunities for improvement
- Administer campus visitor management system, to include identification badges and parking permit processes
- Monitor and oversee campus surveillance systems, security technology, and related systems designed to protect individuals, facilities, and school assets
- Maintain effective communication and coordination with campus administration, security personnel, and emergency responders
- Security Personnel Management
- Schedule, supervise, train, and evaluate contracted security personnel to ensure consistent coverage, professionalism, and adherence to established procedures
- Develop security assignments, maintain operational documentation, and coordinate staffing plans for daily operations, campus activities, and special events
- Emergency Preparedness & Incident Response
- Lead campus emergency preparedness initiatives, including emergency response planning, security procedures, disaster preparedness efforts, and coordination of lockdown, fire, earthquake, and other emergency drills
- Develop, implement, and maintain campus security policies and response protocols that support a safe and prepared community
- Investigate and document safety and security incidents, prepare reports, maintain required records, and coordinate follow-up actions with school leadership, law enforcement, and other stakeholders
- Participate in 24/7 on-call alarm monitoring and emergency response responsibilities as assigned
- Leadership & Community Partnerships
- Collaborate with school administrators and division leaders to identify safety concerns, assess risks, and support effective school operations
- Serve as the primary liaison with local public safety agencies, including the San Diego Police Department, University of California San Diego Police Department, and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
- Contribute to long-range campus security planning, risk management initiatives, and continuous improvement of school safety programs
- Facilities & Event Security Management
- Review campus activities, events, and facility usage schedules to identify security, safety, traffic, access control, and staffing needs
- Partner with Operations, Athletics, and Division Leadership to assess risks, develop security plans, and coordinate resources for special events, campus programs, and high-attendance activities
- Provide security oversight for campus operations and events to ensure effective planning, communication, emergency preparedness, and operational coordination
Who You Are- Safety-Focused Leader: You bring experience leading security operations and understand how proactive planning, strong systems, and visible leadership contribute to a safe school environment.
- Relationship Builder: You build trust with students, families, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners through professionalism, approachability, and respect.
- Experienced Security Professional: You have a strong understanding of campus safety, emergency preparedness, crisis response, risk management, and security operations.
- Calm Decision Maker: You demonstrate sound judgment and the ability to assess complex situations, respond effectively under pressure, and manage sensitive information appropriately.
- Collaborative Partner: You work effectively across departments and with external agencies to support shared goals and strengthen community safety.
- Growth-Oriented Professional: You demonstrate adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous improvement while contributing positively to school culture.
- Community-Minded Individual: You value inclusion, belonging, and the responsibility of creating a safe environment where all members of the community can thrive.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree required; degree in criminal justice, emergency management, education, public safety, or a related field preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in school security, law enforcement, emergency management, or a related field; leadership or supervisory experience preferred
- Experience working in a PreK-12 school environment strongly preferred; School Resource Officer (SRO) experience highly desirable
- Strong knowledge of campus safety practices, emergency preparedness, crisis response, risk management, and security operations
- Experience developing and implementing security policies, emergency response plans, and safety procedures
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with administrators, faculty, staff, students, families, and public safety partners
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage sensitive situations calmly and effectively
- Experience with security technology, including surveillance systems, visitor management systems, access control, and communication systems
- Working knowledge of Google Workspace
- CPR, First Aid, AED, or other emergency response training preferred
- Valid driver's license and ability to pass required background screening
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and emergency on-call responsibilities as needed
Work Environment & Physical Requirements- Full-time, in-person, campus-based role requiring regular physical presence on campus
- Work is performed in both office and outdoor campus environments, with exposure to varying weather conditions and typical school activity levels
- May encounter emergency situations, physical confrontations, or potentially hazardous conditions requiring appropriate response and intervention
- Requires sitting, standing, walking, and movement throughout campus during the workday
- Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to work at a desk and computer for extended periods
- Ability to bend, reach, and move independently throughout campus
- Requires strong judgment, adaptability, communication skills, decision-making ability, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities
Salary Range$110,000-$137,000 annualized. The salary offer to a successful candidate will depend on factors including experience, education, training, and relevant skills.
To be considered, please submit:- A current resume
- A cover letter expressing your interest in joining the LJCDS community and relevant experience
We value authenticity in the application process and ask candidates to refrain from using AI tools to generate their application materials.
