The Director, Event Safety & Security leads the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of all security operations at State Farm Arena, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for guests, employees, tenants, vendors, and contractors across all events. This role oversees a team of security personnel and supervisors, drives cross-departmental collaboration, and serves as the primary liaison with law enforcement and government agencies. Success is measured by the seamless delivery of secure, guest-centric events that reflect the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities:

Primary Responsibilities 55%

• Direct all security planning and operational execution for events at State Farm Arena, including developing deployment sheets, conducting pre-event briefings, and coordinating with internal departments to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• Lead, coach, and evaluate security supervisors and personnel, fostering a high-performance team culture aligned with organizational policies, applicable laws, and industry best practices.
• Recruit, interview, select, and onboard security staff, ensuring the team is appropriately sized, trained, and equipped to meet the strategic and operational demands of each event.
• Serve as the on-duty Security Manager for assigned events, providing real-time decision-making authority and ensuring swift, effective responses to incidents as they arise.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update security policies, programs, and procedures to protect the arena environment and maintain compliance with all relevant regulations.

Secondary Responsibilities 25%

• Proactively enforce State Farm Arena policies and procedures, ensuring timely follow-up on violations, guest complaints, and employee concerns in accordance with established protocols.
• Conduct thorough investigations of accidents, criminal acts, and security incidents involving personnel or property, documenting findings and recommending corrective actions.
• Collaborate with third-party agencies, promoters, and event organizers to assess security needs, build security advances, and align on event-specific protocols.
• Support the scheduling and payroll administration of event security personnel in coordination with department leadership.

Additional Responsibilities 20%

• Design and deliver security training programs, employee safety presentations, tabletop exercises, and practical drills to ensure operational readiness for all staff.
• Maintain current knowledge of emergency policies, procedures, and regulations, and serve as a key contributor to the arena's emergency preparedness planning.
• Provide expert guidance and technical recommendations to department heads and senior leadership on security plans, risk assessments, and emergency response strategies.
• Coordinate security protocols for high-profile government officials and dignitaries, working directly with federal agencies (including FBI and Secret Service) and maintaining strong relationships with the Atlanta Police Department and other Metro law enforcement partners.
• Represent the Security department in committee activities, cross-functional meetings, and industry forums, and provide direct support to the Vice President of Safety & Security as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Security Management, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum 4 years of progressive experience in event security or a related field, including direct management of full-time and part-time staff; sports and entertainment industry experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of crowd management principles, human behavior, and effective crowd control techniques.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to brief diverse audiences, from frontline staff to senior leadership.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, event-driven environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), CCTV systems, and access control platforms.
• Working knowledge of ABI scheduling software or comparable workforce management systems.
• Must successfully pass a criminal background check, motor vehicle check, and previous employment verification prior to hire.
• Must maintain a flexible schedule with availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the event calendar.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certification in security management (e.g., CPP, PSP) or emergency management (e.g., FEMA ICS/NIMS certifications).
• Experience developing and executing large-scale security programs for venues with a 15,000+ capacity.
• Established relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Familiarity with DHS/SAFETY Act venue certification processes or similar federal security compliance frameworks.
• Prior experience managing security operations for high-profile or nationally televised sporting events.

If this opportunity looks exciting to you, please complete the application process. Go Hawks!