Director of Security & Operations

Description

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Director of Security & Operations for The Huntington.

For more details about this opportunity, please view the position profile by clicking on the cover image below.

‍Position:

The Huntington is a world-class research and educational institution precisely because the dedicated people who bring their exceptional talent and expertise to work every day make it not just a wonderful place to work, but truly a magnificent treasure for members and visitors.

The Huntington seeks a highly motivated, experienced, collaborative, and visionary Director of Security & Operations. Reporting to the Vice President of Facilities, Operations and Capital Programs, the Director of Security & Operations is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Security Department on a 24/7 basis and help ensure high quality, fiscally responsible, and efficient operations in support of The Huntington’s mission. With 207 acres of land, 600,000 square feet of building spaces including galleries, library, offices, public spaces and more, the Director of Security & Operations is responsible for securing and supporting the operations of a large and diverse campus. The Huntington hosts more than 1 million guests each year and is home to 130 acres of botanical gardens; over 50,000 works of art; 430,000 rare books and 12 million library objects.

The successful candidate should have a proven record of leading transformational change of a complex security department, including building relationships across all levels of an organization, must be an effective manager of resources (both human and financial), and work well within an institutional culture that values collegiality, trust, and transparency.

Essential Duties: 

Security Oversight

• Lead a team of 120 staff responsible for safeguarding The Huntington’s collections, facilities, and grounds, as well as ensuring the safety of employees, volunteers, visitors, students, and event guests.
• Recommend, plan, evaluate, enhance, and oversee the purchase, testing, integration, and maintenance of new and existing security systems, technology, and devices (including cameras and intrusion detection).
• Is a key stakeholder in the Huntington’s TSA cargo screening program certification.

Operational Leadership and Collaboration

• Work across divisions to identify operational and protection goals, objectives, and metrics aligned with The Huntington’s strategic plan and departmental needs.
• Maximize operational effectiveness through process and data analysis and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Lead operational support for cross-departmental initiatives, strategic priorities, and comprehensive campus plan projects.
• Review and resolve parking and delivery challenges, providing plans for large events or high-traffic days to optimize campus resources and minimize neighborhood impact.
• Collaborate with exhibitions and curatorial staff to define security and operational needs for exhibitions, including layout review and ensuring security requirements are met.
• Work with Facilities Planning, Project Management, and related divisions on capital projects involving security, fire life safety, and key protection systems.

Management and Staff Development

• Deploy and review assignments, manage performance, and encourage staff professional growth through education, seminars, and internal learning opportunities.
• Hold all staff accountable for performance and foster a culture of accountability throughout the department.
• Consult and advise supervisors on personnel matters, in cooperation with Human Resources, to support effective decision-making and policy enforcement.

Policy, Procedures, and Compliance

• Develop, implement, and monitor security and operational policies, procedures, and processes.
• Oversee creation and management of emergency response, business continuity, standard operating procedures, and compliance plans for the organization.
• Manage and train disaster response teams, conduct regular safety drills and training sessions for staff and volunteers.

Financial and Contract Management

• Create and manage the department budget, ensuring expenditures comply with approved limits.
• Participate in the identification and selection of outside contractors for security and operational services; manage contracts and work with outside consultants for independent security audits.

External and Community Relations

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with local law enforcement and first responder agencies.
• Represent The Huntington in public agency interactions and community matters.

Professional Development

• Maintain and enhance professional skills through workshops, conferences, continuing education, and active participation in professional organizations.

About The Huntington:

The Huntington’s history began in 1919, when railroad and real estate businessman Henry Edwards Huntington and his wife, Arabella Duval Huntington, signed a trust document that transformed their private estate into a public institution. Their extensive library, art, and botanical collections were made available “to promote the public welfare.” Following Henry’s death in 1927, The Huntington opened publicly to visitors in 1928 and has grown over the past century to become an internationally renowned collections-based nonprofit institution that supports and promotes the humanities, the arts, and botanical science.

Today, The Huntington is a world-class research and educational institution, singular for the breadth and depth of its collections. The Huntington Library is one of the world’s great independent research libraries, with some 12 million items spanning the 11th to the 21st century, including more than 45,000 objects. The Botanical Gardens, encompassing roughly 130 acres, feature living collections in 16 themed gardens with more than 83,000 living plants and a laboratory for botanical conservation and research. Each year, some 2,000 scholars in the fields of history, literature, art history, and the history of science, technology, and medicine come from around the world to conduct academic research in the collections.

The continued digital growth of The Huntington’s online platforms play a critical role in fulfilling strategic priorities for education, engagement, and access. The Huntington’s mission is to share its world-renowned collections to support scholarship, foster learning, inspire creativity, and offer transformative experiences for diverse audiences.

Karen R. Lawrence assumed her position as the ninth president of The Huntington on Sept. 1, 2018, following a decade as president at Sarah Lawrence College. Relevance, access, and diversity have been important themes in President Lawrence’s leadership at The Huntington. In particular, she has championed the institution’s public mission, including enhancements to the visitor experience on-site and online as well as partnerships that expand The Huntington’s audiences and impact. President Lawrence leads a team of 11 senior staff, who direct more than 600 full- and part-time staff members.

The Huntington's Board of Trustees consists of seven individuals from wide-ranging backgrounds who hold fiduciary responsibility for the institution. A 67-member Board of Governors provides additional strategic oversight. The Huntington’s approximate annual operating budget is $87 million and its annual endowment is $882 million.

To learn more, please visit huntington.org and Strategic Plan | The Huntington.

Location: 

San Marino, CA

Candidate Requirements & Experience:

• At least 10 years of security and operations management for an equivalent sized institution, campus, or agency.
• Cultural institution experience, especially museum, library or botanical collections preferred.
• Bachelor of Science in Security Management or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Preferred certifications: Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Certified Institutional Protection Manager (CIPM), and Cultural Property Protection
• Demonstrate fluency in Office 365 applications, Microsoft Project, and industry related operating systems.

Working Conditions:

• Indoor office setting with frequent walks of the grounds and buildings.
• Moderate noise levels.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds.
• Must be available on a 24/7 basis.
• The Huntington is an extensive and diverse campus; the Security Director will have an office but be required to operate in all interior and exterior environments.

Compensation and Location:

This is a full-time, on-site position in San Marino, CA. The targeted salary is $150,000 - $175,000, commensurate with experience.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this job.

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of people with diverse backgrounds and voices will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.