Director, Venue Security

The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, California in 2028, returning to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. 2028 will be the first time LA hosts the Paralympic Games, creating an opportunity to expand awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.

LA28, the organizers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, is on a mission to create an unparalleled Games experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people. Our vision is to collectively create what’s next through sport, community and the power of our differences.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will represent LA and leverage the strength of our community’s diversity and creativity as we collectively work to design a Games that we all want to be a part of. We do this by focusing on people and by inviting everyone into the story of the LA28 Games.

The LA28 organizing committee is an independent, non-profit organization that is privately funded and governed by a board of directors. 

Our Vision is to collectively create what’s next by harnessing sport, community and the power of our differences. Our Mission is to create an unparalleled Paralympic and Olympic Games for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people.

Values and Behaviors:

• Optimism – Embody a positive, enthusiastic, and solution-oriented attitude in everything we do; challenge the status quo, inspire and support one another to achieve our best; have our eyes on the future and believe we can make a meaningful impact
• Integrity – We communicate openly and honestly, listen, and respectfully value multiple perspectives; we do what we say and are accountable for everything we do; we do the right thing, always. Even when it isn’t easy
• Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standard and expectations; we live our values and truths and persevere through challenges; we are continuous learners and adapt and pivot with speed to meet changing needs
• Inclusion – We seek to represent, include, empower and level the playing field; our work reflects the communities we serve and the world in which we live; we leverage our platforms to bring awareness to issues relevant to who we are
• Co-Creation – We are authors of a shared story. Everyone contributes their unique voice to our shared mission; we share pride in our accomplishments and ownership of our shortcomings
• Boldness – We embrace creativity, courage and outside-the-box thinking; we are unafraid to take risks, explore unconventional solutions, and learn from the process; we are innovators, disruptors, and challengers of the status quo

Director, Venue Security:

LA28’s Director, Venue Security will lead efforts to establish, refine, deliver, and operate venue security plans across all of the Games competition and non-competition venues. The role requires complex collaboration across LA28’s functional areas and external partners while maintaining credibility and ensuring key milestones are met.  LA28’s Director, Venue Security will report directly to LA28’s Senior Vice President, Safety & Security while working closely with staff across LA28’s Functional Areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all Venue Security aspects of the Event Operating Plan (EOP) development process, including coordination and alignment across multiple LA28 Functional Areas to ensure security operations can support Games delivery.
• In coordination with the Senior Vice President, Safety & Security, support planning and delivery activities with the Transportation Functional Area and local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure that venue security planning aligns with and supports transportation planning.
• Serve as the connection point between venue security operations and broader security operations, including the integration of the local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, to ensure security planning across all competition ad non-competition venues, along with coordination of various stakeholders, to include Athletes, Officials, Media, and other stakeholders between venues and competitions.
• In coordination with LA28’s Transportation, Cybersecurity, Technology, Communications, External Affairs, and other Functional Areas, to support communications and outreach to local residents, businesses, and other parties in support of venue security operation plans. Also assist in developing, editing, and refining communications materials prepared for or in support of community outreach and engagement activities related to venue security.
• Oversee the expansion of the Venue Security team to support Games delivery. This includes identifying key roles and responsibilities in the years prior to 2028, as well as identifying key personnel to fill those roles. This will require close coordination with LA28’s Personnel and Human Resources Team, as well as coordination on overall Games workforce development strategies, including both paid and volunteer workforce planning.
• Prepare meeting materials, agendas, minutes, and presentation decks to support the development and refinement of venue security plans and systems.
• Participate in meetings with key law enforcement partners, public and private agencies and Federal/State/Local agency staff to obtain funding for critical Games security needs related to the overall LA28 security plan.
• Assist in providing progress reports and updates to LA28 leadership and/or the IOC related to venue security.
• Conduct field/site survey reviews and participate in site testing and evaluations for specific components of venue security plans and systems.
• Ensure venue security plans accommodate the diverse needs of all Games participants, including athletes, officials, media, and spectators, especially those with disabilities or specific accessibility requirements.
• Lead outreach efforts to engage underrepresented communities in the communication of venue security operations to ensure the needs of local residents, minority communities, and marginalized groups are considered.

Background & Qualifications:

• A strong knowledge of venue security planning and operations, with a clear track record of successfully coordinating with multiple agencies and stakeholders to deliver complex transportation projects.
• Direct experience managing, delivering, and/or operating security operations and/or special event management at the local, state, federal, or international level.
• Strong business acumen with exceptional strategic thinking and project management skills.
• Aptitude for prioritizing and planning multi-stakeholder initiatives, providing direction when needed, empowering others, and removing obstacles to get work done.
• Ability to create effective relationships, influence, and collaborate at all organizational levels and across all partner groups.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to educate others on complex technical concepts, and to lead, facilitate, and present to large and small groups.
• Ability to gather and assess data and produce technical reports and/or slide decks.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint required. MS Project experience is also beneficial.
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Typically works in an office environment
• Occasional field activities will require walking and/or climbing stairs
• Some tasks may require participating in early morning meetings (e.g., 7:00am or earlier) and/or late afternoon meetings (e.g., 6:00pm or later). Occasionally this role will join other leaders in evening dinners and/or receptions.

Expectations:

• The ideal candidate has a unique blend of technical expertise, project management experience, stakeholder management abilities, and problem-solving skills. This individual is friendly, focused, collaborative, motivated, results-oriented, and committed to looking for new and better ways of delivering a sustainable mega-event. This individual is operational and data driven and finds value in working in a cross functional and matrixed environment.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in large scale venue security planning, design, construction, and operations, particularly as a part of a law enforcement agency and/or public/non-profit/for-profit entity that oversees large scale or mega-events. 

Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree or related field/equivalent work experience.

The annual base salary range for this position is $150,000.00 - $170,000.00. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28’s operational business needs and applicable law.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We strive to build a team that is diverse, inclusive and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We will consider all qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local law. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.