Head of Events Security

Auckland Council; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working practices

Professional development

Health, wellbeing and lifestyle gains

Discounts across providers

Diversity and belonging

Job summary

Auckland Council's Tātaki Auckland Unlimited invites applications for Head of Event Security to lead strategic security governance and crowd safety across major events and venues. You will shape risk-based planning, partner with police and emergency services, and deliver robust assurance.

The role requires senior leadership in event security, performance management of providers, and a strong focus on safety, compliance and resilience during high-profile gatherings, with flexible hours to support

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in event security or related fields.
• Experience leading security planning for major events.
• Strong understanding of protective security, crowd safety and incident management.
• Ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and regulators.
• Experience developing strategy and governance programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development and continuous improvement of event security and crowd safety frameworks across TAU.
• Provide expert advice on security risk, protective security, crowd safety and emergency preparedness for major events and venues.
• Oversee the development and approval of Security Management Plans, Crowd Management Plans and event emergency response arrangements.
• Establish security governance, assurance and compliance processes aligned with legislative and industry requirements.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with New Zealand Police, emergency services, government agencies, venue operators and event organisers.
• Provide leadership during planning, delivery and response phases of significant events and incidents.
• Lead contracted security service providers to ensure high standards of performance, professionalism and visitor experience.
• Monitor emerging security threats and industry trends, ensuring organisational preparedness and resilience.
• Contribute to organisational crisis management, emergency management and business continuity capability

Skills

Senior leadership

Security planning

Stakeholder influence

Risk assessment

Incident management

Budget management

Health & safety

Security qualifications

Education

COA certification

Risk management qualification

Emergency management qualification

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) is Auckland's cultural, events and destination agency, responsible for delivering some of New Zealand's most significant venues, experiences and major events.

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Event Security to lead the strategic planning, assurance and delivery of security and crowd safety outcomes across TAU's events and venues portfolio.

This is more than a security management role. It is a senior leadership position responsible for ensuring Auckland's major events are underpinned by robust security governance, effective risk management and industry-leading crowd safety practices. From internationally significant sporting fixtures and concerts to large-scale civic and cultural events, you will play a pivotal role in enabling safe, secure and successful experiences for attendees, organisers and stakeholders.

Reporting to the General Manager Visitor Safety and Security, you will provide expert leadership across event security, protective security, crowd safety and emergency preparedness. You will work closely with event owners, venue operators, emergency services, government agencies and security partners to identify emerging risks, strengthen organisational capability and ensure operational readiness across a diverse and complex events environment.

This role offers a rare opportunity to influence security outcomes at a strategic level while contributing to the delivery of some of Auckland's most visible and high-profile events

• Lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of event security and crowd safety frameworks across TAU.
• Provide expert advice on security risk, protective security, crowd safety and emergency preparedness for major events and venues.
• Oversee the development and approval of Security Management Plans, Crowd Management Plans and event emergency response arrangements.
• Establish security governance, assurance and compliance processes aligned with legislative and industry requirements.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with New Zealand Police, emergency services, government agencies, venue operators and event organisers.
• Provide leadership during planning, delivery and response phases of significant events and incidents.
• Lead contracted security service providers to ensure high standards of performance, professionalism and visitor experience.
• Monitor emerging security threats and industry trends, ensuring organisational preparedness and resilience.
• Contribute to organisational crisis management, emergency management and business continuity capability

You are a seasoned security, public safety or emergency management leader with a proven ability to influence outcomes in complex, high-profile environments.

You combine strategic thinking with practical delivery experience and have a reputation for building trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups. You understand that great security outcomes are achieved through planning, collaboration, risk-based decision making and strong leadership.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Significant senior leadership experience in event security, public safety, emergency management, policing, defence, aviation, transport, critical infrastructure or a comparable operational environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading security planning and delivery for major events, large public gatherings or complex operational programmes.
• Strong understanding of protective security, threat and risk assessment, crowd safety and incident management principles.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, regulators, emergency services and external partners.
• Extensive experience developing strategy, frameworks, policies and operational assurance programmes.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability, including management of service providers and operational budgets.
• Sound understanding of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and associated regulatory obligations.
• Relevant tertiary or professional qualifications in security (COA), risk management, emergency management, business, planning or a related discipline.

Experience within policing, defence, emergency management, stadium operations, critical infrastructure or major events will be highly regarded.

This role requires flexibility to support significant events and operational activities outside normal business hours when required.

At Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the safety and success of some of New Zealand's most significant events and public experiences.

As part of the Auckland Council Group, you'll also enjoy access to a range of benefits, including:

• Flexible working practices where operationally appropriate.
• Professional development and career growth opportunities.
• Health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits.
• Discounts across a range of retail, financial and lifestyle providers.
• A collaborative and inclusive workplace committed to diversity, equity and belonging.

Most importantly, you'll join a team passionate about creating safe, secure and welcoming environments for Auckland's communities and visitors. In addition, you’ll be joining a team of dedicated and respected experts working collaboratively across the region to contribute to Auckland’s growth and development.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is part of the Auckland Council whānau, responsible for Auckland Live, Auckland Zoo, Auckland Conventions, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, New Zealand Maritime Museum, Auckland Stadiums, and many of the festivals and events that make Auckland a great place to live and visit.

Our people are driven by passion and a sense of service to Aucklanders. What we share is our love of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and our passion about the work we each do to make it a dynamic and exciting place.

Each part of Tātaki is important, but when we come together, we bind into something more powerful than the sum of our parts. We all work in partnership with each other and our delivery partners, to make Tāmaki Makaurau a vibrant place where everyone can thrive.