DIRECTOR, SECURITY & PUBLIC SAFETY

Longwood Gardens, PA; Kennett Square (Chester County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA, seeks a Director of Security & Public Safety to lead risk management, emergency preparedness, and incident response across guest spaces and operations.

You will set strategic direction, manage budgets and staffing, oversee CCTV and access control, and build partnerships with law enforcement. This role requires at least 10 years of leadership in security in complex public-facing environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership in security/public safety or related field.
• Experience leading security operations in complex public-facing environments (museums, campuses, venues).
• Knowledge of laws and licensing related to security/public safety, including PA Private Security regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead Security & Public Safety with strategic direction, policies, and operating standards.
• Develop a high-performing team with accountability and professional growth.
• Manage budgets, staffing, labor deployment, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Build partnerships with law enforcement, emergency responders, and public safety stakeholders.
• Lead risk assessment, emergency preparedness, business continuity, and weather-response planning.
• Direct response and recovery for emergencies, incidents, and operational disruptions.
• Oversee daily security operations, event security, access control, and asset protection.
• Monitor threats and provide timely risk intelligence to executives.
• Promote safety culture through training, communications, and awareness initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Risk management

Emergency prep

Incident response

Business continuity

Public safety programs

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Team development

Policy compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Access control

Surveillance systems

Communications systems

Workforce management

Incident reporting systems

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

DIRECTOR, SECURITY & PUBLIC SAFETY

Full Time Director Kennett Square, PA, US

As one of the great gardens of the world located just 30 miles outside of Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens is rooted in a steadfast mission of bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning. Across our many departments, every staff member creates the magic that makes our Gardens distinctive. Our team of dynamic professionals is what sets us apart, and our spirit of legacy, innovation, and opportunity is what guides us. While beauty is our heart, our people are our soul.

Longwood Gardens is seeking a Director of Security & Public Safety to lead the organization’s security, preparedness, and incident-response capabilities in support of a safe, welcoming, and resilient environment for guests, staff, volunteers, students, and operations. This role combines strategic risk planning with strong day-to-day operational leadership, bringing sound business judgment, labor discipline, and thoughtful use of technology to protect people, property, and organizational assets while supporting Longwood’s mission and guest experience. Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead Longwood Gardens' Security & Public Safety function, establishing the strategic direction, policies, programs, and operating standards that support a safe, welcoming, and resilient environment for guests, staff, volunteers, students, and operations.
• Develop and lead a high-performing Security & Public Safety team, fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, engagement, continuous learning, and professional growth.
• Manage departmental operating and capital budgets, staffing strategies, labor deployment, scheduling, and resource allocation to balance risk management, service excellence, and financial stewardship.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with law enforcement, emergency responders, government agencies, municipalities, and other public safety stakeholders to support emergency response, traffic management, and major event operations.
• Lead enterprise-wide risk assessment, emergency preparedness, business continuity, resilience, and weather-response planning initiatives to strengthen organizational readiness and operational continuity.
• Direct response and recovery efforts related to emergencies, security incidents, criminal activity, severe weather, environmental events, property loss, and other operational disruptions.
• Oversee daily security operations, event security planning, crowd management, physical security programs, patrol strategies, access-control procedures, and asset-protection measures across the organization.
• Monitor emerging threats, operational risks, and external conditions, maintaining situational awareness and providing executive leadership with timely intelligence, recommendations, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Promote a culture of safety and preparedness through organization-wide training, communications, exercises, education, and awareness initiatives.
• Oversee the strategy, performance, maintenance, and continuous improvement of security and life-safety systems, including CCTV, access control, intrusion detection, communications, fire safety, and incident-management technologies.
• Manage relationships with security vendors, contractors, and technology partners to ensure effective service delivery, support, and system performance.

We are seeking a strategic and collaborative leader with a passion for public safety and a proven ability to balance risk management, operational excellence, and exceptional guest experiences. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred, along with a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in security, public safety, risk management, emergency preparedness, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading security operations, emergency preparedness, incident response, business continuity, event security, and public safety programs within complex public-facing environments such as cultural institutions, attractions, campuses, resorts, venues, or similar destinations.
• Strong operational leadership experience with the ability to navigate diverse stakeholders, balance competing priorities, and make sound business and risk-management decisions.
• Proven success managing budgets, staffing models, labor productivity and resource allocation.
• Experience evaluating, implementing, and overseeing security and life-safety technologies, including access control, surveillance, communications, workforce-management, and incident-reporting systems.
• Strong knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, industry standards, and licensing requirements related to security and public safety, including Pennsylvania Private Security regulations.
• Proven leadership, communication, and team-development skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, build high-performing teams, and translate complex security issues into clear business recommendations.
• Experience collaborating across functions, including Environmental, Health & Safety and other operational teams, is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and during emergency situations as needed.
• Passion for mission-driven organizations and an appreciation for the role public safety plays in creating exceptional experiences for guests, staff, volunteers, and the community.

Longwood Gardens is committed to nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment that celebrates the complexities and differences of all living things. We welcome and respect diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives. Diversity creates a more beautiful world, sparks innovation, and unites us