Security Services Director

Getty

Getty, one of the world’s most influential cultural and philanthropic organizations dedicated to the visual arts, seeks a transformative and forward-thinking security leader to serve as Security Services Director.

Reporting to and in partnership with the Assistant Vice President (AVP) Visitor & Security Services, the Security Services Director is the senior operational leader of security across all Getty properties. This individual leads a team of 295 and is responsible for ensuring safe, secure, and welcoming environments across the Getty Center, Getty Villa, and additional Getty-owned and leased facilities.

Getty is looking for a leader who understands that the future of security is rapidly evolving and who can thoughtfully modernize how security is practiced at a premier cultural institution. The successful candidate will challenge traditional models where appropriate, leverage emerging technologies, and help redefine what service-oriented security looks like at one of the world’s most celebrated cultural institutions.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, innovative, and collaborative leader who brings a genuine passion for both security excellence and guest experience. This individual is as comfortable in conversation with a museum curator as they are reviewing an incident report or evaluating a new access control system. The successful candidate will lead with transparency, build trust across all levels of the organization, and inspire teams to perform at their best. Experience in a museum, cultural institution, academic campus, theme park, hospitality environment, or similarly complex public-facing organization is strongly preferred. Getty is particularly interested in candidates who have successful lead organizations through change, including implementing new systems, service models, or operational approaches while maintain team cohesion and institutional trust.

Key responsibilities for the role include:

• Partner with the AVP to develop and implement comprehensive, forward-looking security strategies for all Getty properties and collections
• Provide direct oversight of daily security operations with 24/7 accountability across all sites
• Lead workforce planning, staffing models, and deployment strategies to ensure effective, efficient coverage
• Champion a culture of professionalism, inclusivity, accountability, and visitor-centered service across the security team
• Lead emergency preparedness planning and serve as a primary incident commander during emergencies and special events
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to improve situational awareness, operational effectiveness, and the visitor experience
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement, fire departments, emergency services, and industry peers
• Collaborate with Facilities, Legal, Human Resources, and other departments to assess risk and ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory standards
• Act on behalf of the AVP during absences, emergencies, and high-profile events as required

Qualifications for the role include a bachelor’s degree in business, criminal justice, management, or a related field (advanced degree preferred) and a minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in security, operations, visitor engagement, or a similar role, including at least 5 years in a senior level role. The role requires a strong knowledge of physical security systems, emergency management, and large-scale public operations and the successful candidate must have demonstrated ability to evaluate and implement emerging security technologies, including AI-enabled tools, as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively across all organizational levels. The ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as required.

For a full list of responsibilities and qualifications, please view the full position description.

Getty has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Katie Dean, Senior Partner, and  Thomas Lapierre, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations should be submitted by email to Thomas at thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net. To be considered by Getty’s search committee, candidates must provide a resume and a letter of introduction that addresses the specific responsibilities, expectations, and qualifications described above. Please consult Opus Partners for more information about the application process.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The anticipated salary range is between $180,000 and $215,000. The exact salary that will be offered will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and aligned with Getty’s compensation policies. Getty provides a generous and comprehensive benefits package. For more information, visit Getty HR.

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Getty is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.