Director Of Safety And Security Services

Director, Safety And Security Services

Reporting to the Vice President, Tribal Community Services, the Director, Safety and Security Services provides executive-level leadership, command, and oversight for all safety and security support operations for Tribal Members, guests, vendors, and team members across the YSMN Reservation and all related properties. This role ensures delivery of high-quality, confidential, and culturally sensitive safety services, including Canine, Animal Control, Education Resource officers, Protective Services and Reservation surveillance assets. This role will oversee the deployment and coordination of specialized teams, manage strategic risk assessments, and direct emergency incident response while fostering strong interdepartmental and interagency partnerships. The position is responsible for developing and implementing standard operating procedures, incident response protocols, and safety policies aligned with Tribal governance and public safety best practices. This role will also serve as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor to Tribal leadership on safety, security, and emergency planning, ensuring operational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and community protection.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

1. Direct the daily operations, providing executive-level leadership, command, and oversight of Tribal safety, security and specialized services.

2. Administrative oversight of the deployment and coordination of specialized teams such as Canine, Animal Control, Education Resource officers, Protective Services and Reservation surveillance assets. Ensure optimal and efficient use of personnel, equipment, and resources in alignment with operational effectiveness. Build and sustain interdepartmental partnerships with all Tribal Government departments to streamline and enhance service levels, maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality and excellence for culturally sensitive and or urgent needs.

3. Lead the team in developing and executing strategies to assess and mitigate risks, manage liability, maintain operational continuity, and safeguard all physical and tangible Tribal assets. Ensure effective and efficient response to all Tribal concerns and public safety tasks such as crime detection, prevention, and Tribal welfare requests while maintaining administrative oversight of all assisting technology such as access control, counter-trespass measures, surveillance/suspect detection and drone operations.

4. Serve as the Incident Commander and or lead department representative during critical incidents, collaborating with all involved TGO departments such as Fire, OEM, Risk, Legal etc. Direct preparedness exercises, coordinating dignitary visits, cultural ceremonies, and community events requiring elevated safety measures, ensuring professional delivery of critical safety services and protection of the Tribe, culturally sensitive land/sites and assets.

5. Oversee budget planning, forecasting, and fiscal management for safety, security, and service operations. Ensure compliance with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal regulations, as well as department policies, procedures and public safety best practices.

6. When necessary, act on behalf of the TCS Vice President, as the primary liaison for Tribal Community or government related requests and special events, ensuring timely and effective responses. Collaborate with other TGO departments such as the Office of Tribal Government to conduct safety assessments, planning strategies and other SOP's related to incident response in alignment with Tribal governances.

7. Oversee the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations to ensure alignment with State, Federal, and Tribal Government requirements. Act as a subject matter expert and executive advisor to Tribal leadership on safety, security, and emergency planning.

8. Identify and implement security goals, objectives, and performance metrics consistent with the Tribal strategic plan, ensuring that departmental operations and procedures support these objectives.

9. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies to enhance operational coordination and emergency response capabilities.

10. Performs other duties as assigned to support the efficient operation of the department.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning reviewing and directing work; evaluating and appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Makes hiring decisions and designs individual development plans with succession planning in mind for all key roles.

Education, Experience And Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Tribal Governance, Emergency Management, or a related field is required.
• Master's degree in a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years' experience in corporate security, law enforcement and or other first responder/safety related field(s) is required.
• Minimum of seven (7) years' experience at the manager or executive-level is required.
• Related, relevant, and/or direct experience may be considered in lieu of minimum educational requirements indicated above.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities (KSA)

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex safety, security and other first responder related operations, and coordinate across departments to build consensus among diverse stakeholders. Skilled in managing multiple high-priority tasks under pressure, mediating conflicts, and making sound decisions in high-stakes environments preferred.
• Extensive experience in public safety or other related operations, risk and threat assessment, emergency preparedness, and liability management. Proficient in incident command systems (ICS/NIMS), executive protection protocols, and critical incident response. Skilled in deploying resources effectively during both routine operations and emergencies preferred.
• Expertise in developing and implementing safety policies, procedures, and operational protocols that protect privacy, well-being, and physical security. Strong knowledge of tribal governance structures, interdepartmental functions, applicable laws, and regulatory standards at the tribal, state, and federal levels preferred.
• Deep understanding of Indigenous cultures, with specific knowledge of the Yuhaviaatam of San Manuel Nation history, governance, and self-sustainability vision. Able to deliver executive-level, confidential services to Tribal members, ensuring sensitivity, discretion, confidentiality and cultural respect preferred.
• Knowledge of safety technologies, security infrastructure, surveillance systems, and emergency communications platforms. Experienced in evaluating, selecting, and integrating technology to improve security, communication, data management, and service delivery preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to prepare professional correspondence, executive reports, strategic briefings, and safety evaluations. Adept at articulating complex information to Tribal Council, executive leadership, and diverse audiences preferred.
• Ability to anticipate emerging risks, conduct comprehensive risk assessments, and develop proactive, strategic solutions. Skilled in compiling operational performance data, identifying trends, and making recommendations to enhance safety, security, and member service operations preferred.

Licenses, Certifications And Registrations

• At the discretion of the San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission, you may be required to obtain and maintain a gaming license.
• Obtain and maintain a valid BSIS Gun, Guard Card, and DPS Training Requirements, including passing BSIS courses in Powers of Arrest and Firearms Certification.
• Comply with all current requirements set forth by the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) for Armed Security Officers within 90 days of employment.
• Authorized Driver: Role requires operation or driving of Tribe-owned vehicles or driving patron vehicles. A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record as determined by the insurance carrier is required.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions – Environment

• Primary work environment is in a climate-controlled office setting.
• Work requires travel to attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences.
• Incumbents may be required to work evening, weekend and holiday shifts.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
• Strength sufficient to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects and/or move up to 40 pounds occasionally.
• Sedentary work: involves sitting most of the time. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Physical activities that apply to the essential functions of the position are balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Hearing sufficient to hear conversational levels in person, via videoconference and over the telephone.
• Speech sufficient to make oneself heard and understood in person, in front of groups, in meetings, via videoconference and over the telephone.
• Visual acuity that meets the requirements of the position: The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; expansive reading and visual inspection of employees, visitors or facility.
• Mobility sufficient to safely move in an office environment, walk, stoop, bend and kneel, and enter, exit and operate a motor vehicle in the course of travel to promotional events, meetings, conferences, trade shows and San Manuel properties.
• Endurance sufficient to sit, walk and stand for extended periods, and maintain efficiency throughout the entire work shift and during extended work hours.