Security Manager

The Security Manager provides strategic leadership for the Science Museum of Minnesota’s comprehensive physical security program. Grounded in the museum’s mission, this role ensures the continuous protection of people, assets, and collections by seamlessly balancing strict security protocols with an emphasis on cultural competency. The Security Manager is directly accountable for training and deployment of security personnel, administers critical security and life safety infrastructure, and is the primary liaison to external public safety and law enforcement agencies.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Key accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for hiring, training, and coaching Security unit employees: manage schedules, build staff engagement, encourage and provide professional development opportunities, and manage work expectations, goals, and performance. 

• Establish annual Security unit goals to ensure alignment with department, division, and organizational strategic initiatives and priorities; monitor progress to ensure optimal performance with available resources. 

• Partner closely with the visitor experience, public programming, and education departments to create cohesive standard operating procedures to support positive customer interactions, focused on cultural competency and empathetic de-escalation, without compromising security and safety protocols.

• Build a network of key internal and external stakeholders including museum leadership, community partners, government and law enforcement agencies, professional industry groups, local and national regulatory agencies, and private sector counterparts. 

• Design and implement a scalable security matrix for museum events, facility rentals, and VIP visits; review access control, guest screening, and crowd management strategies with event organizers and shift leads. 

• Collaborate with the collections and exhibits departments to apply and enforce recognized cultural property protection standards to safeguard artifacts in storage and exhibits; ensure security asset placement and patrols protect sensitive objects from theft, vandalism, environmental, or accidental damage. 

• Responsible for Security unit communications, including all-staff messages, intranet,  external customer service, signage, and documentation. 

• Manage the daily operations of the Security Operations Center (SOC) to guarantee the continuous performance of critical systems (surveillance, alarms, fire, radio, and access control). 

• Control all unit assets and supplies, oversee preventive maintenance on equipment, and lead contract management and procurement efforts in alignment with organizational guidelines and the forecasted budget.

• Partner with the museum technology department to administer and configure networked physical security systems; establish and audit user access profiles and oversee hardware lifecycle replacements for surveillance and access devices.  

• Onboard and monitor performance of vendors, contractors, and service providers supporting the Security unit and ensure that terms of agreements are met and that their work is completed satisfactorily.

• Conduct routine security surveys to assess security related threats, identify vulnerabilities, and mitigate risks. 

• May act as command for incident response (e.g., acts of vandalism, trespassing, or other crime against the business, medical emergencies, loss prevention, lost child or vulnerable adult, etc. ) and is the primary point of contact for local law enforcement and public safety agencies for the business. 

• Maintain the emergency response plan and execute regular building-wide drills (e.g., fire evacuation, severe weather sheltering, and active threat scenarios) for all personnel and contractors in partnership with Human Resources. 

• Facilitate formal after-action reviews and post-incident debriefs following critical security incidents; analyze response timelines, identify operational gaps, and implement corrective actions or policy updates.  

• Develop and administer policies and procedures relative to the safety and security of personnel, visitors, buildings, and assets in partnership with Human Resources.   

May serve as department Manager on Duty in the absence of Director.

Required Competencies

1. Communication: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others and ensures that information is shared with others who should be informed.
2. Collaboration: Develops, maintains, and strengthens partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
3. Customer Service: Demonstrates an understanding of the SMM mission by ensuring that their own interactions with internal and external customers consistently support the mission. 
4. Fostering an Inclusive Community: Contributes to a museum environment, and people, that reflect and respond to the diverse needs and cultures of our community (internal and external).
5. Results Orientation: Focuses on providing a best in class visitor experience through work outcomes by meeting personal and organizational work objectives.

Qualifications

Required education, experience, and proficiencies: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Business Administration, Museum Studies, or a related field (or an equivalent, clearly documented combination of formal training and extensive field experience as determined by the hiring manager). 
• At least five years of progressive experience in security operations, emergency management, criminal justice, law enforcement, loss prevention, or another related field.   
• At least three years of direct supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes.
• Basic certifications in CPR, First-Aid, and AED and the physical ability to administer these services in an emergency.

Preferred experience and certifications:

• Industry recognized security and cultural property protection certifications (Physical Security Professional (PSP), Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Certified Institutional Protection Manager (CIPM), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
• Experience with emergency response utilizing the FEMA Incident Command System (ICS).
• OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour General Industry Certification.
• Fluency in language(s) other than English is valued.

Work Environment

• The primary work environment is an on-site office setting.
• The position requires flexible availability, including nights, weekends, and holidays. 
• Required to safely access: museum artifact storage, biology labs, and fabrication shop spaces; building system spaces such as roofs, mechanical and electrical rooms, and interior and exterior construction sites. 
• Ability to work in and around visitors and personnel in a busy public museum setting.
• Occasional travel off-site is required.

The starting salary for this role is: $70,202 -86,000/year