Director, Safety and Security

About the Organization

The Atlanta Hawks operate a professional basketball franchise and a modern arena and entertainment destination built around delivering memorable experiences for every guest. The environment is fast-moving and centered on live sports, concerts, comedy, family events, and other major productions, with a strong emphasis on efficiency, excellence, and high-energy teamwork.

About You

The ideal candidate is passionate about sports, live entertainment, and guest interaction. You should enjoy creating positive experiences, communicating effectively, and supporting a team that is focused on performance, service, and continuous improvement. This role suits someone who thrives in a busy setting and takes pride in helping guests leave with a lasting impression.

Role Summary

The Director of Event Safety & Security is responsible for leading all security planning, event-day execution, and ongoing improvements to security operations at State Farm Arena. The position ensures a secure yet welcoming environment for guests, employees, tenants, vendors, and contractors across all events. It also involves supervising security leaders and staff, partnering across departments, and acting as the main point of contact for law enforcement and government agencies. Success in this role is reflected in safe, seamless, guest-focused events delivered with professionalism and strong operational control.

Primary Responsibilities

• Own security planning and event execution for arena events, including building deployment sheets, running pre-event briefings, and coordinating coverage with internal teams.
• Supervise, coach, and assess security supervisors and staff while building a high-performance culture aligned with company policies, legal requirements, and industry standards.
• Handle recruiting, interviewing, selection, and onboarding of security personnel so staffing levels, training, and readiness match event needs.
• Act as the on-duty Security Manager for assigned events and make timely decisions to resolve incidents effectively as they occur.
• Create, roll out, and update security policies, programs, and procedures to protect the venue and remain compliant with relevant regulations.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Enforce arena rules and procedures, and ensure prompt handling of policy violations, guest complaints, and employee concerns according to established processes.
• Investigate accidents, criminal activity, and security-related incidents involving people or property, then document findings and recommend corrective measures.
• Work with promoters, event organizers, and third-party agencies to determine security requirements, prepare security advances, and align on event-specific plans.
• Assist with scheduling and payroll administration for event security personnel in partnership with department leadership.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop and conduct training sessions, safety presentations, tabletop exercises, and practical drills to keep staff operationally prepared.
• Stay current on emergency procedures and regulations and contribute to the arena’s emergency preparedness planning.
• Advise department leaders and senior management with expert input on security planning, risk evaluation, and emergency response strategies.
• Coordinate security arrangements for high-profile government officials and dignitaries while working with federal agencies such as the FBI and Secret Service, as well as the Atlanta Police Department and other metro law enforcement partners.
• Represent the Security department in committees, cross-functional meetings, and industry forums, and support the Vice President of Safety & Security when needed.
• Carry out other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Security Management, or a closely related field; equivalent education and experience may be accepted.
• At least 4 years of progressive experience in event security or a related area, including direct supervision of full-time and part-time staff; experience in sports and entertainment is strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of crowd management concepts, human behavior, and crowd control methods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief audiences ranging from frontline staff to senior leaders.
• Excellent organization and the ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced, event-driven environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, CCTV systems, and access control systems.
• Working knowledge of ABI scheduling software or an equivalent workforce management platform.
• Must pass a criminal background check, motor vehicle check, and employment verification before hire.
• Must be available for evenings, weekends, and holidays based on the event schedule.

Preferred Qualifications

• Security management certification such as CPP or PSP, or emergency management certification such as FEMA ICS/NIMS.
• Experience building and running large-scale security programs for venues with more than 15,000 seats.
• Established connections with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Familiarity with DHS/SAFETY Act venue certification or similar federal security compliance programs.
• Background managing security for high-profile or nationally televised sporting events.

Additional Information

Applicants must fully finish the application process on the follow-up screen after selecting Apply Now. The employer is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected status. If this role interests you, you are encouraged to complete the application process.