Assistant Director - Campus Event Security

Utah Valley University•Orem, UT

34d

About The Position

Join Utah Valley University as the Assistant Director of Event Safety & Security and play a pivotal role in creating safe, seamless, and memorable experiences for the campus community. In this leadership role, you'll guide security, medical, and crowd-management teams; shape event safety plans from initial risk assessment through post-event review; and ensure that every guest interaction-from screening to credentialing and access-is grounded in professionalism, preparedness, and care. You'll oversee core safety technologies, develop policies and emergency action plans, and design training that empowers staff and partners to perform at their best. This position is ideal for a collaborative, mission-driven professional who thrives in dynamic environments and values both operational excellence and community well-being. You'll work closely with UVU Police, Emergency Management, Risk Management, Athletics, Student Affairs, and external partners to align safety practices with university standards and industry expectations. Your leadership will directly support UVU's commitment to providing a secure, welcoming atmosphere for students, guests, and event clients-helping elevate the university's reputation as a premier venue for campus and community events.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Sport/Event Management, Risk Management, or a closely related field plus two years of experience directly related to the summary of duties; OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience totaling 6 years.
Valid driver's license and insurable driving record.
Knowledge of safety and security principles, regulations, and industry best practices for large public venues.
Knowledge of OSHA requirements, including bloodborne pathogens/universal precautions for safe biohazard cleanup.
Knowledge of Crowd psychology and crowd-management principles (ingress/egress, queuing, surge control).
Knowledge of Two-way radio etiquette and clear, concise incident communications.
Knowledge of Security technologies: CCTV/VMS, access control systems, incident reporting tools, and basic lighting/control systems.
Knowledge of Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for plans, rosters, reports, and briefings).
Strong interpersonal and written/oral communication; able to brief staff and liaise with stakeholders at all levels.
Operational planning: develop cost estimates, staffing models, timelines, and deployment sheets aligned to event risk.
Technical troubleshooting of security equipment (radios/chargers, access control devices, cameras, NVRs/VMS) and coordination of repairs.
Leadership and team building: coach, evaluate, and motivate in-house and contracted personnel; set performance expectations.
Training design and delivery: create drills/tabletops; produce clear SOPs, quick-reference guides, and post orders.
Decision-making under pressure; prioritize tasks and allocate resources in dynamic environments.
Ability to meet deadlines; follow and produce clear written and verbal instructions; maintain accurate documentation.
Ability to perform duties in strenuous/adverse conditions (standing/walking long periods; stairs; indoor/outdoor weather).
Ability to safely operate light trucks, forklifts/lift trucks, and boom lifts (or obtain certification within set timeframe).
Ability to Implement effective crowd-control techniques and direct guest flow during routine operations and incidents.
Ability to Maintain a detail-oriented, organized workflow; multi-task and adapt to last-minute changes.
Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency/life-safety situations; apply reason and logic to assess risk and choose tactics.
Ability to provide clear training, direction, and feedback to security, crowd-management, and medical teams.
Ability to apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate risks, identify trends, and develop mitigation strategies.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, serving as Event Security Manager on Duty for nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
Ability to develop and implement security programs, policies, procedures, and after-action improvements.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience planning and executing guest screening/access control, credentialing, perimeter/post assignments, and incident coordination during live events.
Formal training in crowd management, venue security, or emergency management (e.g., Crowd Manager training that aligns with NFPA/IAVM standards.)

Responsibilities

Lead security planning and on-site management for all events on campus, which also include all UCCU venues and the Lockhart Arena. Conduct risk assessments; coordinate security advances; produce event security briefings and deployment sheets; and define ingress/egress plans, perimeter/zoning, credentialing, and response roles. Ensure screening plans e.g., walkthrough magnetometers, wanding, bag checks are right sized to the event profile and compliant with venue guidance and local codes. Align plans with UVU Police and the Major Events Assessment Committee MEAC and incorporate current public-venue security guidance where applicable.
Oversee the full employee life cycle for managerial roles. This includes performance management, coaching, extending learning and career growth opportunities, recognition and rewards, and offboarding. Ensure designated "Crowd Managers" complete compliant training e.g., IAVM Trained Crowd Manager/NFPA -aligned content and develop refresher training on guest-service posture, incident response, radio discipline, and use of screening equipment.
Collaborate with UCCU Management, UVU Police, UVU Fire Marshal, and Emergency Management to build and deliver a recurring training calendar: safety presentations, tabletop exercises, and practical drills evacuation, shelter, medical, suspicious activity. Standardize operating procedures and emergency action plans; ensure front-of-house teams Ticketing, Guest Services, Custodial Services understand crowd-flow basics-aisle/egress integrity, access control, and clear patron directions during incidents.
Manage all staffing schedules for security, crowd managers, EMT's, and police officers based on event risk and deployment sheets. When contracted security is required, solicit quotes/bids, define scope and post counts, verify hours/service levels, and process vendor invoices per university procedures. Maintain vendor compliance documentation and quality standards consistent with established event-security scopes access control, crowd management, entry screening. Maintain incident reports, training logs, staffing records, and after-action reviews; track trends and implement corrective actions. Oversee readiness of core security technologies radios/communications, access control, CCTV and basic user provisioning/troubleshooting. Contribute to continuous improvement projects that strengthen the venue's security posture and guest experience.
Represent Campus Events and Security on MEAC meetings and participate in weekly event planning meetings; communicate security requirements, timelines, and decisions to venue leadership. Coordinate closely with UVU Police/Emergency Management on campus frameworks so event practices align with institutional expectations.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

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