Senior Manager, Event Security

Rip City•Portland, OR

13h

About The Position

Become a part of the team behind the team . As employees of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter, we do more than basketball. We are blazing trails toward winning championships on and off the court . We are pioneers and innovators. We look for people who push boundaries, who dream, who are committed to inclusivity – who want to contribute to Rip City! As our Senior Manager of Event Security, you will lead all event-related security operations at the Rose Quarter, ensuring the safety of our guests, employees, artists, players, and partners. This role oversees both internal and third-party event security teams and is responsible for delivering safe, seamless, and well-executed security operations for every event across campus. You will play a critical leadership role in planning and executing security strategies, strengthening cross-functional partnerships, and continuously elevating our event security standards. The ideal candidate brings strong operational leadership, sound decision-making, and the ability to manage high-visibility, fast-paced environments with professionalism and composure.

Requirements

Demonstrate a genuine commitment to building, hiring, and fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team environment.
Are comfortable working with a variety of security and workplace technologies, such as Microsoft Office, CCTV systems, access control platforms, incident reporting tools, screening technology, and radio communication systems.
Can produce clear, accurate, and professional documentation, including incident reports and summaries appropriate for senior leadership and external partners.
Remain calm, composed, and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure, high-visibility, or emotionally charged situations while maintaining strict confidentiality.
Have strong people leadership skills and experience developing teams — including setting expectations, providing feedback, coaching for growth, and maintaining accountability and morale.
Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively across departments and with external partners to solve problems and drive alignment.
Take initiative and ownership of your work, operating independently while building trust-based working relationships.
Demonstrate strong situational awareness and sound risk assessment skills, with the ability to anticipate challenges and implement proactive solutions.
Are committed to continuous improvement and use data, debriefs, and after-action reviews to strengthen planning and performance.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Emergency Management, Security Administration, or a related field.
Experience leading security operations in a large venue, sports, entertainment, live event , or high-traffic public environment.
Experience managing or partnering with third-party security vendors, contract staff, or external service providers.
Training or certifications related to emergency management, incident command, or crisis response (such as FEMA ICS, NIMS, or similar).
Advanced certifications such as Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Physical Security Professional (PSP), or similar.
Familiarity with ADA requirements and accessibility best practices as they relate to security planning and the guest experience.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for event security operations across the campus, setting the direction , standards, and execution framework to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, risk tolerance, regulatory requirements, and guest experience expectations.
Own the event security operating budget, including forecasting, staffing models, vendor spend , and cost-control strategies, ensuring efficient and scalable deployment of security resources across a high-volume, multi-venue event calendar.
Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive event security plans, including crowd management, ingress and egress strategies, perimeter and access control systems, screening and prohibited item enforcement, emergency response and evacuation planning, Incident Command System (ICS) activation protocols, and severe weather, fire/life safety, and major incident preparedness in collaboration with the Facility Security Team.
Partner closely with cross-functional leaders to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate security and safety risks through threat assessments, vulnerability analysis, insurance and liability considerations, incident trend tracking, and preventative strategy development and implementation.
Lead, coach, and develop Event Security Managers by establishing clear expectations, accountability structures, and leadership development plans to build a high-performing and future-ready security leadership team.
Establish training, certification, and performance standards for all security personnel, including part-time staff and third-party vendors, ensuring consistent execution, compliance, and readiness across all events.
Serve as the primary operational liaison for public safety partners, including law enforcement and emergency medical services, coordinating joint planning, event coverage, and emergency response collaboration.
Provide real-time leadership during events, making high-stakes operational decisions and directing response efforts in dynamic and high-pressure environments.
Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry best practices, including life safety codes, crowd management standards, and venue security frameworks used across the sports and entertainment industry.
Own documentation and reporting standards for event security, including event security plans, post orders, incident reporting and tracking, post-event debriefs, and after-action reports that drive continuous improvement.
Ensure all security personnel maintain required certifications and training appropriate to their role, venue, and event risk profile.
Own the strategy and oversight of all security and safety vendors, ensuring service quality, regulatory compliance, and alignment with organizational standards.
Champion a culture of preparedness, accountability, and continuous improvement by leveraging data, feedback, and lessons learned to evolve and strengthen event security operations over time.