Safety & Security Director

SALARY & FLSA: $111,425.60 - $167,128.00 per year; FLSA exempt
The $111,425.60 annual/hourly starting pay is structured to be competitive and may extend up to the $139,276.80 midpoint of the annual range, reflecting our commitment to offering competitive compensation to qualified candidates.

OPENING DATE: 10/27/2025
CLOSING DATE: 11/17/2025 This position may close early if a sufficient number of qualified applications are received.
JOB TYPE: Regular, Full-time
UNION: Non-Represented
OPENINGS: 1
LOCATION: Onsite
DEPARTMENT: Safety & Security

HOW DO YOU ZOO?
More than 1.3 million people visit Woodland Park Zoo each year. We connect people with wildlife and remind them of what’s at stake in our changing world. Our job is to motivate people to take action and provide them with the tools needed to join us in saving endangered species. Working for the zoo means upholding our mission, “To save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.” Apply today and show us how you zoo.

WHO YOU ARE
As our new Safety & Security Director, we know you will be successful in this role because you are:

• A strategic and proactive safety leader – You bring deep expertise in health, safety, and security programs, and know how to design systems that protect people, animals, and property while building a culture of safety excellence across the organization.
• An effective communicator and relationship builder – With strong interpersonal skills, you collaborate with staff at all levels, community partners, and regulatory agencies to ensure alignment, compliance, and a shared commitment to safety and security.
• Data-informed and solutions-focused – You use metrics, incident analysis, and regulatory insights to identify trends, anticipate risks, and develop creative, cost-effective strategies that drive continuous improvement.
• Calm under pressure and lead with integrity – Whether managing emergency response, resolving guest concerns, or supporting your team through complex situations, you lead with professionalism, clear communication, and a steadfast dedication to the zoo’s mission and core values.
  
  

YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• General: Leads, drives, and promotes a culture of safety and security excellence for staff, guests, animals and the broader Zoo community
  
  • Formulates strategies and solutions for long term sustainable and short term improvement. Proactively identifies where, when and how these different strategies are utilized based on performance
  • Establishes, implements and oversees effective safety and security programs and strategies that ensures the organization’s compliance with OSHA, WSHA, L&I, AZA and other safety and environmental standards and regulations as required
  • Establishes, conducts and/or oversees periodic safety and security inspections to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. Proactively address areas of non-compliance by working with department managers to develop timely solutions
  • Assesses and identifies trends in safety and security performance through leading indicators, data review, incident history and audits. Drives the necessary behavioral or environmental changes creatively, efficiently and cost effectively
  • Develops budget requests and manages purchasing related to Zoo safety & security department needs.
  • Coordinates communication to zoo staff on important safety & security issues or events, in coordination with Engagement team and CZO.
  • Serves as a member of the Zoo Senior Leadership Team (SLT), including occasional service as a Manager on Duty (MOD) or Zoo events or Holiday schedules.
• Health and Safety Program: Develops, implements and deploys the HSP for the zoo with the aim of zero accidents and/or incidents, including the establishment of improvement goals and operational safety activities and drills.
  
  • Develops and maintains organizational culture which supports the zoo’s overall strategic objectives and goals by providing leadership on issues involving safety, cost, quality, process and people
  • Creates and monitors measurable, metrics-driven results based on strategic safety planning and implementation
    o Leads the cross functional Safe Team to implement the HSP across the organization, ensures minutes are documented and follow up on meeting action items is occurring
  • Collaborates with Safe Team members and managers to provide regulatory and practical training to staff through the development and impleme