Associate Director, Office of Public Safety

Overview

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and best zoos in the nation. It features biodiversity with over 400 species of animals and 3,000 plant species. The Zoo is a world-renowned leader in endangered species reproduction, groundbreaking education collaboratives, and green practices. The Office of Public Safety is the primary entity responsible for the safety and security of visitors, staff, animals, and assets.

We are seeking a seasoned and creative professional to join our agency as Associate Director, Office of Public Safety
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Exercising wide latitude in discretionary decision making and with minimal supervision, the successful candidate will be a solution-oriented, collaborative leader with direct supervisory and management experience. The Associate Director will exercise active oversight of daily operations and provide leadership and support during emergencies.

The position is best suited for candidates who thrive in dynamic settings, are comfortable managing shifting priorities, working in ambiguity, and can consistently deliver high‑quality results under time‑sensitive conditions. Ideal candidates are those seeking a challenging, growth‑oriented position with ongoing operational and strategic responsibilities.

This is a salaried, exempt, full-time position that reports to the Director, Office of Public Safety. This position is responsible for ensuring adherence by public safety supervisors and officers to public safety‑related policies and for managing all aspects of patrol operations for the overall safety, protection, and safeguarding of Zoo employees, visitors, and assets. The incumbent will collaborate with and support the director in reviewing, devising, evolving security strategies;

manage a team with 6 direct reports and a variable number of indirect reports; assist with annual budget formulation; and perform other duties as assigned. The successful candidate will demonstrate an effective leadership style that embodies the Zoo’s Core Values.

Schedule: 40 hours per week

• Supervise and manage the day-to-day operations of the Office of Public Safety.
• Provide guidance and oversight for all public safety supervisors and officers and perform those respective duties if necessary.
• Participate in the personnel processes for full-staff and lead in the selection and hiring of part-time staff. Duties include, but are not limited to: hiring, training, coaching, and supervision of said staff.
• Active member of the Zoo’s ACERT (Animal Containment Emergency Response Team) program.
• Investigate and report all noted incidents, hazards, and accidents.
• Oversee the scheduling of public safety coverage, including special duty police if needed, for daily operations and all special events in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Observe and pinpoints patterns in guest activity, first aids and incidents and apply that information to promote enhanced security response/deployment.
• Manage video surveillance, card access control, and key control systems.
• Understand and observe regulatory criteria under USDA and AZA physical perimeter standards.
• Assist with follow-up investigations of previously reported Zoo incidents.
• Participate in training programs, attend industry conferences, and complete special assignments as needed.
• Assist the director in building and cultivating internal stakeholder and community relationships.
• When directed, attend regular meetings with internal and external stakeholders to report on security activities and to listen to participant concerns and formulate strategies to resolve their problems.
• Connect with internal department partners to resolve common issues.
• Demonstrate regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Maintain First Aid, CPR, & AED certification.
• Assume the duties and responsibilities of the director in their absence.
• Other duties as assigned.

Equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the position will be considered.

• Associate’s degree…