Find & Apply For Public Administrator Jobs in Rancho Mirage, California

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Director of Security must be an executive-level integrator who can protect a nationally significant cultural and diplomatic institution while preserving its welcoming, gracious, and highly collaborative character. The successful candidate will lead through trust, emotional intelligence, sound judgment, confidence, and preparation. This person must be a credible leader serving the: Chief Operating Officer; executive directors; the events, and retreat teams; Washington, D.C. staff; law enforcement partners; first responders; and visiting military leadership. The Director must build durable relationships across these disciplines, understand their distinct priorities, and translate security requirements into practical solutions that strengthen the mission. The role requires the ability to shift seamlessly between public-facing hospitality, enterprise risk management, emergency coordination, executive event planning, and formal protocol environments. When generals, admirals, senior government officials, diplomats, or other distinguished guests are present, the Director must understand and respect strict expectations regarding timing, command presence, confidentiality, access, communications, and operational discipline-without allowing the security posture to overwhelm the Sunnylands experience. This position will also coordinate security operations with other law enforcement partners including the Sheriff's Department and Secret Service personnel. Leadership Characteristics Collaborative Relationship Builder Builds effective partnerships to proactively bring security solutions to all departments, the grounds, Historic Estate, and retreat operations. Invites expertise from curatorial, technology, facilities, grounds, communications, events, retreats strategy group, and executive teams to develop effective security strategies. Compassionate and people-centered Treats employees, visitors, volunteers, contractors, and guests with dignity. Understands that effective security depends on trust, psychological safety, and respectful communication. Calm under pressure Maintains composure during emergencies, dignitary movements, media-sensitive incidents, medical calls, severe weather or operational disruptions. Diplomatic and emotionally intelligent Ability to identify the emotions and style of others, adjusts communication style, respects relationships, and can challenge assumptions in a collaborative and supportive fashion. Service-oriented Views security as a mission enabler. Preserves the institution's hospitality and aesthetics while effectively and discretely reducing risk. Discreet and trustworthy Handles confidential executive, personnel, diplomatic, and operational information with exceptional judgment. Humble but decisive Listens carefully, seeks expertise, and makes clear decisions when conditions require action. Culturally curious Respects the perspectives of historians, curators, horticultural experts, technologists, communications professionals, public officials, and military leaders. Adaptable Moves comfortably from a public visitor concern to a board briefing, emergency command meeting, executive retreat, or military protocol environment. Visible and approachable Builds credibility through presence, accessibility, consistency, and genuine engagement with all personnel. Leadership Presence in a High-Exposure Institution Because Sunnylands operates under significant public, media, philanthropic, governmental, and diplomatic visibility, the Director must demonstrate mature executive presence. The ideal leader is confident without being authoritarian, polished without being aloof, and disciplined without being inflexible. The candidate should communicate risk in a way that is clear, proportionate, and useful to decision-makers. Core Job Responsibilities Enterprise Security Leadership Oversee 24-hour security operation that includes day/swing/graveyard shift personnel. Perform hiring, coaching, professional development, and imposing disciplinary action on assigned staff. Serve as the principal advisor to executive leadership on physical security, protective services, enterprise risk, emergency preparedness, and organizational resilience. Report directly to and maintain a close, trusted working relationship with the Chief Operating Officer, providing timely advice, candid risk assessments, decision support, and regular updates on security, resilience, staffing, incidents, executive events, and strategic priorities. Serve as a collaborative peer to the executive directors of Finance, Center and Gardens, Guest Services, Hospitality, Human Resources, and other functional leaders, ensuring security planning is integrated into operations, budgeting, workforce practices, visitor experience, events, facilities, and institutional strategy. Translate complex security concerns into practical executive decisions, phased investments, and measurable outcomes. Develop and maintain governance, policies, operating procedures, performance measures, and annual strategic priorities. Protective Hospitality & Public Experience Ensure security practices reinforce a safe, welcoming, respectful, and inclusive visitor experience. Develop the Visitor Services Officer program as both a protective and ambassadorial function. Balance public access, collections protection, privacy, aesthetics, and operational needs. Sunnylands' Retreats Program & Dignitary Support Lead security planning for Sunnylands' retreats program which includes diplomatic engagements, military visits, donor events, and distinguished guests. Coordinate advance planning, credentialing, secure movement, communications, emergency support, and after-action review. Work effectively with executive protection teams and federal, state, and local partners while preserving institutional control and discretion. Emergency Management & Resilience Maintain emergency operations, crisis communications, business continuity, and recovery programs. Conduct tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises with internal stakeholders and external responders. Support executive decision-making during incidents and coordinate lessons learned. Technology, Facilities & Risk Integration Partner with IT and Facilities on surveillance, access control, alarms, communications, cybersecurity interfaces, lifecycle planning, and capital projects. Integrate security requirements into architectural, landscape, event, and facility planning. Maintain risk registers, dashboards, audits, incident trends, and investment priorities. People, Culture & Professional Development Recruit, coach, evaluate, and retain a professional protective services workforce. Build leadership succession, field training, competency standards, and continuing education. Create a culture of accountability, compassion, service, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Minimum Job Qualifications Bachelor's degree in security management, criminal justice, emergency management, public administration, business, homeland security, or a related field; equivalent senior-level experience may be considered. Ten or more years of progressively responsible security, protective services, law enforcement, military, emergency management, corporate security, cultural institution security, or public-safety leadership experience. At least five years in a supervisory or executive role with responsibility for people, budgets, policy, operations, and cross-functional coordination. Demonstrated experience planning security for high-profile events, executives, dignitaries, senior government officials, or other sensitive guests. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse professional disciplines and communicate effectively with a COO, executive directors, finance and HR leaders, curators, guest services and hospitality teams, facilities and grounds professionals, technology leaders, communications staff, event and retreat personnel, and frontline employees. Experience coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement, fire/EMS, emergency management or protective agencies. Working knowledge of physical security systems, access control, video management, emergency communications, incident management, and security technology governance. Experience developing policies, procedures, emergency plans, training programs, budgets, contracts, and executive reports. Excellent written, verbal, briefing, conflict-resolution, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in politically, reputationally or operationally sensitive situations. Experience with developing and implementing internal safety programs typically included in an enterprise-level Illness and Injury Prevention Program (IIPP). Ability to work some evenings and weekends. Ability to respond to emergency calls as needed 24/7. Preferred Qualifications Experience within museums, cultural institutions, historic estates, botanical gardens, universities, foundations, hospitality, executive retreats or complex public-facing campuses. Experience supporting military flag officers, cabinet-level officials, diplomats, elected officials, major donors or high-profile principals. Professional certification such as

ASIS CPP, PCI, PSP

; Certified Emergency Manager;

FEMA/ICS

credentials; or comparable leadership certifications. Experience with Enterprise Security Operations Centers, business continuity, protective intelligence, threat a assessment, and crisis leadership. Experience managing or partnering with contract security, executive protection teams, public agencies, and specialized vendors. Knowledge of California security licensing, workplace violence prevention, emergency planning, and applicable public-safety requirements. Compensation & Benefits The target compensation for this position is $150,000. Sunnylands offers a competitive benefits and leave program that includes medical, dental, vision insurance, a matching contribution to the 403(b) deferred compensation program and vacation, holiday and sick time.

Pay:

Up to $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Paid time off Parental leave Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person