About Seattle Center and Waterfront Park:
Seattle Center is the region's premier civic, arts and family gathering place in the core of our city and region, home to more than 30 arts, cultural, and entertainment organizations, family attractions, and tourist amenities. Our mission is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. To support this work, Seattle Center employs 220 full-time employees and hundreds of intermittent workers. As a department of the City of Seattle, Seattle Center contributes to the quality of life for Seattle residents-and the region's economy and image as its top visitor destination.
In 2023, Seattle Center is expanding its role to provide operations, maintenance and public safety services for Seattle’s new Waterfront Park, a series of new public spaces on Seattle’s downtown waterfront between Pioneer Square and the Seattle Aquarium. Seattle Center will bring its deep experience successfully managing public space to the Waterfront in partnership with the non-profit Friends of Waterfront Seattle, which already offers a range of recreational and cultural programming to the community. Our goal is to grow Seattle Center’s team by 20% over the next two years to meet this new opportunity, building out a unified team to support both Seattle Center and the new Waterfront Park by the time it is completed in 2025.
About this position:
Seattle Center is seeking up to four qualified Security Officers for Waterfront Park operations. Security officers patrol the Seattle Center Campus and Waterfront Park grounds, secure the facilities, provide assistance for security, crowd control, accident or crime scene protection as well as interact with members of other work units and other external agencies on a regular basis by radio, telephone and in person.
The Emergency Services Unit places a very strong emphasis upon providing excellent customer service to guests, clients and staff as well as helping to ensure their safety and enjoyment while they are at Seattle Center and the Waterfront Park. The position exercises discretion and judgment in handling security matters, using security and de-escalation methods and prioritizing the handling of multiple incidents, but does not have the formal arrest authority of a sworn officer.
The unit works 365 days a year on multiple shifts and operates 24 hours a day. The positions we are looking to fill will be either 2nd or 3rd shift and will include weekends (both Saturday and Sunday).
Minimum Qualifications:
- Requires a minimum of one year security work experience (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).
The most successful candidates will have:
- Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. Ability to train staff to communicate clearly and diplomatically with the public while enforcing security rules, often under stressful situations. Ability to resolve conflicts between the public and/or staff and negotiate solutions without resorting to force or provoking unneeded conflict. Ability to persuade. Ability to elicit cooperation and compliance under difficult or stressful circumstances.
- Leadership competencies that encourage open and transparent communication and creates a culture of belonging amongst staff.
- At least one-year broad range of security experience with large crowds for Event Support, Parks & Recreation, public transportation, hospitality/guest services, or other similar types of customer focused security experience. Range of experience includes providing security and safety to public grounds and the general public in an event-support-type or other open-to-the-public facility.
- Training in law enforcement, military, public safety, or other security areas within the last ten years.
- Demonstrated knowledge and application of principles and methods of buildings and grounds security.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrated experience interacting successfully with a diverse population.
- Flexibility, adaptability, and ability to change in a dynamic environment.
- Strong documentation experience.
- Ability to use and operate Microsoft Office Suite.
License, Certification, and Other Requirements:
- Current Washington State driver license is required.
Work Environment/Physical Demands:
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
- Must be available to work all shifts, weekends, and holidays.
- Stand, walk, and bend for extended periods of time.
The full pay range for this step-progression position is $31.89 - $38.69 per hour. New employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, which is $31.89 hourly. Current City employees’ starting rate of pay will be based on Personnel Rules regarding promotions.
How to Apply:
Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. You must submit the following items to be considered for this position no later than 4:00 pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, October 29, 2024:
- Completed NEOGOV online application.
- Supplemental questionnaire responses.
- Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
- Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To align with our commitment to equity and the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative, Seattle Center is collecting cover letters and resumes without personal identifiers to achieve a blind screening process.
Driving Record - Selected candidates will be required to submit a Driver's Abstract (at your own expense) that demonstrates a good driving record.
Pre-Employment Physical - Successful candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment physical.
Background Check - This position involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
Why work at the City?
The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in dismantling racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and create and provide equitable processes and services. Seattle Office of Civil Rights)
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans
For helpful tips on the application process and recruitment process: Working at the City - Human Resources | seattle.gov
