Description

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR 

The Senior Manager, Operations oversees the Museum’s daily operations, ensuring a seamless, safe, and efficient environment for staff, visitors, partners, and vendors. Serving asa central pointof coordination across departments and the primary liaison for external partners, you will helpmaintainthe Museum’shigh standardsof safety, service, and operational excellence. You will be responsible forsafeguarding the Museum’s people, property, and reputation while supporting a world-class visitor experience. You will ensure that operational procedures, protocols, and systems align with the Museum’s unique role as a multi-faceted cultural institution and community hub. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

•       Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the Museum, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning across all public and non-public spaces.
•       Oversee security operations and staff, ensuring preparedness, resilience, and compliance with all safety regulations, and anticipating and mitigating threats to staff, visitors, collections, and facilities.  
•       Partner directly with the Senior Director, Guest Experience to align operational priorities with visitor experience standards and organizational goals.
•       Serve as a primary liaison between departments (e.g., Curatorial, Guest Services, Events, Programming, Security, and Production, etc.) to coordinate operational needs and resolve issues.  
•       Liaise with law enforcement, fire, life safety, and emergency management agencies.
•       Act as the main point of contact for all external vendors, including our landlord (LA LIVE), janitorial, engineering, HVAC, security, and other contracted services to ensure reliability, sustainability, and visitor and staff comfort. 
•       Plan, maintain, and execute preventive and emergency maintenance programs for the Museum’s structural, electrical, IT, and plumbing systems.  
•       Manage vendor relationships, including contract negotiations, performance standards, scheduling, and issue resolution.  
•       Ensure the Museum environment is clean, safe, fully operational and compliant at all times, proactively addressing safety, facilities, or service concerns.  
•       Monitor and improve operational workflows to enhance safety, efficiency, and the overall visitor experience.  
•       Support the planning and installation of exhibitions, installations, events, and public programs from an operational perspective.  
•       Partner with department heads to ensure compliance with safety regulations and emergency preparedness protocols.  
•       Track and manage operational budgets, vendor costs, and resource allocation.  
•       Oversee opening and closing procedures, ensuring adherence to established protocols.  
•       Respond to and manage operational incidents or emergencies, coordinating cross-functional teams as needed.  
•       Develop and maintain operational documentation, including SOPs, vendor agreements, and internal communications.  
•       Lead cross-functional meetings to ensure alignment on priorities, timelines, and operational readiness.  
•       Perform additional duties as assigned by senior leadership.  

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE  

•       Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
•       7+ years of operations management experience, preferably in a museum, cultural institution, or high-traffic public venue.  
•       3–5+ years of experience leading and supervising teams, including security personnel, within a fast-paced, customer-facing, or public venue environment. 
•       Experience managing vendors and service contracts (janitorial, maintenance, security, etc.). 
•       Experience developing and implementing operational processes and improvements. 
•       Knowledge of facility operations, OSHA, safety standards, technology, and regulatory compliance.  
•       Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and operations/project management tools.  
•       Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the organization and with external partners. 
•       Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership and influence cross-functional teams.  
•       Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and complex operations in a dynamic environment.  
•       Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.  
•       Ability to remain calm and effective in high-pressure or rapidly changing situations. 
•       Strong attention to detail and commitment to operational excellence.  
•       Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.