Safety Manager

The Pacific Battleship Center (PBC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a portfolio of brands and programs, including the Battleship USS Iowa Museum, LA Fleet Week, the National Museum of the Surface Navy, LADRRC, Vicky’s Doghouse Café, and the Freedom of the Seas Pavilion and Park.

Our mission is to ignite curiosity, connect communities, and enhance understanding of America’s role in maritime peace and prosperity.

At our core, we believe that purpose is the fuel for accomplishing great things and connection is the glue that bonds us together as a community. Every program we design — whether for staff, volunteers, veterans, or community — is built to inspire, educate, and empower people to see themselves as part of something bigger

Position Summary

The Safety Manager is the primary leader and cheerleader responsible for ensuring a safe and secure environment for visitors, volunteers, and staff aboard the historic Battleship IOWA. This role combines leadership, customer service, emergency preparedness, and risk management to maintain the integrity of the vessel, protect museum assets, and promote an outstanding visitor experience.

The Safety Manager oversees and makes decisions in regards to daily safety and security operations, recruits, hires, and supervises staff and volunteers, and participates in maintaining compliance with applicable maritime, museum, and occupational safety standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and enforce all safety, security, and emergency procedures to protect people, property, and artifacts.
• Lead, manage, schedule, and support safety officers and volunteers assigned to fixed posts or roving patrols.
• Conduct daily inspections and random patrols to identify hazards, unsafe acts, and potential threats; implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate crowd management and access control during public hours and special events.Serve as the liaison between Battleship IOWA and local emergency services (Fire, Police, EMS) during incidents and drills.
• Maintain vendor relationships, agreements, and requirements with safety and security vendors that are utilized for special events and circumstances.
• Maintain and oversee command center for oversight of overall property.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

• Lead emergency response operations, including first aid, fire response, evacuation, and crisis coordination.
• Develop, implement, and train staff on the museum’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Safety Team Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Participate in ensuring first aid kits, AEDs, and emergency equipment are maintained and accessible.
• Conduct post-incident investigations and prepare detailed reports with recommendations for improvement.
• Track and report safety metrics, incidents, and improvements to leadership.

Visitor Experience & Customer Service

• Promote a welcoming and professional presence throughout the ship.
• Provide assistance, directions, and information to visitors and staff courteously and efficiently.
• Address guest concerns, ensuring a balance between hospitality and safety enforcement.

Administrative & Leadership Duties

• Responsible for maintaining a positive culture that aligns with organizations Playbook and guiding documents.
• Act as the lead recruiter of volunteers for the Safety department by representing the organization in groups and circles of those most likely to volunteer (ie law enforcement associations, veterans associations, etc.)
• Ability to seek creative solutions and make smart decisions in a challenging ever changing environment.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date reports, patrol logs, and incident documentation.
• Manage departmental schedules, training records, and equipment inventory.
• Collaborate across departments to support events, tours, and educational programming.
• Lead or participate in safety committees, strategic planning, and risk assessments.

Requirements

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in safety, security, law enforcement, or emergency management, preferably in a museum, maritime, or nonprofit setting.
• CPR/BLS and First Aid certification preferred
• Experience with surveillance, access control, and radio communications systems is a plus.
• Excellent situational awareness and decision-making under pressure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to recruit, lead, train, and motivate a diverse team of staff and volunteers.
• Demonstrated customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and basic familiarity with incident management systems.
• Ability to create, interpret, and apply standard operating procedures, safety codes, and emergency protocols.
• Ability to stand, walk, climb, and balance for extended periods aboard the ship.
• Comfortable working in warm, humid, or confined spaces, including areas under restoration.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 50 lbs.

Work Environment

• This is a full-time position on-site at the Battleship IOWA in San Pedro, CA.
• Occasional evenings, weekends, or additional workdays may be required to support events and organizational needs.
• Flexible, inclusive, and team-oriented environment that values collaboration across staff and volunteers

Compensation & Benefits

• $68,640 - $75,000 annually, depending on experience and non-profit salary surveys.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (café plan).
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid time off and flexible holiday pay.
• Employee assistance plan.
• Opportunity to work on something challenging, pioneering, and impactful.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $68,640.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $68,640 - $75,000