Security Officer in Draper, Utah at The Living Planet Aquarium
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Job Description
Position: Security Officer
Reports To: Director of Security
Why Utah?
Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.
About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.
Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.
Position Summary:
Security Officers at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium are responsible for controlling and maintaining a safe and secure environment both for guests and employees. You are expected to display a sense of pride and professionalism that are indicative of an industry leader, visibly recognized through your actions and attitude by co-workers, aquarium staff, volunteers, contractors, and guests alike.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Ability to successfully complete a criminal background investigation and other applicable pre-employment screenings.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Basic computer proficiency, including email, electronic reporting and security systems.
- Ability to learn and effectively operate CCTV, access-control, alarm, radio and other security systems.
- Ability to successfully complete required Aquarium security, safety and emergency-response training.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule based on Aquarium operational needs, including days, evenings, overnight hours, weekends, holidays, special events and emergency situations.
- Experience with CCTV, access control, alarm systems or security technology.
- Experience with incident investigation and professional report writing.
- Experience with crowd management and emergency response.
- Experience with crisis intervention, conflict resolution and de-escalation.
- Experience with workplace violence or active-threat response.
- Have a working knowledge of resources available including computer, telephone, radio, property surveillance cameras and alarm systems as trained.
- Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to remain calm, professional and decisive during stressful or emergency situations.
- Ability to interact positively with guests in all types of situations and to de-escalate any potential hostile or aggressive situation.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, successfully handling multiple tasks such as daily activity log, key and radio control forms, lost and found and assist with deliveries admitted onto Aquarium property, especially before and after operating hours.
- Possess a valid CPR/AED/First Aid certification, or be able and willing to obtain within the first 3 months of employment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Respond to medical emergencies, providing an appropriate level of First Aid care and CPR response within acquired certified scope of medical training.
- Answer guest questions and offer Aquarium operating information.
- Provide crowd management/control when necessary.
- Assume responsibility for any issues that pose a safety hazard to employees or guests and mitigate those issues as soon as practical.
- Complete all departmental paperwork including daily activity log and incident reports.
- Respond to and defuse any potentially hostile situations.
- Attend ongoing training for security guards and related subjects to enhance qualifications as a Security Officer.
- Operate CCTV surveillance system and conduct regular foot patrols of Aquarium property.
- Respond to assignments such as VIP and cash escorts.
- Additional responsibilities may be delegated due to the culture of the aquarium.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Ability to sit, stand and walk for long periods of time.
- Ability to run.
- Ability to balance, bend, squat, climb, kneel, twist.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 0-50lbs.
- Ability to pull and push up to 0-50lbs.
- Full functional range of motion in all major body joints from reaching, twisting, bending, simple and power gripping, fine and gross motor skills.
Scope of Position:
- Schedule includes weekends, evenings, and holidays, excluding Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
- May be required to work beyond your scheduled shift, depending on special events and staff attendance
- Works a variable shift, depending on departmental needs
- Other duties as assigned
Special Working Conditions:
- Interacts with diverse populations and a wide variety of team members
- Noisy workspaces, large crowds, along with cool and warm environments
Benefits & Perks
- Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus optional FSA/HSA accounts
- Paid time off & 12 paid holidays per year
- Paid bereavement leave and paid new child leave (birth, adoption, or placement)
- Employer-paid short-term disability; optional long-term disability coverage
- Convenient onsite childcare (employees pay approximately 20% of the cost)
- 401(k) with match up to 4% - fully vested from day 1 of contribution
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Free Aquarium membership
- Discounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchases
- Free and discounted animal encounters
- Pet insurance and discounts
- Footwear discounts
- Entertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work
While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.