Position: Venue Safety Operations Supervisor
Reporting To: General Manager
Schedule: 30-40 hours p/week (depending on concert and event schedule)
Rate: $30 p/hour
Starts: Immediately
Job Description
The Venue Safety Operations Supervisor plays a vital role in ensuring that every person who walks through our doors feels safe, supported, and welcome.
This role oversees guest and venue safety protocols, access management, crowd flow, and operational readiness during daytime art center hours as well as concerts and events that vary in size and complexity. You'll work closely with our Venue Safety Ambassadors, artists, vendors, and staff to foster a culture of care, accessibility, and respect.
About Cannonball Arts
Cannonball Arts is a new contemporary arts and entertainment center located in the heart of downtown Seattle. Spanning two floors and 66,000 square feet, it offers boundary-pushing, unconventional, immersive art experiences and programming, alongside a state-of-the-art music venue.
We exist to elevate, fortify, exhibit and celebrate the artists that call the Pacific Northwest home—as a testament to the vitality of our creative community and a call to action to support our regional artists through participation, patronage, philanthropy and mentorship.
Imaginative minds, originators, and those who defy convention are called to participate in cultivating a thriving and lasting creative ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
Event Safety Monitoring & Guest Experience
- Oversee daily venue safety operations with a focus on guest safety, crowd flow, and compliance with venue policies.
- Act as the on-site lead for the Safety Ambassador team during assigned shifts.
- Monitor venue conditions and team coverage to proactively identify and resolve potential safety concerns.
- Balance proactive safety monitoring with hospitality-forward service for diverse guest profiles.
- Support real-time incident response, provide direction to ambassadors, and escalate to management or public safety partners as appropriate.
- Conduct shift briefings to communicate expectations, event details, and safety updates to the ambassador team.
- Provide in-the-moment coaching, support, and feedback to ambassadors during events.
- Foster a professional, guest-first culture through respectful conduct and supportive supervision.
Access & Entry Oversight
- For concerts, ticketed events, and special programs:
- Oversee bag checks, credential verification, ID checks, and prohibited item protocols.
- Monitor that Safety Ambassadors are following established screening procedures for guest entry.
- For daytime gallery hours and non-ticketed public programs:
- Ensure guest assistance and access points operate smoothly without invasive screening unless directed by management.
Emergency Readiness & Compliance
- Maintain thorough knowledge of venue egress routes, evacuation procedures, emergency equipment, and safety codes.
- Lead safety drills and reinforce training to ensure ambassador staff are proficient in emergency protocols.
- Conduct regular venue walk-throughs, monitor safety infrastructure, and report facility issues or concerns to management.
Communication & Documentation
- Maintain effective radio communication with the Safety Ambassador team, venue management, and external partners.
- Ensure timely, accurate reporting and documentation of incidents, guest concerns, and safety observations.
- Review and submit incident reports, ensuring proper follow-up and secure data storage.
Desired Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in nightlife, live event, or venue operations, with supervisory or team leadership responsibilities.
- Experience managing teams in fast-paced public settings with mid-sized audiences (1,000–3,000 capacity).
- Knowledge of event safety monitoring, crowd management, and emergency procedures.
- Demonstrated experience leading incident response, conflict resolution, and guest de-escalation efforts.
- Prior work in music venues, arts and culture organizations, or nightlife environments strongly preferred.
- Certified or willing to be trained in de-escalation, trauma-informed guest interaction, and conflict management.
- CPR/First Aid certified or willing to obtain certification.
- Familiarity with harm reduction and inclusive safety practices.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills with calm, confident presence.
- Familiarity with Seattle’s downtown venue and nightlife landscape is a plus.
- Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds.
Why Join Cannonball Arts
Cannonball Arts is more than just an organization; it's a movement built upon core values that guide everything we do. We are deeply committed to creating a workplace culture where individuals thrive and collective impact is realized. Our north stars?
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People First, Always: Humans before hierarchy. Every artist, crew member, neighbor, and guest matters. We guard well-being, champion equity, and clear space for each voice to sharpen the collective edge.
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Radical Collaboration: Smash the silos. Cross disciplines, cultures, and corners of the city. We co-design, co-decide, and co-own the outcome.
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Community as Co-Creator: We build with everyone at the table—artists, staff, neighbors, patrons, and policy-setters—so that we create a space that is relevant, responsive, and deeply connected to the needs and aspirations of our community. Reciprocal relationships turn creation into a common endeavor and foster true collective ownership.
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Sustainable Momentum: We pursue lasting impact by stewarding finances, the planet, and people responsibly—building resilient structures that keep our art and community thriving.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Cannonball Arts strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.