Operations Manager (Danville)

Operations ManagerDanville, CA | Full-Time | Onsite | $105,000 - $118,000 + Performance BonusCompany OverviewCooke & Associates, Inc. (CAI) is a professional risk mitigation firm delivering protective security operations, emergency response, and executive protection solutions to Fortune 250 companies, international brands, and high-profile principals worldwide. We operate in demanding, client-facing environments where professionalism, discretion, and operational precision are non-negotiable. We invest in our people and build long-term careers. This role is structured with a defined trajectory toward a director-level position or higher for the right candidate.Position SummaryCAI is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to support and advance day-to-day operations out of our Danville, California office. Working with other security managers, this person is responsible for staffing, scheduling, client service delivery, field operations oversight, policy and procedure management, and organizational execution across all active programs. This is a fully in-office, high-accountability role. The successful candidate will manage competing priorities in a fast-moving environment where no two days are the same, represent CAI professionally at the client level, and drive operations independently without close supervision. This role carries direct supervisory authority over scheduling and operations support staff, supervisors, and detail leaders. We are looking for someone who is motivated, intellectually curious, and committed to continuously developing their knowledge of the security and risk mitigation industry.Essential Functions and Responsibilities• Manage all aspects of personnel scheduling and staffing across ongoing projects, critical incidents, and last-minute coverage requirements.• Serve as a point of contact for assigned clients, attending recurring client calls, site visits, and operational meetings as required.• Develop, maintain, and update Standard Operating Procedures, post orders, and training documents across all operational areas.• Oversee employee onboarding, including candidate screening, training, licensure verification, and new hire documentation.• Review and manage daily and weekly timekeeping, coordinate payroll processing with accounting, and minimize non-billable overtime.• Ensure all company equipment, vehicles, and trailers are maintained, inventoried, and operationally ready at all times.• Manage critical incident operations, including staffing, communication groups, post order publication, and incident documentation from activation through close.• Conduct site assist visits and quality assurance audits in accordance with the CAI Quality Assurance program.• Train, develop, and hold supervisory staff accountable to CAI operational standards.• Track project deadlines, manage task completion independently, and provide proactive status updates to leadership without prompting.• Collaborate with other departments to support the recruiting process, including sourcing, screening, and interviewing candidates at all levels.• On rare occasions and as operationally necessary, this role may require direct field deployment to initiate new projects until proper staffing is established.Competencies and Attributes• Demonstrated sense of urgency with the ability to identify, prioritize, and act on operational issues without direction from leadership.• Adaptable to rapidly changing priorities driven by client needs, field staffing, and incident response.• Self-directed and organized, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and tasks to completion without supervision or reminders.• Command of the English language with strong written and verbal communication skills across all levels of an organization.• Ability to maintain composure under pressure when dealing with clients, executives, authorities, and staff.• Sound judgment and real-time decision-making capability in tactical security situations.• Professional presence and the ability to represent CAI credibly in client-facing settings.• Working understanding of operational cost management, including overtime control and labor efficiency.• Eager to learn, grow, and build a long-term career within the organization.Qualifications, Education, and LicensingCandidates must meet one of the following two qualification tracks.• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of four years of progressive operations experience in a corporate environment or the security industry, or• A minimum of five years of progressive operations experience in a corporate environment or the security industry in lieu of a degree.Candidates who can demonstrate verified experience in both protective security operations and Executive Protection are strongly preferred. Candidates with deep demonstrated experience in one discipline and working operational knowledge of the other will be considered, provided the totality of their experience reflects the professional standard this role requires.• REQUIRED: Demonstrated experience in high-caliber security operations within a professional, client-facing environment.• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams is strongly preferred.• Crisis management experience preferred.The following are conditions of employment. Candidates must be able to meet all requirements prior to or within the timeframes stated below.• Candidates must obtain and maintain a valid California Guard Card and Exposed Firearm Permit issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) within the first six months of employment. Failure to obtain and maintain both credentials within that window is grounds for separation.• Candidates must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation, possess a valid driver's license with a clear Motor Vehicle Record, and pass a pre-employment drug screening. MVR will be verified.Position Type and Schedule• Full-time, exempt, salaried position. $110,000 to $118,000 annually plus performance-based bonus.• Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., fully in-office with no remote or hybrid arrangements. After-hours availability required on an as-needed basis for client emergencies and critical operational situations.• Approximately 30% travel within the western United States. Periodic domestic travel for industry and company conferences throughout the year.How to ApplyQualified candidates should submit a current resume and cover letterCooke & Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.