Director of Safety and Security Services

Discription

The Director of Safety, Security, and Environmental Compliance is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive safety, security, and environmental compliance program that ensures the protection and well-being of students, employees, and visitors across all ACPS buildings and grounds. This role involves strategic planning, policy development, compliance monitoring, emergency preparedness, risk management, and environmental safety initiatives, including Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) compliance. This position is designated as an Essential Employee.

The position reports to the Executive Director of Support Operations. 

Qualifications:

Education:  Bachelor's degree required. Preferred degree in disciplines of engineering, facilities and operations, occupational health and safety, law enforcement, criminal justice, risk management or related fields required. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:  Minimum of 10 years of work experience. Must have work experience in a multi-location organization with decentralized and distributed operations. Must have experience in providing training and managing programs regarding security and emergency preparedness for buildings and campus. Experience in a public-school environment is preferred. Security or law enforcement experience of ten (10) years is preferred.  Work experience should include administration and management of fundamentals, requirements, procedures and practices of school maintenance and facilities management, occupational health and safety, including knowledge of relevant health codes, safety codes, related laws, regulations and school board practices, policies and procedures.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Related FEMA Emergency Management certificate or courses preferred.

• Current First Aid and CPR certification.

Essential Functions:

• Program Management. Manages all health, safety and security programs and activities necessary to achieve departmental goals and objectives. Ensures compliance with the Safe Schools Act, Safe and Drug-Free School Act (or applicable acts or amendments).
• Leads office staff. Coordinates the unified, system-wide school security apparatus, to include a combination of approximately 50 ACPS security personnel and contractors, a system-wide surveillance system, physical building security, off-duty law enforcement officers for athletic events, and general security for special ACPS events.
• Environmental Health Safety, Occupational Health and Safety. Oversees environmental health throughout ACPS, to include environmental quality (EQ) assessments, blood borne pathogens, AHERA federal compliance requirements, and industrial hygiene matters under agencies such as VOSH, OSHA, EPA, and local affiliates. Conducts training, facility inspections and takes corrective and preventive actions to minimize accidents and incidents.
• Life-Safety. Manages the testing, maintenance, repair and upgrade of all life-safety systems, to include elevators, fire and security alarms, fire sprinkler systems and electronic access systems.
• School Safety. Directs the selection, development and implementation of a comprehensive active violence training program for students, staff and visitors to Alexandria City Public Schools.
• Emergency Management. Maintains relationships with local emergency response organizations, coordinating emergency response with appropriate stakeholders (i.e. the Superintendent, Communications, Curriculum, Facilities, etc.), and coordination and tracking of required drills and tabletop exercises.
• Traffic control and parking. Develops parking and traffic management plans division-wide.

Administration

• Serves as primary liaison between ACPS and the Alexandria City Police in relation to the assignment of and ongoing working relationship with School Security Officers.
• Ensures systemic compliance with Safe Schools Act of 2010.
• Gives direction on how to prevent potential disruption to the safe and orderly operation of buildings, grounds, and buses.
• Assists with trespassing issues in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
• Assists principals and central office supervisors investigating major cases of damage to or loss of school or personal property.
• Assists principals or designees in developing and or revising procedures related to school safety, and routine and emergency procedures.
• Assists principals or designees in evaluating facilities to assure a safe environment for students and staff at all times.
• Performs periodic and random security inspections and prepares security reports as necessary.  Prepares security improvement recommendations as required by inspections.
• Provides consultation and investigative assistance regarding potential criminal acts of ACPS students or employees.
• Reviews and approves school and systemic security/emergency plans.
• Creates, annually updates, and distributes security manuals, documents, and records.
• Serves as liaison to Child Protective Services and local law enforcement agencies.
• Develops and manages budget for Safety and Security Office
• Risk Management: Collaborates with appropriate staff on risk management, advising on matters related to loss prevention and worker safety in the workplace.  Administers the property and liability risk management program for all facilities, property, and asserts owned or leased by ACPS.  Administers policies for property, casualty, and liability insurance, including general liability, buildings, and contents, fixed assets, machinery/equipment, electronic data systems, automobile, flood and officers.

Management

• Represents ACPS on local and regional safety, security or emergency management boards as needed
• Oversees the ongoing revision and maintenance of the ACPS comprehensive emergency management plan (include crisis management)
• Develops the Continuity of Operations (COOP) framework for sustainability and redundancy of critical operations in an emergency using the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as a guide.
• Serves as the ACPS Emergency Shelter Data Liaison for the Virginia Emergency Management Agency.
• May serve as incident commander for system-wide events; directs the central office initial response in support of localized incidents.
• Maintains 24-hour communication with ACPS staff and local first responders to facilitate response to emergency situations.
• Monitors approaching weather systems to ensure timely notification of hazardous weather events.

Technology

• Coordinates ACPS electronic ID badges using appropriate software to activate, track, and replace authorized badges that provide access to ACPS facilities.
• Manages frequencies, licensing and upgrading of local school radio networks.
• Coordinates with the local first responders to ensure interoperability and regular testing of system-wide digital emergency radio networks.
• Plans and approves all local school video surveillance systems.
• Collaborates with ACPS Facilities and Operations staff on efficiencies related to false intrusion and fire alarms.
• Participates with ACPS Facilities and Operations staff in construction planning, making recommendations concerning safety and security.

Training

• Provides annual gang training and records management to meet requirements outlined in Safe Schools Act 2010.
• Develops and provides emergency preparedness education programs and other emergency management training for all ACPS departments and schools.
• Develops networks and partnerships with local, state and federal first responders to facilitate new opportunities for training and joint assessment of emergency plans.
• Attends annual training to retain industry certifications and stay abreast of current trends.

Other Duties

• Prepares and presents reports to the School Board and City Council.
• Maintains positive working relationships with school level personnel to ensure that a strong culture of safety and security is part of the day-to-day operational standard.
• Analyzes new law, regulations and regulatory trends for potential impact on ACPS objectives.
• Provides guidance to ACPS leadership on matters related to safety, security, and risk management.
• Serves on City-wide committees: Gang Prevention Task Force, Emergency Management Council, Association of Private and Public Schools, among others.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned, to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Must have facility with using the internet and social media for either research or messaging.
• Must be able to quickly learn and use Division physical security software for access control
• Possess highly proficient skills in MS Office Suite and be able to efficiently draft memos, develop spreadsheets and create briefing slides with use of a clerical assistant.
• Knowledge of juvenile and criminal justice proceedings.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues and community members.
• Capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Proficient in developing records, systems, and generating reports.
• Able to learn and apply knowledge of public school operations.
• Able to learn and follow ACPS policies, goals and programs to include Division Strategic Plan
• Works well in a multicultural, multigenerational, multiethnic, multilingual campus environment in support of Division goals to create equity, inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
• Able to serve as an essential employee and be able for calls on a 24/7 basis
• Able to demonstrate satisfactory performance for one-year probationary period.

Clearances:

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
• Tuberculosis Skin Test.

WP

Salary : $114,926 - $181,510