Director of Threat Management and Prevention

Position Summary

The Director is responsible for oversight and strategic direction for the Division of Threat Management and Prevention within the Office of Preparedness and Response. This role oversees programs in violence prevention, behavioral threat assessment and management, public health preparedness, Clery Act compliance, and campus climate initiatives, ensuring alignment with national best practices, legal standards, and university policies. The role has the authority, independence, and responsibility to manage these programs across all major administrative units, departments, colleges, and regional campuses.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the Division of Threat Management and Prevention, setting strategic goals aligned with the university’s safety, security, and compliance objectives.
• Oversee the behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) operations and team(s), as well as Clery Act compliance programming to ensure coordination, accountability, and operational efficiency.
• Develop, implement, and refine campus-wide BTAM and Clery Act protocols, ensuring compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, ADA, Clery Act, Title IX).
• Utilize evidence-based practices, such as structured professional judgment tools and researched-based methodologies, to assess and mitigate threats involving students, faculty, staff, and external actors.
• Lead the development, review, and publication of key university reports, including the UIC Violence Prevention Plan and Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
• Represent the Office of Preparedness and Response and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services in high-level university committees, working groups, and external partnerships.
• Collaborates with law enforcement, student affairs, human resources, mental health professionals, faculty, and university and UI Health leadership to foster a culture of early intervention, risk mitigation, and resilience.
• Advise the Campus Violence Prevention Committee and Chancellor’s Emergency Operations Policy Group: Advisory Working Group on emerging threat trends, risk mitigation strategies, and operational improvements.
• Provide administrative oversight of the work of BTAM team(s), ensuring adherence to best practices in identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential threats.
• Ensure BTAM operations adhere to university policies, federal and state laws, and best practices (e.g., U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center guidelines).
• Develop and maintain policies related to threat assessment, behavioral intervention, and crisis response.
• Maintain case management oversight, ensuring appropriate follow-ups, interventions, and documentation in collaboration with BTAM co-chairs.
• Advise on case triage, escalation, and coordination efforts with law enforcement, student affairs, human resources, academic affairs, and additional college/admin units.
• Provide strategic oversight of Clery Act compliance initiatives, including the UIC Clery Act Liaison Program, Clery Committees, and Campus Security Authority (CSA) training programs.
• Consult with university administrators on timely warning notices, emergency notifications, crime reporting, crime statistics, Clery geography, and university-sponsored travel policies.
• Leverage AI tools to enhance threat monitoring and early intervention capabilities.
• Maintain relationships with national and peer-institution threat management programs to stay informed on best practices.
• Facilitate the execution of HSEEP-compliant emergency exercises, including those tied to the UIC Violence Prevention Plan and Emergency Operations Plan.
• Assist in managing the Campus Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) and serve on the Campus Incident Response Team (CIRT) during critical incidents.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs for faculty, staff, and students on violence prevention, Clery Act compliance, and emergency preparedness education.
• Provide specialized training for BTAM team members.
• Support the development and distribution of public-facing safety initiatives, including mobile applications, website content, marketing materials, and social media campaigns.
• Identify, pursue, and manage grant opportunities to enhance threat assessment, violence prevention, and emergency preparedness programs.
• Supervise special projects that align with the Office of Preparedness and Response’s strategic goals.
• Oversee student engagement efforts, including capstone projects, independent study programs, and fieldwork opportunities related to threat management and campus safety.
• Develop performance standards, manage professional development initiatives, and optimize resource allocation.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, equity, inclusion, and collaboration within the division.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.