Director of Security

Position Type:
Administration/Director

Date Posted:
7/17/2024

Location:
District Office
Title: Director of Security
Department: School Security
Reports To: Chief Operations Officer
Location: Highland Park High School / Deerfield High School / District Office
Starting Date: Immediately Upon Hire
Terms of Employment: 12-month, Full-time

Summary:
We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Director of Security to oversee and manage the security operations for the District office and its high school campuses. The ideal candidate will have a background in law enforcement or school administration with a focus on student behavior, experience in developing security policies and procedures, and a proven track record of managing security teams. The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring the safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff by implementing effective security measures, promoting a culture of safety within our school district, and providing project management for new security procedures/initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement or related field/major
• PEL Administrative Endorsement if degree not in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement
• Experience as a police officer, facility security officer, or other security experience preferred
• Successful completion of ICS training (initiated within one year)
• Skilled at communication, particularly the ability to discuss concerns with all parties, de-escalate situations, and professionally execute any necessary actions
• Skilled in counseling students and working collaboratively with parents and staff members relative to disciplinary matters or situations impacting the safety of students
• Valid Driver's License

Supervises:

• Building Security Managers

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Set the overall strategic direction of the security department.
• Work closely with District School Resource Officers (SROs), Principals, Deans, and Security Managers.
• Respond to critical incidents, investigate, and take appropriate action.
• Coordinate and actively provide crowd control for student, staff, and community events and activities.
• Make data-driven decisions about organizing and aligning resources to maximize the safety of students, staff, and community.
• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive security policies and procedures for the district's two high school campuses.
• Manage and oversee the daily security operations at both high school campuses, ensuring a safe and secure environment for students, staff, and visitors.
• Coordinate and collaborate with school administrators, faculty, and local law enforcement to address security concerns and incidents.
• Provide training and guidance to security staff and other school personnel on security best practices, crisis management, and emergency response procedures.
• Conduct regular security assessments and audits, identifying areas of vulnerability and implementing corrective actions.
• Develop and manage the security budget, allocating resources to address security needs effectively.
• Stay informed of the latest security trends, technologies, and best practices, continuously improving the district's security measures.
• Serve as the district's primary point of contact for all security-related matters, providing updates and reports to school administrators and the Board of Education.
• Work with other departments to secure grant funding supporting school and District safety initiatives.
• Prepares and delivers regular school/district safety and security reports to teachers, principals, district leaders, and the Board of Education.
• Attend all Board of Education meetings unless noted by the Superintendent or designee.
• Creates and maintains all safety procedures and protocols.
• Monitor the schools to ensure successful completion of school safety and security drills annually:
  • Building Evacuation (Fire/Hazardous Materials/Bomb Threat)
  • Bus Evacuation
  • Severe Weather/Shelter in Place (Tornado)
  • Law Enforcement Drill (ALICE) completed within first 90 Days of School
• Provide school staff with professional development training related to safety and security (Behavioral threat assessment, active shooter training, ICS training, Evacuation drills, ACM/ACC Systems etc).

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Public, student, and employee safety - Demonstrates significant knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, strategies, research, and equipment/technology to promote school/district safety and security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Competence in use of technology, including an understanding of the interface of security and communications systems and the ability to monitor multiple screens and technology outlets simultaneously.
• Knowledge of the federal Incident Command System (ICS), including the key roles associated with ICS and how ICS applies in school crisis situations; Ability to train, plan, implement, and monitor school and district use of ICS, FEMA, and US Department of Education guidelines regarding schools safety and security, emergency/crisis prevention, intervention, management, and response.
• Laws, government, and school board policy- Demonstrates significant knowledge of relevant local, state, and federal laws, legal codes, school board policies, and procedures, district procedures and protocols, court procedures, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and other related concerns governing school safety and security, public administration, and educational administration.
• Leadership, administration, and management - Knowledge and ability in effective leadership, administration, and management, including strategic planning, resource allocation, procurement, human resources, collaborative leadership strategies, process and project management, group facilitation, ethics, and coordination of people and resources. Understanding of educational organizations, public school systems, and other governmental bodies/units.
• Complex problem-solving and critical thinking ability, including the ability to identify potential risks and benefits, review data and related information, and collaborate with other senior leaders in developing, implementing, and evaluating potential options and solutions.
• Service orientation - Proactively seeking to provide service and solve problems within a collaborative, team-oriented environment. Genuine desire to help others.
• Child-centered orientation - Genuine desire to put the needs of children first, and demonstrated understanding of the developmental needs and concerns of children and young people.
• Public speaking, oral communications - Demonstrated ability in clearly and concisely communicating information to a wide range of employees, parents, emergency responders, and the public.
• Confidentiality, trust, and emotional intelligence - Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain privacy and confidentiality in keeping with legal mandates and school board policies; ability to build positive and trusting relationships with various levels of employees. Demonstrates high levels of emotional intelligence. Knowledge of human behavior and performance; knowledge of organizational behavior/development and performance, and group behaviors.
• Diversity - Understanding of and sensitivity to diverse cultures, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and other aspects of working in a diverse, multi-cultural community. Understanding of institutional racism, implicit bias and other relevant issues as applied to student discipline, academics, parental and community engagement, and other aspects of working for an educational organization.
• Respectful and Responsive Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing respectful and responsive service to internal and external audiences and groups, including the ability to train and evaluate staff against high standards of respectful and responsive service to all internal and external customers.

Special Requirements:

• Must hold or be able to secure within the first twelve months of employment current certification(s):
  • Emergency Management class from FEMA/ICS
  • AED, CPR, and first aid training
  • Stop the bleed training
• Must be over 18 years of age, a citizen of the U.S., and possess a valid Illinois Driver's License.
• Contractual position requires access and responsiveness 24 hours a day, seven days a week, particularly in, but not limited to, emergency situations.
• Fitness for duty examinations (including physical and mental health) and drug screening requirements apply.

Minimum Qualifications or Standards:

• Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment, including computers, copiers, calculators, cellular phones, two-way radios, safety and security equipment, etc. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Must be able to sit, stand, kneel, stoop, climb stairs, walk for extended periods, and run for short periods. Must not have limitations of motion. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. During crisis situations, may require moderate to significant physical work and lengthy periods of standing while providing on-site assistance, often out of doors, and in temporary locations, such as mobile trailers.
• Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments, or directions to subordinates or assistants.
• Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, charts, strategic plans, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, appraisals, charts, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control, and confidence.
• Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Requires the ability to make rapid and appropriate decisions during stressful situations.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in Standard English.
• Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas, to add and subtract, multiply and divide, utilize decimals and percentages, and to apply the principles of algebra, descriptive statistics, statistical inference, and statistical theory.
• Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape.
• Motor Coordination: The ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately is required to use office equipment, safety and security equipment, safety and security observation, and crisis response.
• Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle various items such as office equipment, hand tools, firearms, and other safety and security equipment. Must have adequate levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergencies. Must be comfortable acting as a first responder.
• Physical Communication: This requires visual acuity necessary for both close work and long-distance observation, as well as the ability to speak and hear in order to communicate, comprehend, and gather information during the performance of routine safety and security duties and crisis response.

Disclaimer:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job/position.