Director of Public Safety

Job Description:

The Department of Public Safety is seeking an innovative, thoughtful and strategic leader with demonstrated success working with diverse populations to serve as Director. The Director is part of the senior leadership team in Student Affairs, reporting to the Vice-President for Student Affairs. In this position, the Director will lead a department of public safety officers, investigators, administrators and transportation staff. The Department works closely with Student Affairs, administrators, faculty, students, and local, state, and regional officials on emergency management response, and to provide safety and security to the entire campus community.

W&L is a top-ranked, small, private liberal arts university located in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. W&L’s mission is to prepare students to meet the world’s challenges as ethical leaders, visionary thinkers and compassionate citizens. Through its small size, resources, and commitment to innovation, W&L fosters a vibrant and thriving community for both students and employees.

Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment.

The University is located in Lexington, VA, a small, scenic city only minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. Lexington is consistently named a best small town, hosts two colleges, and is comfortably nestled among the mountains with larger cities of Roanoke, Harrisonburg, and Charlottesville just a short drive away.

Essential Functions:

• Provides vision, leadership and direction for the Department of Public Safety. Ensures that the Public Safety Department’s practices and objectives are aligned with the University mission. Facilitates and oversees the integration of the Department’s services into the broader campus community, actively promoting positive relations with the entire local community
  
  
• Plans, organizes, directs and evaluates all Public Safety Department activities ensuring compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and adherence to all University policies and procedures
  
  
• Provides administrative and operational support for a 24 hour/365 days a year department of non-sworn, uniformed staff of approximately 14 full-time officers, including an Associate Director, 6 full-time administrative and support staff, and approximately 25 part-time staff
  
  
• Directs and participates as needed with investigations, crime prevention, community relations, special events and security functions
  
  
• Serves on University committees related to public safety, including the Threat Assessment Team, Sexual Misconduct Review Committee, Emergency Management Working Group, Assessment Care Team, University Safety Committee, and the Chemical Hygiene Committee
  
  
• Maintains positive working relationships with local, regional, and state law enforcement and emergency response officials (police, fire, rescue, emergency management, etc.), including serving on regional task forces
  
  
• Administers the operating budget and makes recommendations for the Department’s facilities, equipment, personnel and operating needs
  
  
• Oversees emergency management systems and technology
  
  
• Oversees and advises the Traveller Safe Ride Program Student Committee, including approximately 50-60 student staff, that administers a safe ride transportation system offering services 7 nights/week during the academic year
  
  
• Assures the completion of necessary reports and the timely dissemination of pertinent information to the necessary constituencies, including the preparation and distribution of the Annual Campus Security Report
  
  
• Collaborates with key campus stakeholders to review Clery Act crime statistics for accuracy prior to publishing Annual Campus Security Report
  
  
• Develops and delivers training to University administrators, faculty, staff and students in the areas of safety, security and emergency management/response
  
  
• Oversees parking management and enforcement
  
  
• Ensures ongoing professional training and development for the Department
  
  
• Additional related duties as assigned
  
  

Work Schedule: The standard campus office schedule is M-F, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. This is an exempt role with night and weekend hours required.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a related field, and a minimum of five years of law enforcement/security experience in a management capacity including staff supervision and training is required. Demonstrated knowledge of relevant laws and current issues of public safety and private security functions is required. Experience in a higher education environment is preferred.

The ideal candidate will have the following: strong leadership, interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; the ability to establish, foster, and maintain positive working relationships with a diverse population of individuals at all levels of the University; the ability to thrive in a dynamic environment that requires flexibility, tact and critical thinking; an appreciation for cultural, religious, ethnic and lifestyle diversity; advanced organizational skills; a strong ability to build teams and develop and empower employees; the ability to always demonstrate and promote integrity and the highest standards of professional conduct; an understanding of the University environment; a desire to approach student interactions with a restorative practices framework; the ability to remain composed, focused, and effective in emergency and conflict situations.

Application Instructions:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Resume and cover letter are required. Upload all required documents to the Resume/CV upload section of the application. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for three professional references.

External Applicants: Application instructions for external applicants are located on the jobs.wlu.edu or here .

Current W&L Employees: Apply from your existing Workday account. Instructions are located at jobs.wlu.edu or here .

Physical Requirements:

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
  
  
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
  
  
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
  
  
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
  
  
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
  
  

Working Conditions: The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.

Types of Work: Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Position Type:

Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible

Minimum Pay:

$104,408.91 - Pay Commensurate with Experience

The university requires employees to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and new employees must provide proof of at least their first shot prior to the first day of employment. Boosters are required. Individuals may seek a medical or a religious exemption to the vaccination requirement.