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Director, Public Safety

Employer
Rhode Island School of Design
Location
Rhode Island, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Sep 1, 2021

Job Details



Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design is actively seeking a Director of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) works with the Providence Police and Brown University Police departments to maintain a safe campus environment and support the educational mission of the college. Patrolling the campus on foot, bicycle, and in distinctively marked cruisers, DPS provides comprehensive safety, security, parking, and shuttle service to the RISD community. As an employer, RISD offers a supportive, collegial and inclusive work environment and a competitive benefits package.

Under the Vice-President of Campus Services, the Director of Public Safety is responsible for providing strategic leadership, vision, and administrative oversight in the overall enforcement and protection of life safety, emergency response, property, and the prevention of crime and disorder on the campus. The incumbent is charged with promoting safety, security, and wellbeing, through an effective program that prioritizes and values diversity and community engagement. Through past practices, the person in this position demonstrates clear knowledge, understanding and commitment to social, equity, and inclusion work that will further support RISD’s strategic initiatives. This position is responsible for formulating equitable departmental policies and procedures; implementing and monitoring effective crime prevention programs; effective enforcement of federal, state and local laws and ordinances; effective budget management for/of department; overall coordination of parking and transportation services; and crime prevention activities that include effective public outreach. This position is responsible for establishing and maintaining strong collaborative working relationships with a variety of campus partners, such as Student Affairs, the Office of Social Equity and Inclusion, the Office of Institutional Discrimination + Title IX, the Office of Residence Life, and Facilities + Environmental Health and Safety the Risk & Emergency Manager and others; as well as local law enforcement agencies and college and university public safety and security. Successful candidates must have a strong working knowledge of and sensitivity to Title IX and discriminatory harassment incidents and serve as the point of contact for these incidents.

Essential Functions

  • Hires and supervises union and non-union Public Safety and Card Services staff for the College. Plans and conducts regular training and staff development programs. Establishes and monitors performance standards and evaluates public safety personnel.
  • Confers regularly with staff to plan and coordinate activities, assign and check work, assist with unusual or difficult situations, and resolve problems.
  • Develops and implements operational and training standards, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, and relevant cultural competency-focused learning and development and best practices, for the safety and security of the College and Museum community, and for the security of buildings, building access rights, and equipment at all locations. Oversees crime prevention strategies, health and safety programs, emergency evacuation/preparedness procedures, and conducts training for college staff and students. Ensures that programs are aligned with the strategies and with the budget.
  • Oversees integration of the Department’s services into the broader campus community while actively promoting positive and collaborative working relationships with campus partners and the entire community. Maintains effective working relationships with entities including but not limited to: the Providence Police Department, Providence Fire Department (including Providence Rescue), Brown University Police and other local university public safety departments, F.B.I., R.I. State Police, RI Emergency Management, RISD’s fire and liability insurance carriers, OSHA and other local agencies concerned with the safety and security of the RISD community.
  • Directs the formulation of all rules and regulations pertaining to campus safety and security. Ensures the institution’s compliance with local, state and federal laws. Maintains, submits and publishes annual Clery Act crime statistics and maintains the Public Safety compliance list for the institution.
  • Oversees crime investigations and efforts on RISD premises and cooperates with local authorities, campus partners and the RISD community in this effort. Coordinates prosecution where necessary. Ensures that all safety and security incidents are properly documented and that the reports are submitted in a timely manner and necessary work orders and other pertinent data on deficiencies are reported to the proper departments.
  • Conducts risk assessments and communicates security and safety policies, procedures and guidelines. Reviews and monitors the safety and security needs of the college.
  • Communicates campus incidents in a timely manner, relative to the incident severity, to appropriate department managers within the college and the college community as appropriate.
  • Plans and oversees departmental records’ systems. Prepares key administrative/operations reports. Oversees the Public Safety web page and assures that the Daily Crime Log and all policy and crime-reporting statistic information is up-to-date and accurate online.
  • Ensures the institution’s emergency medical service operates in compliance with state regulations. Acts as liaison with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) unit of the Department of Health of Rhode Island.
  • Acts as the backup chair of the Emergency Operations team, and a member of the International Incident Response Team. Partner with the Risk & Emergency Manager to plan and conduct emergency drills for the campus. Serves as an active member of the Emergency Operations Command Team, acting as back up Chair as needed. Serve in on-call rotation in the event of an emergency. Attend training and planning meetings as well as participating in active response whenever there is an emergency on or off campus affecting our community.
  • Oversees department budget and expenditure of department funds. Makes recommendations on Public Safety equipment, personnel and operating needs.
  • Ensures proper maintenance and updates of computer software and hardware used in the department such as card access, video surveillance and records management systems.
  • Reviews new building and renovation construction plans; assists in the design of security systems and plans public safety officers’ needs for these projects; provides financial cost figures for the proposed systems and staffing.
  • Develops relationships with contracted security companies to augment the Public Safety department when needed.
  • Works closely with Residence Life to address safety and security concerns of student residential communities. Keeps abreast of new innovations in the field of campus public safety including crime prevention and reporting, emergency preparedness and response, safety and security standards, and the college student culture.
  • Oversees and develops parking policies and oversees parking lot operations in cooperation with the parking and transportation task force.
  • Oversees the on-campus shuttle service (RISD Rides). Manages the service company contracted to run that shuttle.


Knowledge/Skills/Experience

  • Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice or related field required
  • Minimum seven years management-level experience, including budget management experience with a law enforcement agency or public safety service
  • Thorough knowledge of modern police methods, practices, and techniques, and of applicable federal and state laws
  • Experience with Community Policing Model
  • Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of subordinates and to advise, instruct, and train personnel
  • Demonstrated ability to support a community of diverse perspectives and cultures in an equitable, meaningful, and inclusive manner
  • Demonstrated cultural competence with addressing issues of structural racism, implicit bias, and inequitable treatment in the execution of campus safety activities
  • Strong ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals using both oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to interact with the public and with the RISD campus community, as well as local and college and university law enforcement agencies, courteously and firmly, and to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with diverse populations
  • Ability to respond to serious or rapidly changing situations with calm and confident leadership
  • Demonstrated computer experience with Microsoft Office
  • Valid driver’s license required.
  • Must successfully pass a pre-employment physical examination, insurance drivers check, fingerprinting check, drug and alcohol screening and a National Crime Records check, and successfully pass a psychological evaluation exam administered by the University of Rhode Island or other designated qualified agency


Preferred skills and experience:

  • Previous experience at the director level in a college and/or museum preferred


Union

No

Work Schedule

35 hours/week; 12 months/year

Employment Status

Full-Time; Exempt

Grade

08/AD

Documents Needed to Apply

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (required)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

For certain positions, RISD is currently supporting remote work arrangements due to the pandemic. When work resumes in person, employees are expected to perform work on campus.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

For internal use only - Job Family:

Safety & Security

Company

RISD

RISD is a college and museum founded in 1877 in Providence, RI. Today 2,620 students engage in 44 full-time bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, supported by a committed faculty and worldwide network of more than 31,000 alumni.

By cultivating expansive and elastic thinking, RISD equips artists, designers and scholars to generate and challenge the ideas that shape our world.

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