Director of Safety and Security

Overview

Primary Objective: The Director of Safety & Security is responsible for the strategic development, implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive, forward-thinking program. This individual is a key team member in risk management and ensuring the security and safety of all students, parents, guests, and employees. The Director is most likely to thrive in this role by understanding the difference between law enforcement and developing a proactive safety and security program to protect the campus while supporting the school’s mission and educational needs.

Being a life-long learner and fully engaged in this field of study is also required.

• Oversee the security program of Whitefield Academy to ensure physical safety of students, parents, guests, employees, and school assets.
• Develop and perform training for students, parents, and employees regarding best practices in the areas of safety and security.
• Develop and update security policies and procedures.
• Provide guidance, coordination, and leadership in recommending and implementing surveillance, door access, emergency communication, and other security technologies, both new and upgrades.
• Manage and coordinate emergency preparedness training of the students and employees, including administering all fire/tornado/lockdown/evacuation drills for the school.
• Evaluate, create, and maintain documentation for safety, security, and emergency preparedness training, including the school’s crisis management plan and business continuity plan.
• Schedule and supervise off-duty Smyrna police officers and contract security officers at events and on campus.
• Serve as liaison with local law enforcement and other government agencies related to school safety, security, and emergency preparedness.
• Respond to all incidents on campus as a medical First Responder.
• Oversee traffic control on campus, including vehicle and pedestrian traffic during morning and afternoon carpool and all events.
• Manage the process of vendors and guests entering the campus and oversee the monitoring of all non-school personnel and direct them to appropriate areas.
• Assess potential threats and manage any crisis on campus or at off-site school events.
• Perform physical security inspections of the school prior to and at the end of each school day.
• Patrol all areas of the school during the day, meeting and greeting students in a positive way.
• Assist principals and dean of students with student disciplinary actions as needed.
• Create lesson plans, provide interactive discussions, and lead classes with students on appropriate topics such as car and home safety, babysitting, bullying, teen driving, the law, etc.
• Respond during non-school hours if a problem occurs on campus (alarms, severe weather, etc.)
• Mentor and assist students who seek advice, appropriately reporting the information to the school counselor or other administrative staff.
• Provides high visibility and presence on campus to include monitoring dining and parking areas for all students during lunch hours.
• Maintain composure in dealing with colleagues, parents, students, visitors, guests, and the public, occasionally under conditions of urgency and in pressure situations
• Additional responsibilities as assigned by administration.

• Experience in law enforcement, military, school resource officer, and/or organizational security required
• Experience in supervisory and training role
• Certified by and in good standing with the Georgia Peace Officers and Standards Training Counsel (P.O.S.T.) strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Firearms training and current certification
• First aid and CPR trained and maintain current certification
• Strong organizational and analytical skills; ability to identify safety and security enhancement opportunities and implement process improvements; ability to effectively coordinate with colleagues across all departments of the school
• Excellent leadership and communication skills; ability to effectively interact with students, parents, guests, and employees in managing change and/or challenging situations
• Self-motivated, independent and tendency to take initiative
• Embrace a strong commitment to…