Job Title: Chief of Safety and Emergency Operations
| Reports to: | Assistant Superintendent for Support Services |
| Job Group: | Administrative |
| FLSA: | Exempt |
| Job Code: | 1230 |
| Salary Schedule: | APT09 |
JOB GOAL
Responsible for directing, planning, implementing, and coordinating all district safety initiatives, including emergency preparedness and school safety and security operations. This includes coordinating with law enforcement and outside agencies regarding threat assessment and other safety, security, and emergency operations, and developing policies and procedures for safe and secure schools and district property.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Direct, plan, organize, and implement the District’s safety and security program, and oversee activities of employees providing additional security at schools.
- Supervise assigned personnel, conduct annual performance appraisals, make recommendations for appropriate employment actions, and develop staff development training for all assigned staff.
- Develop policies, procedures and guidelines related to safety and security, including emergency preparedness and response, threat assessment, and prevention of and response to violence on school grounds.
- Coordinate and serve as a liaison with law enforcement and outside agencies regarding safety and security.
- Make recommendations and advise senior leadership, school administration, and other appropriate staff members regarding investigative activities and proper practices/procedures necessary to secure the safe and peaceful conduct of district and school business/activities.
- Provide security for a variety of school and district functions and carry a firearm and taser in connection with everyday work duties.
- Coordinate safety and security assessments with facilities personnel for all school facilities.
- Oversee and coordinate safety programs, including district and school safety drills, and the student crime watch program.
- Assist with threat assessments and mental health supports.
- Develop the District’s hurricane sheltering plan, serve as the District’s liaison for emergency operations, and lead the response and recovery during and after emergencies in coordination with elected officials, local administrators, non-profit organizations, constitutional officers and other private sector and government agencies.
- Investigate, monitor, and report suspicious activity, theft, vandalism, and criminal mischief to administration and/or law enforcement.
- Execute within the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the District’s established guidelines and procedures, the pursuit, apprehension, and arrest of law violators or suspected law violators.
- Serve as liaison with Pasco County Sheriff’s Office School Safety Lieutenant and municipal police departments.
- Suppress disturbances and security incidents according to established guidelines and procedures.
- Deescalate confrontations between students, parents, visitors, community members and others. Communicate with school administrators, students, parents, district officials/personnel, community members, and others regarding security related concerns and issues.
- Respond to emergency situations and take appropriate action in accordance with established guidelines; provide basic first aid services as needed.
- Assist in the investigation of potential violations of district/school rules and/or the law in cooperation with law enforcement.
- Support schools with the implementation of behavioral health services.
- Possess a firearm on District Property or at District-sponsored events, including in vehicles, under a separate agreement with the Superintendent consistent with Board policy and Florida Statutes.
- Serve as the District’s School Safety Specialist.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Ability to pass a psychological evaluation as required by Chapter 2018-3, Laws of Florida
- Ability to safely use a firearm and a taser and knowledge of weapons and gun safety
- Ability to be physically and mentally prepared to respond in an emergency or potentially dangerous situation
- Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with school administration, staff, law enforcement and other outside agencies
- Willingness to use force when circumstances and established protocols dictate escalation; up to and including deadly force
- Ability to conduct threat assessments
- Ability to obtain information through visual observation and interviews
- Operating knowledge of computer programs, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
- Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, orally and in writing, including electronic media
- Excellent time management skills and ability to organize, prioritize, and manage work assignments in an efficient manner and within established timeframes.
- All hires must meet physical requirements of Post Offer Employment Testing (POET) and drug screening
- All hires must submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of Florida Statute Section 112.0455 and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Criminal Justice or related field
- Ten years of military experience or experience in law enforcement, security, or a related field, with at least three years in a supervisory or administrative capacity
- Experience with safe use of firearms and tasers
- OR
- Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS
- Valid Florida driver license
- Law Enforcement Commission with the ability to pursue, apprehend, and arrest law violators and suspected law violators or a School Guardian certificate from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office or agreement to earn and maintain within one year of employment
- Successful completion of training for concealed carry weapon permit as a condition of employment and ongoing certification and training or equivalent
- Satisfactory completion of American Red Cross First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course or agreement to earn within one year of employment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in a school setting
- Awareness of the tenets of trauma informed care and mental health resources
- Master’s Degree from an accredited institution in Criminal Justice or related field
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
Direct supervision of assigned personnel. Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work; addressing complaints and resolving problems; training employees; evaluating performance; and interviewing, testing, hiring, and assignment of personnel.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, and hear. The employee occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 100 pounds. Specific vision ability required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Indoors and Outdoors: The worker is subject to both environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside.
Cold: The worker is subject to extreme cold. Temperatures are below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
Heat: The worker is subject to extreme heat. Temperatures are above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
Noise: The worker is subject to noise. There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
Hazards: The worker is subject to hazards. This includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places and exposure to high heat or chemicals.
MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT
General office equipment, including personal computers, fax machines, copiers, telephones, firearms, tasers, etc.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Salary and benefits shall be paid consistent with the District’s approved compensation plan. Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be established by the District.
Performance of the job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the School Board’s policy on evaluation of personnel.
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Pasco County Schools will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.
