Career Center

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Columbia University Facilities and Operations, the Vice President of Public Safety (VPPS) oversees a department reflective of the values of an inclusive educational and working environment on campus, while building relationships and collaborating with students, faculty, and staff in support of a positive campus experience for all Columbia University community.

The VPPS is expected to provide a comprehensive vision, strategic leadership, and effective management for the department of Public Safety for the University spans across several campuses and works closely with other university affiliates at Barnard College, Teacher???s College and other neighborhood institutions. The VPPS will be responsible for developing and implementing current and emerging best-practices in the field of public safety and campus security; prioritizing prevention and community initiatives to ensure organizational transparency, impartiality, fairness, respect, and dignity.

The VPPS will serve as the university???s representative with external law enforcement agencies, neighborhood security associations, and other external entities on general public safety and emergency response issues; and oversee and lead programs and services including but not limited to the oversight of educational awareness and crime prevention programs for students, faculty and staff; developing and implementing best practices, policies and procedures for institutional emergency response and preparedness.

Responsibilities

• Directs the development and execution of all Public Safety operations, ensuring quality of services and adherence to strategic expectations set for department.  Accomplishes department objectives by managing staff; planning and evaluating department activities, which include reviewing the procedures on recruitment, selection, orienting and training of employees which specific focus on the development of career progression for employees.  Established and oversees the operating budget for department ensuring compliance with CUFO and University budgeting standards. 

• Responsible for the development and implementation of an effective, efficient, and detailed strategic plan for the department including the establishment of standards to be used by personnel across the department.   Utilize best practices to develop, implement, and promote processes and standards that establish consistent use of standards to establish priorities, statuses, work identification and characterization to improve service delivery and efficiencies. The Vice President is part of a group of senior administrators responsible for establishing the deployment of public safety services throughout the Columbia campuses. 

• The Vice President establishes strategic workflow processes, structure, and standards, monitoring and improving. They work closely with key stakeholders to define and implement work standards, goals, policies and procedure to improve the services provided as subject matter specialists. 

• Develops internal communication systems to accomplish departmental goals through ongoing communications on job expectations, planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.  Ensures a fair system that coaches, counsels, discipline employees which may include terminations. Ensures constant communications through the establishment of a performance management system to communicate and manage performance issues.  

• Develops, implements, and ensures enforcement of departmental policies and procedures. Serves as the University???s primary official liaison with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and with appropriate professional organizations and external public safety agencies. Enforces University regulations and applicable local, state and federal laws pertaining to public safety and risk management.

• Oversees the preparation of the University's Annual Security Report in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act. Coordinates reporting procedures for appropriate offices on campus.   Oversees and directs the University community apprised of actual and potential safety and security risks and provides information necessary to make informed decisions. Notifies the University community, when appropriate and necessary, of incidents on and around campus. Oversees confidential criminal investigations into potential violations of local, state and federal laws. Ensures maintenance of appropriate records regarding all aspects of the department including incident reports and crime statistics. 

• Develops and updates the University's Emergency Disaster Response Plan and directs the University's Disaster Preparedness Response System. This includes planning, organizing, training and equipping the University community for response to and recovery from events that may cause a major disruption to the campus, and establishing effective working relations with off-campus agencies that play key roles in the training, response to and recovery from disasters.

• Responsible for safety and security for all special events on campus. Takes appropriate steps to identify and eliminate hazards and potential opportunities for crime. Plans and provides for the maintenance of protective patrols to deter and detect crime.  Establishes and maintains effective relationships with University departments including but not limited to Residence Life, Student Activities, EOAA, Title IX, University Life, and Student Services. Develops, plans, updates and oversees educational awareness and crime prevention programs. Serves on several committees regarding campus and student safety.  Serves on various University committees including the Health & Safety Committee. Performs other special projects and duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor???s degree required and at least ten years of progressive experience in the field of public safety, law enforcement or community engagement are required. An advanced degree, experience in a higher education setting and at least five years of senior management experience are preferred.

• The successful candidate will possess significant knowledge of higher education public safety and emergency response practices, excellent strategic and operational abilities, outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, and a clear and demonstrated commitment to community caretaking as a core professional value.

• The ideal candidate will possess an appreciation for the complexity of public safety in the context of a residential and dynamic university campus with a significant international population in a major metropolitan area.

• In addition, candidates will demonstrate an unwavering commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in every facet of the department???s activities; skill in conflict resolution and creative problem solving; experience working with a unionized work force and a record of success establishing and maintaining positive labor/management relations; a proven ability to motivate a diverse workforce to succeed as a high-functioning team; and the capacity to inspire trust and confidence.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.