Director of Life Safety

Position Summary

The Life Safety department at Saint John’s University invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), benefit eligible position of Director of Life Safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the EMT program, dispatch operations, patrol teams, and coordination with the Saint John’s Fire Department.

• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate professional staff and student employees.

• Foster a service-oriented, student-centered culture emphasizing safety, responsiveness, and professionalism.

• Develop staffing models, training programs, and performance standards.

• Promote a safe educational and work environment through coordinated efforts with Facilities Management, Human Resources, Student Development, Residential Life, and the Order of Saint Benedict.

• Investigate all criminal activity and policy violations.

• Serve as the University and Order liaison with outside law enforcement agencies.

• Serve as a core participant in the Crisis Response Framework.

• Collaborate with local, regional, and state emergency response agencies.

• Participate in drills, tabletop exercises, and after-action reviews.

• Ensure timely and accurate completion of the Annual Security Report (ASR).

• Oversee incident reporting systems and data integrity.

• Ensure compliance with Clery Act requirements, NFPA standards, and other applicable regulations.

• Collaborate with Title IX campus partners to support timely response, documentation, and coordination related to safety and security aspects of Title IX matters, including incident reporting, evidence preservation, emergency response, and compliance with institutional protocols, while maintaining confidentiality and trauma-informed practices.

• Oversee card access management systems and access control troubleshooting.

• Manage alarm monitoring and proprietary dispatch systems.

• Partner with IT, Facilities, and vendors to ensure system reliability and integration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with five or more years of qualifying experience in security operations or emergency management; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading teams in life safety, public safety, emergency services, or security.

• Experience working with external agencies.

• Experience in higher education or complex campus environments.

• Familiarity with NFPA standards, Clery Act and Title IX.

• Knowledge of incident reporting tools, access control systems, and dispatch operations.

• Willingness and ability to respond outside of normal business hours, including evenings, weekends and emergency situations.

• Experience supervising student employees preferred.

• Five or more years of experience leading teams or programs focused on life safety, public safety, emergency services, or security operations.