Director of Campus Safety
1 day ago
New York
Position Summary: The Director of Campus Safety holds full authority and accountability for the strategic direction, daily operations, and regulatory compliance of the College's safety and security functions. This individual serves as the Incident Commander during emergencies, the primary liaison to local, state, and federal law enforcement and emergency services, and the senior advisor to College leadership on all matters of physical security, risk mitigation, and crisis response. Operating within the heart of New York City, this role requires deep familiarity with NYPD precinct coordination, FDNY protocols, and the unique security demands of an urban campus environment. Key Responsibilities Emergency Management, Crisis Response & Risk Mitigation • Direct enterprise-level emergency preparedness, continuity planning, and disaster readiness efforts, including developing and testing lockdown and shelter-in-place protocols., • Act as Incident Commander during emergencies and crises., • Manage the campus mass-notification and emergency alert system., • Conduct risk and threat assessments across the College, identifying physical, chemical, environmental, and cyber-related vulnerabilities, and lead development of mitigation strategies., • Actively participate in a Behavioral Intervention/CARE Team, coordinating with counseling and health services on at-risk students or employees., • Maintain a documented workplace violence prevention plan consistent with NY State requirements., • Develop protocols for managing campus protests, demonstrations, and other high-visibility public assemblies. Legal & Regulatory Compliance • Coordinate with the Offices of General Counsel and Student Affairs on federal Clery Act reporting and ensure timely, accurate disclosures., • Ensure compliance with Title IX (particularly where security investigations intersect with Title IX matters), the NY Enough is Enough Act, ADA/Section 504 accessibility in emergency evacuation planning, FERPA in handling investigative records, and OSHA workplace safety standards., • Conduct regular security audits and risk assessments to confirm regulatory compliance and identify vulnerabilities., • Maintain awareness of evolving federal, state, and local safety regulations and adjust departmental policy accordingly. Strategic Leadership, Planning & Interagency Coordination • Provide strategic guidance and expert counsel to senior College leadership on public safety priorities, emerging risks, and resource needs., • Lead execution of the College's Public Safety Strategic Plan., • Serve as the primary liaison with NYPD precincts, FDNY, NYC Office of Emergency Management, and other local agencies; maintain relationships with Federal and State Homeland Security, the FBI, or other agencies as appropriate., • Where applicable, oversee administration and compliance reporting for any relevant grants. Personnel, Vendor & Technology Management • Manage and oversee the selection, training, and performance of any outsourced/contracted security firm and its guard staff., • Supervise maintenance of CCTV, access control, radio systems, and other security technology infrastructure; lead RFPs for new security technology., • Oversee certification and training requirements for all appointed private college security officers., • Coordinate with IT on physical-cyber security convergence and insider threat considerations., • Coordinate with the Facilities Department and with Residence Life as applicable. Investigations & Incident Response • Personally interview complainants and lead investigations into stolen property, criminal activity, and other security incidents., • Conduct root cause analyses and develop corrective action plans to minimize recurrence., • Develop professional analyses and statistical reporting on security operations to inform continuous improvement., • Support the institution's Title IX Coordinator and Title VI Coordinator where security response, bias incidents, or discrimination complaints intersect with institutional Title IX and Title VI obligations., • Partner with Residential Life and Facilities to coordinate fire safety standard notifications for all college-owned or college-operated housing. Community Engagement, Communication & Campus Partnerships • Cultivate relationships with campus community members, partner organizations, and external stakeholders., • Develop and deliver College-wide security awareness programs and training for employees, staff, and students., • Communicate public safety goals, policies, and emergency protocols across the College., • Serve as spokesperson during emergencies, providing timely and accurate communication to leadership., • Partner and coordinate with Human Resources and Risk Management on workers' compensation reporting and follow-up., • Coordinate with Student Affairs to ensure bias-related, hate crime prevention, and Title IX/129-B programming (sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking prevention) is delivered to students each semester. Health, Safety & Laboratory Compliance • Ensure institution-wide compliance with applicable OSHA general industry standards across all non-academic operations, specifically focusing on Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) and Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030). Maintain all OSHA-required injury and illness recordkeeping (including the OSHA 300 log)., • Conduct or commission periodic workplace safety audits across campus facilities and ensure corrective action plans are tracked to completion., • Maintain the campus security advisory committee required under NY Education Law Article 129-A; ensure annual crime statistics reporting and certification filings are submitted to NYSED by the July 1 deadline., • Oversee and execute the annual aggregate data reporting obligation to NYSED under Article 129-B ("Enough is Enough"), ensuring submission by the October 1 deadline., • Coordinate with academic deans responsible for chemical inventory management, hazardous waste disposal, and lab-specific training to ensure safety training, PPE provision, and emergency equipment (shower/eyewash and ventilation) maintenance are documented and audit-ready., • Partner with academic deans, department chairs, and facilities to ensure each laboratory using hazardous chemicals maintains an annually reviewed written Chemical Hygiene Plan consistent with OSHA’s Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450). Fire & Life Safety • In conjunction with the Director of Facilities, ensure compliance with NYC Fire Code and FDNY requirements, including maintenance of any required Certificate of Fitness holders (e.g., Fire Safety Director, Fire Guard) for campus buildings., • Maintain current fire safety and emergency evacuation plans for all occupied buildings, including required fire drills., • Coordinate with Facilities on life safety system inspections (sprinklers, alarms, standpipes) and remediation of code violations. Budget, Resource & Performance Management • Develop, manage, and track the Security Department's budget., • Align budget decisions with strategic and operational priorities., • Oversee regulatory reporting, accreditation efforts, and prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports for executive leadership and, as appropriate, the Board of Trustees. Required Qualifications • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MPA, MS in Security Management, Criminal Justice, or related field) strongly preferred., • Minimum 10–15 years of progressive experience in law enforcement, military leadership, or corporate/institutional security, including senior management experience., • Proven track record of adopting a student-centered, service-oriented approach to public safety. Must possess the ability to balance strict regulatory/safety enforcement with empathy, cultural humility, and a high level of responsiveness to students, faculty, staff, and visitors., • Proven track record of building trusted, proactive partnerships across a complex institutional landscape. Specifically requires demonstrated success collaborating with Student Affairs on student wellness and crisis response, Facilities/Physical Plant on environmental safety and infrastructure, and Academic Leadership (Deans/Chairs) on laboratory compliance and educational continuity., • Excellent collaboration skills and sound judgment in sensitive, high-visibility situations., • Demonstrated ability to act as Incident Commander and make sound, rapid decisions under high-stress conditions., • Deep working knowledge of federal, state, and local safety regulations, including the Clery Act and Title IX., • Working knowledge of OSHA general industry and laboratory safety standards, and experience coordinating environmental health and safety programs in an institutional setting, ideally including direct or dotted-line oversight of an EHS function, • Strong customer service orientation. Working Conditions • Available on-call 24/7 to respond to emergencies; expected to be physically present on campus or able to respond rapidly during incidents., • Primarily office-based with regular need to be on-site across campus facilities at all hours. This is a non-union position. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Email materials to: hr@cooper.edu