Director of Public Safety

Title: Director of Public Safety

Division: Finance and Administration

Department: Public Safety Office

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $99,000 - $103,000 Annual Salary

EEO Job Group: 1.1 C1

Position Summary

The University of Southern Indiana is accepting applications for Director of Public Safety.

The Director of Public Safety is responsible for the security and safety of a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and visitors of the University of Southern Indiana. The university consists of a 1,400-acre main campus and the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, a separate collaborative campus in downtown Evansville with extension centers in Posey and Vanderburgh County. The Director will be the primary point of contact and liaison with external law enforcement agencies (local, state, federal) and emergency response organizations.

Duties/Responsibilities 

• Provide leadership, strategic planning, and management of comprehensive public safety services, training and programs to promote a safe, secure, and service-oriented environment for students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors at the University.
• Maintain a department structure to effectively accomplish the university’s strategic plan, goals, and objectives.
• Will work with university administration and constituent groups to develop procedures that minimize losses and stop crime and to ensure policies, programs and procedures are consistent with the university mission.
• Oversee hiring, supervision, training, evaluation and discipline of department employees. Supervise and coordinate activities of Public Safety personnel. Plan, develop and coordinate Public Safety operational guidelines, manuals and Public Safety programs. Make policy interpretations to enforce compliance.
• Develop, liaison with and maintain partnerships between the University, law enforcement and Public Safety agencies that are responsible for emergency response on campus property. This includes mutual aid agreements, procedures, standards, networking, and information sharing and coordinated training efforts with those agencies.
• Liaison with contracted law enforcement and emergency responders.
• Monitor public safety conditions, conduct ongoing analysis of data received from external and internal sources and advise administration on appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Apprise the Vice President for Finance and Administration of incidents, emergencies or crisis that may affect the campus community including but not limited to, the students, visitors, faculty, staff, facility operations, or having a fiscal or reputational impact.
• Keep senior management informed of department operations and developments needed to effectively, and efficiently coordinate the management of Public Safety.
• Inform and consult with the campus community on public safety issues and partners with other areas on risk management, crime prevention and the development of campus safety initiatives.
• Oversee and provide direction for security related projects and physical technologies, including but not limited to, various electronic or key access systems, alarms systems, video surveillance, security services, IT and data security systems and other related items.
• Continually evaluate disaster preparedness. Assist departments in developing Emergency and Crisis management plans, and safety and security guidelines. Conduct disaster drills and provide disaster management training.
• Develop operation plans and Emergency Action Plans (EAP) with the University and external stakeholders for large events, commencements, athletic events, VIP guest speakers, housing residence life move-ins, facility operations, and inclement weather preparations; provides updates as necessary.
• Maintains awareness of all required federal, state and local crime reports. Knowledge of, and assure compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations that affect campus public safety in a higher education environment including, but not inclusive to the Jeanne Clery Act, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act, Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and Title IX.
• Review all campus incidents. Conduct necessary investigations and follow up activities in order to resolve complaints and/or address violations of law or policy. Maintain the University trespass list.
• Select and provide training for Public Safety personnel in protective procedures, first aid, fire safety, the legal aspects of their responsibilities, and other duties.
• Assure that USI Public Safety is adequately equipped to perform its functions.
• Collaborate with response, mitigation and recovery activities during campus emergencies such as fires, weather related events, bomb threats or disasters.
• Implement crime prevention and education programs for the University community. Develop and deliver Public Safety communications and training as appropriate.
• Coordinate campus fire drills as required by law. Assist University departments’ inspections for fire safety.
• Maintain Public Safety staff’s safety awareness (including OSHA compliance), ensuring observation, reporting and coordination with the Facilities and Operations and other University Departments to ensure a safe campus.
• Develop and monitor the annual departmental budget for the purchase, maintenance and effective allocation of operations, equipment, supplies and vehicles. May assist in developing long-range capital budgets for various public safety programs.
• Performs other duties and assumes other responsibilities as required.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Ten years of progressive responsibility and experience in law enforcement with a minimum of five years of command and administrative experience of sworn law enforcement personnel.
• Knowledge and certification of FEMA NIMS incident command.
• Knowledge of and experience with state and federal compliance (e.g. Clery ACT, Title IX, SaVE, VAWA, etc.)
• Successful completion of a leadership-training program such as Police Executive Research Forum, Southern Police Institute or the FBI National Academy.
• Evidence of energy and commitment; goal-oriented thinking; strong organization, communication skills (written and oral) leadership, strategic planning and interpersonal skills.
• Must have an understanding of student life and the needs and issues of a campus community, including special events and sports events management.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work effectively in a diversified university community of individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds and ideologies.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Excellent listening, observational and questioning skills with strong social perceptiveness. Effective at resolving problems and conflicts.
• Refined judgement and decision-making skills, including with emergencies.
• Qualified in CPR, AED and basic first aid.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Comparable law enforcement or public safety experience in a higher education environment strongly preferred.

About USI   

The University of Southern Indiana is a public higher education institution located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, IN. We offer employees exceptional benefits! Benefits for this position include:

• Affordable medical, dental, vision, life and short term and long-term disability insurance plans.
• Retirement plan where the University makes the total contribution equivalent to 11% of annual salary.
• Full tuition fee waiver for employees/75% for spouses and dependent children.
• Vacation and sick time
• Holiday pay
• Free access to Recreation, Fitness & Wellness Center.
• Access to on-campus University Health Center and Dental Hygiene Clinic.

For more information about the benefits that USI offers, please visit www.usi.edu/hr/benefits . 

Application Process

Click “Apply Now!” near the top right of this page to complete an application and upload application materials to the attention of the Search Committee Chair. Application materials should include:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• Unofficial Transcripts (official transcripts required at a later stage)

Search Committee Chair:

If you have questions about the open position, please contact Mr. Steve Bridges, search committee chair, at [email protected].

Best Consideration Date:

For best consideration, please submit materials before January 26, 2024.

Pre-Employment Screening

A background check will be required for employment in this position.

Authorization to Work in the United States

USI typically will not sponsor an employment-related visa for this position.

Interview Accommodations

Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please contact the manager of Employment at [email protected] or (812) 464-1840. Contacting the manager of Employment is intended for use in seeking disability-related accommodations only. For general applicant inquiries, contact Human Resources at [email protected] or (812) 464-1815.

EEO Statement

The University of Southern Indiana is an EEO/AA employer. All individuals including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.