Director of Public Safety
Proudly standing as the nation’s oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has been a stalwart and highly respected institution of higher education since our founding in 1837. For over 185 years our alumni have emerged as leaders and left their mark on the social, economic, and political history of Philadelphia, the surrounding region, the nation, and the world. Building on this legacy, the vision for Cheyney University is to become the premier model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility.
Here at Cheyney, we value scholarship, diversity, integrity, respect, and service. We are committed to maintaining a vibrant educational community that is dedicated to promoting scholarship and lifelong learning for its students, offering wide student access to resources to ensure an opportunity for all to acquire an education, encouraging freedom of thought and freedom from discrimination by ensuring a respectful environment, and provide outreach and service to external and constituent communities, demonstrating their understanding of the importance and value of service.
We’re looking for exceptional individuals who share our values, embrace our mission, recognize our potential, and covet the opportunity to continue to move our historic University forward. CU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; generous retirement plans; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities.
The Cheyney University Office of Public Safety is a professional police department providing the same level of service offered by a municipal police department, as well as other services unique to an academic institution. This management position oversees all public safety responsibilities on campus to ensure a safe and secure educational and work environment using available resources. This position requires you to be on call twenty-four (24) hours per day and seven (7) days per week.
Essential Job Functions:
- Serve as the main contact for the university and campus community relating to matters of public safety and law enforcement.
- Oversee all university police operations, compliance, reporting and emergency response through crime prevention activities, patrols, investigations and community policing.
- Oversee and ensure the effective planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating and budgeting of the department. This includes the authorizing and purchase of equipment and supplies.
- Ensure all officers maintain required certification and mandatory training hours.
- Manage Public Safety's response to all major incidents and investigations.
- Ensure proper handling of sensitive issues and information of Public Safety Staff with confidentiality and discretion.
- Coordinate with Operations Management and facilities manager, the maintenance of police vehicles.
- Custodian of criminal reports, incident reports, traffic accident reports and arrest record information.
- Monitor key issuance and adherence to key control policy.
- Provide proactive leadership in the areas of threat assessment, emergency response planning, community policing, Title IX, and emergency preparedness.
- Recommend safety and security-related improvements campus-wide.
- Maintain and recommend departmental policy and procedures related to public safety functions.
- Ensure that the department follows federal and state laws related to law enforcement agencies and compliance.
- Establish and maintain liaisons with police chiefs and emergency managers with institutions of the PASSHE system and surrounding community. Cultivate partnerships with local law enforcement agencies in fostering a safe campus.
- Evaluate the performance of employees and take necessary action, including discipline.
- Conduct employee interviews and preside over appeals.
- Investigate and resolve complaints - internal and external - lodged against public safety officers and the department.
- Identify training requirements for department personnel.
- Interact with campus organizations and special interest groups.
- Meet regularly with students to foster healthy relationships, while increasing voluntary compliance.
- Prepare all required reports required by local, state, federal agencies and PASSHE.
- Prepare and coordinate public safety publications for campus distribution.
- Serve on various committees when requested or assigned.
- Develop, coordinate and manage Public Safety's response to special events on campus.
- Manage all vehicular traffic related programs to include traffic flow, traffic and parking signs, campus parking, vehicle decal program, violation notices, and fine collection compliance process.
- Oversee and conduct regular university fire drills
- Additional duties as assigned
Requirements
Education, Training and/or Experience:
- Associate degree, with seven years of related experience or A bachelor's degree with five years of related experience is preferred.
- At least three years of experience in police administration.
- Certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in armed and unarmed security techniques, law enforcement certification and crime prevention.
- Varied and responsible experience as a certified, full-time police officer with a recognized law enforcement agency, including supervisory experience.
- Experience with community policing.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to plan, organize and administer a comprehensive police program.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build strong relationships and trust with students, faculty, staff and community to allow for open communication.
- Must be a team player while maintaining professional discipline in the department. Budget experience.
- Computer literate
- Excellent problem-solving skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Knowledge of the Pennsylvania Code, policies, protocols, ordinances, etc. Skilled in firearms use and other equipment.
- Must be able to carry out physical activities of a law enforcement officer; able to perform duties on foot or vehicle.
- Working knowledge of Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Knowledge of Title IX, OSHA regulations and Pennsylvania Fire Code.
- Trained in cultural competencies, appreciate a variety of diverse characteristics and are committed to the mission of providing professional law enforcement, effective emergency response, crime & incident reduction and community outreach & education.
Instructions for Applying
- Applicants must complete an online application and upload a resume and cover letter.
- A copy of a transcript of the highest level of education will be required at the time of interview.
- All applications must be submitted through the online application system. Mailed, emailed or faxed application materials will not be considered.
- All offers of employment are subject and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all pre-employment criminal background checks.