Oversee 300+ full-time, Per Diem, and student worker personnel on all St. John’s properties, nationally and internationally. 

Ensure transparent, compliant, and cost-effective budget management, including procurement oversight, contract management, and continuous improvement of financial practices. 

Direct the development of an effective global strategy to mitigate security risks and safeguard the University from crime, theft, violence, fraud, and violation of University Regulations, local and state laws, and national laws where applicable. 

Direct the domestic and international staff in identifying, developing, implementing, and maintaining security processes, practices, and policies throughout the University's Domestic and Global Campuses. 

Develop and maintain relationships with high-level law enforcement and international counterparts to include in-country security and international security agencies, intelligence, and private sector counterparts worldwide. 

Develop access control strategies and other physical security measures designed to create a safe University environment and protect individuals associated with the University.  

Contract with security resources capable of providing quality security and investigation support services worldwide. 

Collaborate on activities with the corresponding Executive Emergency Management Team, Operation Team, and others as necessary to provide security and investigation expertise. 

Collaborate with the Chief of Public Safety and the Director of Operations to interimly plan and lead Emergency Management planning and table top exercises within Public Safety and in conjunction with University Emergency Management constituents. 

Own the University’s Public Safety Training Program and Academy functions (dispatch, patrol, and supervisors), including onboarding, field training, recurrent/annual training, remedial plans, and leadership development. 

Develop and maintain competency‑based curricula aligned to industry standards (e.g., NIMS/ICS for incident management, use‑of‑force and de‑escalation, Clery/Title IX awareness, crisis communication, and customer service). 

Establish training governance (needs analysis, lesson‑plan approval, instructor qualifications, training records, and audits); ensure documentation supports compliance and accreditation requirements. 

Coordinate the development, maintenance, and annual review of the local emergency operations plan and other plans, as required. 

Coordinate public information programs to keep all university residents informed about emergency management activities. 

Act as the University representative in dealing with other governmental and private organizations. 

Accountable for maintaining and executing the Emergency Preparedness Plan. 

Oversee disciplinary issues. 

Hire new personnel to ensure that our Public Safety Officers and staff provide quality customer service to our community and campus visitors. 

Serve as a liaison for investigations involving campus incidents. 

Foster collaboration with campus departments and student groups. 

Establish relationships with local law enforcement and emergency services. 

Manage direct reports responsible for the day-to-day 24-hour internal and external operations required to maintain a safe environment for students and the St. John’s community. 

Maintain benchmarked state-of-the-art security and safety functionality of all electronic systems. 

Work closely with Student Affairs leaders, including the VP of Student Life, the Dean of Students, the Director of the Counseling Center, and the Director of Student Conduct, concerning student behavior. 

Work closely with the designated senior official of Human Resources concerning personnel issues and confidential investigations. 

Work closely with the external community and attend meetings as needed. 

Act as the Executive of the Operations Team; communicate with the Incident Commander during emergencies to ensure Senior Management is kept up-to-date on the situation. 

Leadership & Management – strong organizational and supervisory skills. 

Communication – excellent written and verbal communication. 

Legal & Regulatory Knowledge – familiarity with Clery Act and campus safety laws. 

Interpersonal Skills – ability to work with diverse populations and understand student development. 

Crisis Response – calm and effective decision-making in emergencies. 

Directly supervises all Branch Campuses and Training Staff 

Indirectly assists in supervising all uniformed supervisors and officers 

Provides functional oversight of Operations; the Director of Operations has a dotted-line relationship to this role for strategy, policy alignment, and KPI performance, while administrative/HR supervision remains with the Chief of Public Safety.  

Campus-based with frequent interaction across departments. 

On-call 24/7 for emergency response. 

Collaborative work with law enforcement and emergency agencies.

Occasional participation in emergency responses or public safety events. 

May involve moderate physical activity (walking, standing, lifting). 

High physical conditioning required for emergency scenarios. 

Exposure to hazardous environments (e.g., fire, smoke, debris). 

Ability to: 

Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred. 

10 to 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience within a security, public safety, or law enforcement organization. 

Experience working in higher education security/public safety is strongly desired. 

Demonstrated experience and abilities in the following: 

Strong leadership, management, and interpersonal skills. 

Excellent written and verbal communication abilities; skilled in public speaking. 

Minimum 5 years in a supervisory role. 

Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and thrive in a collaborative environment. 

Demonstrated success in leading teams and managing complex projects. 

Valid Driver’s License.