Director of Public Safety

About Salem Academy and College

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country.  Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all, Salem has a rich 254-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts education. Our graduates are committed to making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders.

Position Summary

The Director of Public Safety reports directly to the Executive Director of Operations and provides leadership for Salem’s Department of Public Safety, a non-sworn, unarmed campus safety department, and has overall responsibility for administering and managing the department’s short- and long-range strategic planning, personnel administration, employee development, policy creation and implementation, and general oversight of the department. Consistent with the practice at many liberal arts colleges, Salem’s public safety officers do not carry firearms and do not have arrest authority; the Director builds and maintains a strong partnership with the Winston-Salem Police Department and other local law enforcement, fire, EMS, and emergency response agencies for matters requiring sworn law enforcement action, arrest authority, or criminal investigation. As an essential employee, the Director implements best practices in campus safety and community-oriented safety services; ensures compliance with federal and state laws and regulations; prepares and distributes the college’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report as required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Crime Statistics Act; and directs, plans, and manages all functions and operations of the Public Safety Department. The Director fosters a welcoming, service-oriented department culture that maintains a safe and secure environment on the Salem campus for students, staff, and guests.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

- Collaborates with the Executive Director of Operations to develop departmental advancement, capital, strategic training, campus safety, and operating plans.

- Directs, supervises, and evaluates departmental staff and supervisors; ensures staff receive training in customer service, de-escalation, trauma-informed response, and their specific job responsibilities.

- Recruits, hires, trains, and develops a team of public safety officers grounded in a community-focused, service-oriented approach to campus safety.

- Assists with the development of departmental budgets; orders equipment and supplies, monitors inventory, and makes requests for capital outlay expenditures as needed.

- Establishes department goals, long-range plans, objectives, policies, directives, and procedures based on the needs of Salem and continuously monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of the department.

- Establishes, maintains, reviews, and regularly updates department practices, policies, and procedures to ensure best practices are employed, consistent with a non-sworn, unarmed campus safety model.

- Serves as Clery Compliance Officer in partnership with Salem administration to prepare the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

- Coordinates with the College Title IX Coordinator on related campus-wide training, investigations, and safety planning.

- Conducts regular oversight and inspection of department personnel, equipment, and operational practices, and identifies opportunities to improve department operations and the community’s service experience.

- Ensures proper and timely notification to appropriate stakeholders and departments within the Salem community.

- Oversees discipline of department staff and makes recommendations on departmental disciplinary decisions.

- Ensures complaints against department employees are thoroughly and fairly investigated.

- Plans, implements, and maintains effective customer and stakeholder relations, outreach programs, and educational programming for students, staff, and faculty regarding safety, crime prevention, and risk reduction.

- Builds and maintains a positive, collaborative working relationship with the Winston-Salem Police Department and other outside law enforcement, fire, EMS, and first responder agencies, serving as the college’s primary liaison for matters requiring sworn law enforcement response, arrest authority, or criminal investigation.

- Participates in community organization meetings focused on community safety and security.

- Oversees the security of campus buildings and property, including access control, key/card systems, and camera systems; develops contingency and emergency plans for Salem and provides safety-related guidance to senior staff.

- Oversees patrol of campus property by public safety officers to maintain a visible, welcoming safety presence, deter incidents, and identify hazards; ensures officers respond promptly to safety and security concerns and escalate any matter requiring law enforcement authority, arrest, or criminal investigation to the Winston-Salem Police Department or other appropriate agency.

- Serves as the college’s primary point of contact for emergency incidents on campus, directing Salem’s internal response, coordinating with campus partners, and escalating to outside law enforcement or emergency responders as needed.

- Serves as a member of Salem’s Emergency Operations Response team and other task forces, as appointed.

- Maintains daily contact with internal community members (students, staff, faculty, parents, etc.) in a manner that reflects Salem’s values and commitment to a caring, student-centered environment.

- Leads and manages the department and is ultimately responsible for its operations, performance, and culture.

- Provides after-hours support for emergency facility-related matters as needed.

- Works rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, during inclement weather, and during other circumstances requiring public safety staffing.

- Performs other tasks, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.

Position Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, and presentation communication skills.

- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, Salem students, staff, faculty, administration, the surrounding community, and local law enforcement and emergency response partners.

- Knowledge of campus safety and security best practices within a non-sworn, unarmed public safety environment.

- Skill in managing situations calmly, courteously, tactfully, and impartially, with an emphasis on de-escalation and trauma-informed response.

- Ability to multi-task and work independently with demonstrated problem-solving skills.

- Ability to supervise and guide individuals or groups, balancing employee concerns with management requirements.

- Ability to provide constructive feedback to staff and manage disciplinary and performance issues fairly.

- Skilled in developing and coordinating department training programs, including customer service, de-escalation, and emergency response training.

- Knowledge of office administration, business operations, budgeting, and reporting.

- Knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework governing campus safety, including the Clery Act, Title IX, and related federal and state requirements.

- Ability to manage documentation and records related to safety incidents, reports, and investigations.

- Knowledge of purchasing and inventory control practices.

- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across diverse operating units and constituencies.

- Ability to organize work and maintain schedules.

- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a broad range of audiences.

- Ability to adapt to changing requirements, priorities, and resources, sometimes on short notice.

- Demonstrated ability to plan, develop, and provide collaborative leadership grounded in community trust.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, preferably with an emphasis in criminal justice, public administration, higher education administration, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

- Minimum of 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in campus safety, security administration, higher education, or a related field, including supervisory or management experience; experience within a non-sworn, unarmed campus safety environment is strongly preferred.

- Demonstrated experience with emergency management planning, Clery Act compliance, and building collaborative partnerships with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

- Current certification, or ability to obtain within six months of hire, in CPR, First Aid, and AED.

- Ability to pass a background check.

- Subject to drug testing.

- Valid driver's license.

Physical/Environmental Requirements:

- Bend, squat, stand, kneel, walk, and climb.

- Regularly ascend/descend stairs.

- Walk for long distances and sit for varying lengths of time.

- Reach above shoulders; handle keys, tools, and objects; push, pull, carry, or lift up to 40 lbs.

- Work may require accessing and working in confined or elevated spaces.

- Must be physically able to safely perform assigned duties and operate the equipment required for the position.

- Work in an indoor/outdoor environment subject to changing temperatures and weather conditions.

Salem Academy and College is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For questions, please contact Tina Kramer, Executive Director of Operations at [email protected]