Lead Campus Safety Officer

Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position. 

Work Location: 
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is an on-campus role only. 

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Position Summary: 

All Security Services staff members genuinely care for the community, are actively engaged, and demonstrate the high values of the university and department through their daily work. Additionally, they understand their work supports and affirms the mission of the institution.

The Lead Campus Safety Officer assists in the supervision of and is a resource for staff in the patrol and dispatch divisions, to include full-time and temporary on-call staff and part-time student staff members. The Lead Officer maintains weekly work schedules for part-time student staff and/or coordinates and documents all department training and participates in the department on-call rotation. Makes administrative level decisions while on duty and serves as a liaison to the associate director or director.  Completes other tasks as assigned by the associate director or director. Understands and furthers the Security Services mission by understanding and advocating department policies, procedures, systems and best practices. May be required to serve as "Incident Commander" or work for extended periods during emergency operations.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

• Perform vehicle and foot patrols of campus to maintain a safe environment.

• Must interact, interview, question others in a polite, courteous, and professional manner.

• Respond to fire and burglar alarms, criminal activity and calls for medical aid.                       

• Perform routine daily tasks of locking and unlocking campus. 

• Perform administrative tasks and complete written incident reports. 

• Is designated as a campus security authority and is required to report known campus-related crimes to Security Services.

• Assist in reviewing and updating department policies and procedures. 

• Schedule and assign logistical support tasks as necessary.          

• Maintain duty schedules for part-time student officers.

• Participate in campus parking issue parking citations.                          

• Coordinate training of all staff and maintain related records.

• Provide vehicle and foot safety escort services for the campus community.                                    

• Coordinate and participate in evaluation of daily work of staff.                                                               

• Assist in hiring process of new staff members.

• Participate in annual performance review process for staff as requested.  

• Provide on-call support to on-duty staff.                 

• Maintain professional appearance and promote department objectives.

• Possess and manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

• Regular and predictable attendance at assigned shifts and department trainings and meetings is required and an essential function of the position. 

• Commitment to serve fairly, protect, and communicate, within a diverse campus community.

• Respond to emergency and urgent situations outside of scheduled work hours, including when the university is under modified operations.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

Assist in the supervision of full-time, part-time and on-call campus safety officers, dispatchers and campus safety assistants. Participates in the staff hiring process and assists with annual performance reviews. Assigns work and guides priorities. Manage the duty schedule for Campus Safety Officers and Dispatchers. May provide initial response to complaints and/or concerns from staff. The position shares in the department on-call responsibilities to provide support to on-duty staff 24-hours a day, seven days a week.   May be required to serve as "Incident Commander" or work for extended periods of time during emergency operations. 

Budgetary Responsibilities: 

No budgetary responsibilities, but must be fiscally responsible with department and university resources.

Qualifications: 

Candidates must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• AA degree, or equivalent level of education, and significant experience in security, military police, or law enforcement

• High School diploma or equivalent

• Valid Washington state driver's license and First Aid/CPR certifications within two months of appointment

• Ability to work independently

• Must be physically capable to run and defend self or others

• Must be able to handle adversity and make quick decisions

• Must have the basic knowledge to use personal computer and related programs

• Must be able to lift up to (but not limited) 10 pounds continually

• Must be able to work well with others and understand individuals have different needs and values

• Must handle confidential and sensitive university information

• Must be capable of effectively working the night shift (swing and graveyard) as, or if, necessary

• Must be able to speak clearly, listen attentively, read, write, and understand English

• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Compensation and Benefits: 

Career Framework Information:
Job Family: Security 
Level: C2
Pay Grade: 5

The anticipated range for this position is $26.00 to $27.16. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations. 

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including: 

• Medical, dental, and vision 
• Life insurance and long-term disability 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions 
• Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays 
• Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families 
• Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!) 

Please note: 
-Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
-Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
-Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits. 

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

For more information on Puget Sound's non-exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Staff Members in Non-Exempt Positions.pdf - Google Drive

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline: 
Review of applications will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. 

Required Documents: 

• Resume
• Letter of Interest 
• 3 Professional References (At least 2 supervisors)

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered. 

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks. 

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge:

• The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community.
• The intrinsic worth of all who work and study here.
• The investigation and reflection enhance that education upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire:

• To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community.
• To increase the diversity of all parts of our university community through a commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts.
• To foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act:

• To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity.
• To ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here.
• To prepare citizen-leaders effectively for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity 

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

This Position: