"Assistant/Associate Vice President for Emergency Management, Transportation and University Safety"

Job Details

Professional Experience/ Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree and minimum of ten years of experience in emergency management, safety and security, law enforcement, fire safety, risk management, or related field with a minimum of five years serving in a leadership capacity is required.
• Proven managerial ability with specific training in supervisory/management skills and responsibilities.

Additional qualifications include demonstrated:

• success in managing complex and technical projects;
• experience of successfully managing and leading individual performers and teams;
• experience building consensus, inspiring teams, exhibiting sound judgment, practicing flexibility, and working within a constantly changing environment;
• ability and expertise in law enforcement and security practices, preferably within the context of a small, private, and rural liberal arts university;
• expertise, experience, and relevant certifications in environmental protection, health and safety, and emergency management programs;
• ability to deliver training and outreach to faculty, staff, and students on guidelines and programs to ensure regulatory compliance and minimize risks related to applicable areas of environmental protection, health and safety, and emergency management programs;
• expertise in managing financial, technical, facilities, and human resources across assigned areas;
• ability to develop budgets with strategic alignment to the goals of the division and act as a responsible steward of assigned university funds and facilities;
• expertise in developing and delivering effective communications about the function with a broad range of campus partners;
• ability to develop and apply policies, protocols, and workflows to support operational performance of the department within university guidelines;
• ability to communicate quickly and effectively with all campus community members and external constituents;
• ability to create and oversee effective policy;
• expertise and experience in fire and life safety and emergency management;
• familiarity with federal and state transportation regulations, motor vehicle policies, and safety standards;
• ability and knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental health, safety, and emergency management regulations, standards, and codes;
• ability to produce reports on compliance and incidents;
• and demonstrated respect for people and their differences; demonstrated understanding of the benefits of a diverse workforce; demonstrated ability to earn the trust and respect of others; includes and welcomes others; works to understand the perspective of others; promotes opportunities to experience diversity within the university community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to lead change and foster continuous improvement across an organization
• Experience overseeing and managing substantial budgets
• A solid commitment to customer service, working effectively with students, faculty, staff, the media, and the community
• Excellent administrative, organizational, oral and written communication, careful listening, interpersonal, and public relations skills
• Commitment to a team-oriented leadership style
• Ability to build enduring, collaborative working relationships that engender trust and respect
• Knowledge of Clery Act, Title IX, hazing, and other compliance requirements
• Strong data analysis capability
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours
• An unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and to promoting an inclusive campus climate

Education

A Bachelor’s degree is required.

A Master’s degree in emergency management, criminal justice, or related fields is preferred. Military service, fire department, emergency medical training, or other certifications in emergency or crisis response are helpful.

Department Statement

Reporting to the Vice President and Dean of the College (VP/DOC), and serving on the VP/DOC’s Senior Leadership Team, the Assistant/Associate Vice President for Emergency Management, Transportation and University Safety provides effective and prominent leadership in times of emergency preparedness and crisis response. The AVP is directly responsible for developing plans and leading colleagues to effectively avoid and mitigate risks through effective emergency preparedness and response planning.

The position is accountable for providing advice, counsel, and expertise on campus safety, environmental health, emergency management, fire safety, transportation, and parking needs and issues across the University and in partnership with the VP/Dean of the College and University community.

Emergency Management The University’s Emergency Management program is designed to ensure emergency preparedness, fortify community safety, protect University property, restore normal operations in the event of an emergency and develop responsive communications to university constituents (faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni). The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operates using the Incident Command Structure (ICS) of the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and is a highly functioning team of more than 50 colleagues from all divisions within the University. The EOC is intended to ensure full compliance with applicable local, state, and federal life safety regulations and to cooperate with relevant local, state, and federal public safety agencies charged with disaster control. The program includes general campus safety advisories; emergency communication systems; locations of all emergency telephones and notification systems; automated external defibrillators and emergency aid stations; and the Emergency Response Plan (ERP). The AVP is responsible for regularly updating the ERP, which provides the basic framework for the University’s emergency response and incident command in the event of campus, local, regional, or national emergencies.

Campus Safety The Colgate University Campus Safety Department is committed to maintaining the safety and security of the campus community in a caring, respectful, and professional manner. The team actively builds respect and a positive reputation with students, faculty, and staff by fulfilling its charge to keep the campus safe and secure. The AVP provides oversight to a full-time director of Campus Safety.

Environmental Health and Safety Environmental Health and Safety supports a safe learning, living, and working environment at Colgate University by promoting health, safety, and environmental protection through the development of comprehensive programs for training and consultation, risk evaluation and mitigation, emergency response, hazardous materials management, and regulatory compliance. The AVP provides oversight for a full-time director of Environmental Health and Safety.

Fire Safety

The University’s Fire Safety program is designed to ensure a safe environment across all University facilities by focusing on regular fire prevention education, fire safety training, fire detection system testing, and state inspections. The AVP provides oversight for a full-time director of Fire Safety.

Transportation The Transportation Department oversees all aspects of Colgate’s transportation services, including on- and off-campus shuttles and campus-wide mobility options. Its mission is to deliver convenient, safe, reliable, and welcoming service through the Colgate Shuttle and new ride-request options connecting to local transportation hubs as well as on-demand transportation services. The AVP provides oversight for a full-time director of Transportation.

Dean of the College Divisional Responsibilities The AVP will serve on the VP/DOC’s senior leadership team and help advance strategic priorities of the Dean of the College (DOC) Division as well as the University’s Third Century Plan.

The AVP will lead other divisional responsibilities, including liaising with Human Resources, assisting with orientation for new staff within the DOC Division, and other duties in partnership with the VP/DOC.

Learn more about Colgate University and the Dean of the College Division by reviewing A Candidate’s Guide to Colgate. Twice in the last five years, the Dean of the College Division was acknowledged by Diverse Issues in Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs.

Accountabilities

Areas of focus include responsibility for:

• Leadership for the Emergency Operations Center during crisis response, as well as emergency preparedness through tabletop exercises and briefings.
• Development of effective emergency protocols and preparedness plans for the University’s business continuity.
• Overall health and safety of the Colgate community, to include faculty, staff, students, and visitors.
• High-quality development, implementation, and evaluation of all University safety programs and services within the AVP’s portfolio.
• Effective implementation of federal and University standards and regulation for safety/security and reporting, including Clery and Hazing Prevention.
• Cultivation of effective relationships and coordination with relevant local law enforcement agencies, including government investigation units and mutual law enforcement functions.
• Participation in labor agreement negotiations and other labor-related issues, as required.
• Delivery of (direct and oversight for) security/safety training to the campus community.
• Provide direct oversight for the University’s Campus Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Parking, and Transportation departments.
• Ensure all departmental operations are aligned with institutional priorities of accessibility, sustainability, and reliability.
• Oversee compliance with state and federal transportation regulations, University motor vehicle use policies, and safety standards.
• Monitor budgets and carefully steward University resources within the AVP’s portfolio.

This position has been designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA), in accordance with the federal statutory requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act. CSAs are required to and responsible for reporting allegations of crimes they receive from students and employees to the Campus Safety Department.

Job Open Date 09/08/2025

Job Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Special Instructions Summary

EEO Statement

The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of merit, ability, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

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