"Director of Life Safety"

The Life Safety department at Saint John's University invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), benefit eligible position of Director of Life Safety.

Why Join Us?

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 18 Paid Holidays Annually
• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave
• Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Tuition Remission for Eligible Dependents
• Employer Contributions to a Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program with access to free or discounted counseling, legal guidance, financial coaching, and more

Join a committed team dedicated to safety, community, and service in a supportive and values-driven work environment.

To learn more about our benefits, visit mycsbsju.edu/jobs.

The Director of Life Safety provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for campus security functions at Saint John's University (SJU), working in close partnership with the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and serving both the SJU community and the Order of Saint Benedict.

This role emphasizes strong coordination through shared resources, aligned processes, and intentional knowledge sharing to enhance safety, responsiveness, and service delivery across both campuses. The Director oversees emergency medical services (EMT program), campus dispatch operations, patrol teams, and coordination of the Saint John's Fire Department, ensuring a safe, resilient, and student-centered environment.

The Director is a key leader within the Crisis Response Framework and partners closely with internal stakeholders and external agencies to advance operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in life safety services.

Institutional Inclusion Visioning Statement

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John's University (SJU) believe that an excellent liberal arts education requires an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference and that everyone deserves to feel safe and morally valued. To that end, we will challenge our own practices and systems. Our commitment to an inclusive environment will be incorporated into all decision-making processes. We dedicate ourselves to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons.

CSB and SJU offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program. For further information regarding our institutions, visit CSBSJU.

Leadership and Operations - 25%

• Lead and oversee the EMT program, dispatch operations, patrol teams, and coordination with the Saint John's Fire Department.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate professional staff and student employees.
• Foster a service-oriented, student-centered culture emphasizing safety, responsiveness, and professionalism.
• Develop staffing models, training programs, and performance standards.
• Coordinate security and parking arrangements for all conferences, events, liturgies, and student activities.
• Promote a safe educational and work environment through coordinated efforts with Facilities Management, Human Resources, Student Development, Residential Life, and the Order of Saint Benedict.
• Investigate all criminal activity and policy violations.
• Serve as the University and Order liaison with outside law enforcement agencies

Emergency Management and Crisis Response - 25%

• Serve as a core participant in the Crisis Response Framework.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities.
• Collaborate with local, regional, and state emergency response agencies.
• Participate in drills, tabletop exercises, and after-action reviews.

Compliance, Reporting, and Risk Management - 25%

• Ensure timely and accurate completion of the Annual Security Report (ASR).
• Oversee incident reporting systems and data integrity.
• Ensure compliance with Clery Act requirements, NFPA standards, and other applicable regulations.
• Collaborate with Title IX campus partners to support timely response, documentation, and coordination related to safety and security aspects of Title IX matters, including incident reporting, evidence preservation, emergency response, and compliance with institutional protocols, while maintaining confidentiality and trauma-informed practices.

Technology and Systems Oversight- 25%

• Oversee card access management systems and access control troubleshooting.
• Manage alarm monitoring and proprietary dispatch systems.
• Partner with IT, Facilities, and vendors to ensure system reliability and integration.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with five or more years of qualifying experience in security operations or emergency management; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams in life safety, public safety, emergency services, or security.
• Experience working with external agencies.
• Experience in higher education or complex campus environments.
• Familiarity with NFPA standards, Clery Act and Title IX.
• Knowledge of incident reporting tools, access control systems, and dispatch operations.
• Willingness and ability to respond outside of normal business hours, including evenings, weekends and emergency situations.
• Experience supervising student employees preferred.
• Five or more years of experience leading teams or programs focused on life safety, public safety, emergency services, or security operations.

Physical requirements:

• Requires working at a computer, including typing, reading from a screen, and using various software programs essential for the role.
• Occasionally required to lift or move items up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to tolerate working in varying temperatures and weather conditions.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and on uneven terrain.

Travel requirements:

Occasional travel between the campuses of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.