Director of Safety & Security and Emergency Management

On behalf of St. Lawrence University, this search is being conducted by Spelman Johnson.

To view the complete position description, including minimum qualifications required, as well as application instructions please click here. Salary range $110,000 - $120,000 (actual salary will be determined by education, experience, and other factors permissible by law).

St. Lawrence University’s director of safety, security, and emergency management (director) is responsible for fostering a safe, inclusive, and welcoming campus environment through proactive safety programs, emergency preparedness, and strong community partnerships. The director facilitates and oversees the integration of the University Safety and Security Department’s (campus safety) services into the broader campus community, actively promoting positive relations with the entire local community.

Reporting to the vice president for finance and administration—with informal/dotted reporting lines to the vice president and dean of student life and the president of the university on matters related to harassment and discrimination prevention, investigation and response—the director supports a culture of trust, preparedness, prevention education, and community engagement while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.

The director of safety, security, and emergency management leads a highly-trained, unarmed, unsworn professional staff consisting of one assistant director, two sergeants, five full-time security officers, one emergency dispatcher, one administrative secretary, one technical services coordinator, one transportation coordinator, 12 university drivers, and two part-time officers. The director also oversees a strong and active student-led St. Lawrence University Emergency Medical Services (SLU EMS) program, and works closely with colleagues in student life, university administrators, faculty, students, and local, state, and regional officials on emergency management responses.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic and Compliance Leadership:

• Provides strategic leadership, vision, and oversight for all aspects of campus safety and security.
• Ensures the university is fully compliant with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing safety and security, and collaborates with key campus stakeholders to collect and review Clery Act crime statistics for accuracy before publishing the annual campus security report.
• Provides support and consultation regarding sensitive matters related to students, faculty, and staff.
• Identifies opportunities to leverage new tools to prevent crime and improve response capabilities.

Staff Supervision, Training, and Development:

• Responsible for leading, mentoring, and supporting the campus safety team to ensure high performance, professional growth, and a positive workplace culture.
• Promotes accountability, transparency, and service excellence within the department.
• Maximizes officer presence and visibility on campus to build trust and foster positive relationships.
• Ensures that staff are trained and aware of university policies and other legal requirements to support investigations and reporting, including the Student Handbook, Title IX, Title VI, and other processes.

Collaboration and Community Engagement:

• Serves as the university’s liaison with local, county, state, and federal officials.
• Serves as the university’s lead official and partners with relevant campus offices and students related to risk assessment of campus events, demonstrations, and freedom of expression, working to ensure a constructive, safe, and educational environment.
• Partners regularly with student life leadership on matters of community standards, including reporting, investigating, and prevention education.
• Participates in and contributes to the finance and administration and student life teams, and works collaboratively with all university departments including university communications, general counsel, and academic affairs.

Event and Crisis Management:

• Serves as the incident commander for all campus emergencies, weather events, and criminal incidents.
• Ensures appropriate pre-event planning, risk assessment, and crowd management strategies to ensure safe and successful campus events.
• Coordinates with other campus departments and outside agencies to ensure that all necessary resources are utilized and measures are taken to resolve or reduce the impact of incidents.
• Acts as primary liaison with emergency responders and maintains and updates emergency response plans.

Communication and Security Systems:

• Evaluates, implements, and manages security technologies, including video monitoring systems, access control, ID systems, and emergency alert systems.
• Manages the campus emergency notification system, ensuring timely, relevant, and consistent emergency communication.