Easter Seals Jobs

Position Overview The Safety Director is responsible for leading the Safety Department using a trauma-informed approach to ensure a safe and secure environment at all facilities within the library system. This role is pivotal in creating, maintaining, and enhancing a culture of safety and engagement by modeling excellent customer service with a high degree of emotional intelligence to all staff and customers. The Director will oversee safety protocols, training programs, and all security monitoring systems in compliance with local, state, and federal safety regulations. The Director is responsible to actively mitigate risks, handle incident responses, and foster a proactive safety culture across all locations.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement comprehensive safety policies and procedures across the library system, and ensure all safety policies comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Design safety training program for all staff, focusing on risk identification, de-escalation techniques, and emergency response protocols and drills.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the librarys safety, security, and emergency preparedness programs.
• Oversee the incident reporting process, analyze incident trends, and conduct audits to improve safety measures.
• Manage and monitor security infrastructure, including CCTV and access control systems, ensuring they are functional and up to date.
• Serve as the primary safety advisor for the library system, recommending safety improvements and ensuring compliance with current safety standards and practices.
• Collaborate with department heads and stakeholders to integrate safety practices into daily operations.
• Lead investigations into safety incidents and near-misses, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and industry trends related to safety and security.
• Act as a liaison with external agencies, such as law enforcement and emergency services, to coordinate responses to safety and security incidents and emergency management trends.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Non-essential Functions

• Attendsinternal and external leadership meetings as expected and serves on internal and external committees as needed.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in criminal justice or related field OR a bachelors degree plus Peace Officer Standards and Training License required
• Masters degree Preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in law enforcement, security management or similar positions
• Experience in the management and use of relevant technology and equipment
• 3 years of supervisory experience Required
• Non-violent confrontational training Preferred
• First aid and disaster response training Preferred
• Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) License, Private Security License, CPR/AED Certification Preferred

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Job Knowledge, including Librarianship
  • Expert understanding of security practices in a library setting and the challenges each unique building offers
  • Identifies trends, works with different building layouts, and finds solutions to problem areas
  • Expert ability to interpret statistics, seeks out feedback, and has a "big picture" vision for the system and community
  • Creates and trains staff members in security practices
  • Connects with team members and creates a culture of security for all staff and customers
  • Expert knowledge of investigations including internal and external customers
  • Expert knowledge of Revised Statutes of Missouri that govern the library
• Technology including specific applications, hardware, and coding languages
  • Advanced knowledge of Teams, Microsoft office 365 applications including Word, Outlook, Excel, is necessary to perform this position at satisfactory level
  • Expert knowledge of access control software (Entr)
  • Ability to learn and use MCPL software to grant and restrict access to staff/customers when needed
  • Ability to use, maintain, and troubleshoot CCTV software
  • Expert understanding of the Revised Statutes of Missouri that govern privacy and release of CCTV (Close Circuit Television) footage during active investigations
  • Develops and implements an infrastructure of CCTV cameras that cover vulnerable areas in the library system while ensuring that assets of the library are being protected
  • Maintains digital infrastructure and works with the IT (Information Technology) department to ensure that hardware and software stay up to date and work correctly

Communication (reading, writing, speaking)

• Expert written and verbal communication skills needed daily when responding to reported incidents
• Expert ability to clearly write and communicate incident reports for proper legal documentation
• Expert ability to conduct training to all staff for best security practices, have both written and verbal communication with internal and external stakeholders
• Expert ability to adapt and overcome challenging situations often dictated by stress and other external factors
• Ability to coach and train others how to communicate in verbal and written form effectively and professionally

Financial/Mathematical

• Fundamental understanding of budgets and basic mathematical functions to operate within the budget set forth by the Board of Trustees

Teamwork

• Possesses the expert ability to work with varying levels of management within the organization to create a positive and safe work environment, while building trust with internal and external stakeholders
• Expert ability to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement of each team member and how to maximize output
• Expert ability to form and be a part of a team that will be responsible for the security of the organization
• Demonstrates expert knowledge and proficiency in problem-solving, collaborating with, and maintaining effective working relationships with departments, branch staff, and others system-wide to generate workable solutions

Leadership

• Expert knowledge of leadership and organizational structure
• Consistent presence at branches to conduct site visits, performing check-ins with the staff, monitoring, assessing, and addressing security issues
• Expert ability to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement of the staff and be able to provide them with direction that will ensure success
• Expert ability to use each team members ability to their maximum potential and ensure that the values of the organization are being upheld
• Exhibits leadership skills amongst branch staff when gathering information and completing tasks
• Expert knowledge of a public library's mission and purpose, assign values to competing priorities, and knowledge of the quality of the work being conducted and created a standard

Decision Making

• Expert ability to make decisions, often difficult, in high-stress situations
• Expert ability to remain calm, make decisions that are in the best interest of MCPL and its stakeholders and for the security of the organization, backed by objective facts and policy
• Expert ability to work with individuals at all levels of the organization in recognizing the impacts to duties, decisions, and internal and external customers

Customer Service

Identify customer needs and help them when they need assistance while keeping security practices in mind

Expert knowledge of policies and procedur