VT School Safety Center Director

at State of Vermont in Waterbury, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking a Director to lead the Vermont School Safety Center in coordination with the Agency of Education and on behalf of the Commissioner of Public Safety. This position provides statewide leadership on school safety, preparedness, and crisis response, and serves as the primary Department of Public Safety liaison for operational school safety concerns.

The Director oversees all DPS staff assigned to the Vermont School Safety Center and works closely with state, regional, and federal partners to support Vermont’s K–12 and higher education communities before, during, and after critical incidents.

The Director is responsible for:

• Coordinating and advancing school safety planning, preparedness, and response efforts statewide. This includes promoting and supporting crisis planning for schools related to active threats, natural disasters, and other hazardous or life-threatening events, and ensuring timely communication and coordinated responses among relevant state and local partners, including the Agency of Education.
• Providing direct support to school leadership during critical incidents, including threats of targeted violence, bomb threats, cyber threats, weapons on school grounds, deaths of students or staff, transportation incidents, “swatting” events, and school lockdowns. Due to the nature of these incidents, the position requires availability to respond outside of normal business hours, including 24/7 support as needed.
• Collaborating with state, regional, and federal partners to share best practices in school safety, security, and emergency preparedness and serves as a subject matter expert on national school safety standards and emerging trends. The position leads and participates in regular meetings with the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team and other coordinating agencies, including facilitating discussions and advancing school safety initiatives. After six months, the Director transitions into a Co-Chair role for the School Crisis Planning Team, co-setting agendas and facilitating meetings.
• Coordinating monthly Vermont School Safety Center meetings with Department of Public Safety and Agency of Education leadership to share program updates, assess school safety trends, and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
• Providing legislative testimony on school safety initiatives and best practices, under the direction of the Commissioner of Public Safety and in coordination with the Agency of Education. The position also participates on the Child Fatality Review Committee and presents annually at the Governor’s School Safety Conference on emerging trends in K–12 campus safety and security.
• Providing guidance to the Higher Education Public Safety Directors Consortium, designing and delivering school safety trainings and exercises for superintendents, principals, school board members, educators, and school crisis planning teams, and supporting all-hazards emergency planning, crisis communications, drills, and family reunification efforts.
• Supervising the School Safety Grants Program Manager and other Department of Public Safety staff assigned to the Vermont School Safety Center, including supporting community-based planning, grant development and administration, and training and exercise initiatives.
• Completing required evaluations and data reporting and may be assigned to qualified roles within the State Emergency Operations Center during activations. This work may involve extended hours, high-pressure decision-making, and coordination of emergency response and resource management.

This position requires availability outside of standard business hours, including evenings, weekends, and emergency response situations, as school safety incidents and emergency activations demand.

Work is usually performed in a normal office setting. Incumbents must be able to concentrate on details and perform accurate work in the face of frequent interruptions. Human relations skills will be needed to deal with staff, criminal justice agencies, and the public. Pressure from work deadlines is predictable as well as inherent liability issues due to the sensitivity of the work. Moderate work-related travel will be required. Testimony before legislative committees may be required.