Manager, Physical Security

Position Overview

The Office of Innovation and Systems Improvement (ISI) works with the Chancellor to align resources across the organization through innovation and continuous improvement. Our goal is to initiate change and lead DC Public Schools into the highest performing school district in the nation. After engaging with over 3,000 internal and external stakeholders to help shape the future of DCPS, we are guided by the five strategic priorities of the new Capital Commitment 2017-2022 Strategic Plan:

• Promote Equity: Define, understand, and promote equity to close achievement gaps and interrupt institutional bias.
• Empower Our People: Recruit, develop, and retain a talented, caring, and diverse team.
• Educate the Whole Child: Provide rigorous, joyful, and inclusive academic and social emotional experiences for all students.
• Ensure Excellent Schools: Increase the number of high quality schools across the district by defining blended autonomies for schools and creating opportunities for innovation.
• Engage Families: Deepen partnerships with families and community.

The Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO) is comprised of the Strategic School Operations, Food & Nutrition Services, School Security, Facilities, and Compliance, teams. OCOO is responsible for guiding the operations and functions for all 118 schools within the District. Our goal is for all DCPS schools to be ready on the first day of school and every day thereafter so that all principals can lead, all teachers can teach, and all students can learn.

The School Security division provides direct, day-to-day school safety and security related support to all DCPS schools. This division is comprised of the Contract Security & Training, DCPS Special Police, and Physical Security teams. The mission of the School Security division is to ensure the safety and security of all DCPS students, staff, buildings, public spaces, and property. A safe school promotes a healthy learning environment – where teachers can teach, Principals can lead, and students can learn and enjoy a rich academic experience.

The Manager, Physical Security will support DCPS’ overall mission to keep all school buildings safe and secure. The Manager will be responsible for maintaining equipment and assets throughout DCPS and will lead and track the progress of team-specific projects; equipment inventory, life cycle management, budget forecasting and fiscal planning. In addition to monitoring various physical security contracts and maintaining vendor relationships, the Manager, Security plays an integral part in the planning and design of new and modernized schools as it relates to security. With technology constantly changing, the Manager, Security must stay up-to-date on all emerging technologies and the potential effectiveness of these advancements on the physical security of DCPS. The candidate will also play an integral role in working with school-based staff and security personnel, by training and sharing best practices for operating and maintaining equipment. This position is a safety-sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.

The Manager, Physical Security will report to the Director, School Security.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Assists in the development, implementation, coordination, evaluation, and management of a comprehensive physical security program on behalf of DC Public Schools.
• Works closely with School Leaders, Central Services colleagues, contractors, law enforcement officials, and representatives of District and Federal Agencies.
• Advises Principals and school-based security personnel on shared best practices and contributes to the continuance of a robust and comprehensive school safety and physical security program.
• Stays aware of innovations, developments in school safety policies, and research; and advises DCPS Senior Leadership on proposed legislation, policies, and directives affecting Physical Security technology.
• Conducts physical security surveys and risk assessments to inform next steps for the deployment of multi-layered security and surveillance systems.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of alarm systems (DMP and Focus 200 panels) and monitors connectivity to Mastermind in the DCPS Police Command Center; issues alarm codes to local school administrators and contractors.
• Serves as the Contract Administrator for various annual maintenance contracts and will be responsible for assessing vendors' overall effectiveness and their ability to successfully meet expectations.
• Tracks the full deployment and condition of radios for Contract Security Officers and DCPS Special Police Officers.
• Leads inventory and asset management activities and uses the data to inform budget and life cycle management decisions for all physical security equipment in school buildings.
• Review and provide input on all design plans for new school modernizations and Capital improvement renovations by working closely with Architects, Project Managers, and the DCPS Facility Planning and Design team (areas of focus include CCTV, Alarms, Access Control Systems, Security Screens and Physical Security Equipment).
• Works closely with DC Government agencies to troubleshoot and repair Intrusion Detection and Fire alarm systems, and other related physical security issues.
• Responsible for the management of all video surveillance (CCTV) requests from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Fire and Medical Emergency Services (FEMS), Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Office of General Counsel (OGC), Public Defenders Office, and any other requesting organization.
• Manages budget requests, purchase orders, and requisitions; tracks the spending down of all contracts and is responsible for contributing to the budget formulation process.
• Approves payroll; and manages other human resources-related matters.
• Serves as the Contract Administrator for DCPS’ current contracts and will be the main point of contact for researching, vetting, assessing, and evaluating future physical security vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and four to six years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating equitable improvements in security and safety that align with anti-racist principles.
• Experience supervising others.
• Ability to build trust and foster positive working relationships with diverse groups, including educators, students, stakeholders, emergency management personnel, legislative/policy staff, and community members.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of policy and procedures, management, change management, negotiation, and technology.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, for both internal and external audiences.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1962, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Possesses and maintains a valid motor vehicle operator's permit to operate DC Government vehicles.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST : We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE : We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY : We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE : We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK : We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY : We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.