Lead Safety Officer

Invitation to Compete #52-25: Lead Safety Officer

Safety and Security Services
Regular FLSA exempt benefitted full-time position (80 hours per two-week pay period)

Salary Range: $41.35 - $50.33 per hour

A pay period is two weeks in length that starts on Wednesday and ends on Tuesday. Hours will include weekdays weekends and evenings. Schedules are subject to change based on the Librarys current operational needs. This classification is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME.

At The Seattle Public Library our mission is to bring people information and ideas together to enrichlives and empower community. We envision the Library as the central hub of an equitable and connected city where knowledge flourishes and people find 1891 we have grown from a single reading room in Pioneer Square to a world-class library system with27 locations.

The Library works every day to foster and support a healthy city and a healthy democracy. We do this work guided by our commitment to intellectual freedom literacy and the love of learning racial equity privacy and confidentiality respect for the community strong partnerships and innovation. We are an active and committed partner in the City of Seattles Race and Social Justice Ordinance.

Safety and Security Services at the Library

The Librarys facilities include the 11-story Central Library in Downtown Seattle and 26 neighborhood branches located across Seattle. The Librarys Security Team is based at the Central Library and provides safety and security services to all Library locations.

Mission:

The Security Teams mission is to foster a safe and welcoming environment for all Library patrons staff and community members. We maintain a visible presence at Library locations uphold and enforce the Librarys Community Use Agreement respond quickly to resolve incidents and serve everyone in the Library with compassion respect and professionalism.

Vision:

The Security Teams vision is to be the recognized gold standard for public service safety and security. Through our expertise versatility and commitment to constant improvement we will provide a strong and trusted foundation for the successful operation and public use of the Library.

Values:

The Security Team is dedicated to the values of safety compassion and excellence.

If you support our mission and share our dedication to these values we encourage you to apply for the Lead Safety Officer position.

About the Lead Safety Officer Position

Under the supervision of the Safety and Security Services Supervisor the Lead Safety Officer performs the regular duties of a Library Safety Officer (commonly called Security Officers) while helping lead the work of the Security Team and providing input on the supervision of Safety this capacity the position maintains communications with Safety Officers and the Safety and Security Supervisor and assesses problems for immediate resolution or referral and follow-up.

The Lead Safety Officer provides courteous and professional customer service to all Library patrons and staff and strives to ensure that all Library locations are safe accessible and welcoming. This position requires discretion and sound judgment in handling safety and security issues using various security methods including de-escalation techniques and the ability to prioritize the handling of multiple incidents occasionally under potentially stressful or volatile circumstances. Please note that this position does not have the formal arrest authority of a sworn police officer.

The Lead Safety Officer receives and acts on information about security incidents from personal observation or from Library patrons or staff. Regular work actions include patrolling Library locations warning patrons about Community Use Agreement violations giving information to patrons and staff explaining safety and security procedures investigating incidents and disturbances reviewing incident reports and/or guiding staff on writing incident reports suspending and/or removing patrons from Library facilities and calling for police assistance.

The Lead Safety Officer documents security activities through verbal and written reports and communications which may be used for further administrative or police actions. The position communicates with police agencies and internal departments to assist with criminal matters occurring on Library property.

The Lead Safety Officer routinely engages in other safety and security-related activities including monitoring and reporting on building safety and security inspecting fire extinguishers securing and processing lost and found articles enforcing staff and visitor compliance with the access control program assuring building security during non-public hours and issuing building keys.

The Lead Safety Officer assists in the interpretation of policies and procedures the evaluation of safety and security needs the maintenance of program standards and the planning and implementation of program improvements. The position also assists with selection training evaluation and scheduling of Safety Officers; with planning and implementing safety and security activities; and with the administrative support of the Security Team as directed.

This position is currently scheduled to begin shifts at the Central Library but must be able to begin shifts at other Library locations as needed.

Security Patrol:Provide for the enforcement of Library security standards policies and procedures by monitoring and evaluating problems relating to the safety and security of Library patrons and staff property and facilities by taking appropriate actions. Patrol and monitor Library facilities as assigned in order to identify prevent and respond to violations of the Librarys Community Use Agreement or other policies and procedures. Respond to medical emergencies. Take lead roles in responding to building emergencies and evacuations.

Prevention activities: Contribute to building safety and security by monitoring and reporting physical security and safety conditions. Identify and recommend procedures and methods to prevent property loss and damage. Work with Library staff to identify and resolve security problems and to keep the Safety and Security Services Supervisor informed of activities and/or problems.

Liaison activities: Provide for effective communications concerning security issues by serving as liaison between Library staff police agencies and personnel contracted security personnel and the public in varying support or educational capacities.

Security support activities: Provide for timely and effective support of security operations and activities by obtaining recording and maintaining necessary documentation reports and records. Operate security and property-related programs such as lost and found materials staff training building access control and security-monitoring activities. Post daily and weekly officer duty assignments.

Administration activities: Contribute to the administration of the security program and staff by overseeing activities of the safety team maintaining program standards and policies ensuring effective communications reviewing incident reports approving leave requests in accordance with minimum staffing requirements and assisting with the supervision of Safety Officers and security activities.

Additional Lead Safety Officer Duties: Conduct daily briefings with safety staff. Monitor vehicles assigned to the Security Team and report damage to the proper departments. Schedule routine maintenance and ensure vehicles receive service on schedule. Coordinate after-incident care at branches through training. Assist with the supervision of Safety Officers and security activities. Model the values of the Safety Team Library and City of Seattle and provide mentorship and guidance to officers and staff on safety and security-related issues.

Minimum Qualifications:

Educational and general skills requirements:

Occupation-specific skill requirements:

• Knowledge of accepted practices relating to security operations in an employer-operated Security Team particularly those that relate to public facilities.
• Excellent observation skills; an ability to remain alert and attentive anticipate and assess potential disruptive behavior and safety or security threats and take preventative action.
• Ability to provide effective leadership of security and staff including resolving issues among Safety Officers addressing workload impacts and evaluating daily security activities and changing priorities and assigning tasks as required.
• Ability to prepare clear detailed and accurate written reports logs and other documentation.
• Ability to operate two-way radio communications and a camera system located at the Central Library.
• Possession of a currently valid First Aid & CPR certification or ability to obtain certification within sixty days of employment.
• Ability to perform the physical activities inherent in security patrol duties for the duration of a typical shift. These activities include walking running standing rapidly ascending and descending stairs in a high-rise building and lifting a fully grown adult in emergency situations.

Other requirements:

• Possession of a currently valid Washington state drivers license.
• Ability to commute to any one of the 27 Library locations.
• Available to work evenings and weekends as needed with consistent punctuality required for all schduled shifts.
• If selected candidates will be required to provide a drivers record abstract and to authorize a check of criminal convictions.
• This position requires the employee to wear the supplied uniform and related security gear including non-lethal defensive equipment and a two-way radio.

How to Apply

Candidates who meet the qualifications are asked to submit the following items in NEOGOV by5:00 p.m. on November 8 2025 for first consideration.This recruitment will be open until the position is filled.

1. Online application with responses to the supplemental questions.

1. A cover letter that briefly describes how your experience and skills align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications. Please let us know why you are interested in this position.
2. Current resume that summarizes relevant education experience knowledge and skills.

Applications that do not include a cover letter and complete online application will not be considered.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness completeness and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Benefits and Salary Information

The full salary range for this position is$41.35 - $50.33 per hour

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation holiday and sick leave as well as medical dental vision life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the Citys website at: covered family-members/most employees-plans

Information about retirement plans can be found at: information

If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library please send an email to .The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process please contact us.

Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.