Director, Campus Public Safety

Simon Fraser University; Burnaby; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation

Hybrid work

Pension plan

Tuition waiver

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development funds

Job summary

Simon Fraser University is seeking a Director of Campus Public Safety to lead strategic initiatives across three campuses, ensuring alignment with SFU values and the CPS mandate. The role emphasizes authentic relationship-building, change management, and partnerships with diverse stakeholders to enhance safety and security.

The Director routinely advises senior leaders, develops cross-campus collaborations, and guides teams in high-stakes, dynamic environments with discretion and independence.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree (Master's degree preferred) in a public safety field of studies from a recognized institution.
• Industry recognized professional accreditation preferred.
• Strong leadership and relationship-building capabilities with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent analytical skills and clear communication under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Identify barriers to the department's operational effectiveness across all campuses.
• Propose innovative solutions aligned with SFU values and CPS mandate.
• Provide guidance to responding team members after first notification in emergencies.
• Build team capacity to address identified risks in a professional, timely manner.
• Advise senior leaders and decision-makers on appropriate options with incomplete information.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Who We Are

Simon Fraser University is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Our purpose – the essence of SFU – is to create and connect knowledge, learning and community for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. We are committed to fostering excellence, innovation, belonging and community in all that we do.

Campus Public Safety resides within Safety & Risk Services, a division with an overarching mandate to support excellence in learning, teaching and research for the university community through collaboratively facilitating and advancing world leading standards and practices in safety, security and the management of risk. To support this mission, Campus Public Safety is responsible for assisting the University’s community prevent against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats and risks that would impact personal and public safety, University resources and the operations of the University, or which may jeopardize the University’s academic functions.

About the Role

You are a strategic, authentic relationship builder who understands the importance of establishing and maintaining trust, managing change within an existing team environment and creating partnerships that bring value to diverse stakeholder groups, and the public. You are responsible for identifying barriers to the department's operational effectiveness at each of our three campuses, and innovative solutions that align with the University’s values, and CPS mandate. You routinely receive first notification and conscientiously provide guidance or support to responding team members. You continually build your team’s capacity to address myriad identified risks in a professional, respectful, thorough and timely manner. You are comfortable and experienced with making sound, high-impact decisions when faced with emergent scenarios and do so with a high-degree of independence and discretion, at times without Supervision. You have demonstrated effectiveness advising senior leaders and decision makers about appropriate options to address complex issues, often with incomplete information.

As a member of the Campus Public Safety leadership team, you are committed to ongoing personal growth and professional development for yourself and your team. You enjoy exploring ideas, issues, and opportunities with members of an internal and external network, including similar PSIs, LE and other public safety and social service partners. Demonstrating good judgement and humility, the Director seeks referrals from others with relevant expertise and influence as necessary, and attends and maintains member relationships, and core competencies, with relevant formal and informal professional organizations beneficial to their role and SFU, including but not limited to ASIS, AUCSO, and similar.

Full Job Description

Qualifications

Undergraduate degree (Master's degree preferred) in a public safety field of studies from a recognized institution, and seven years of related management experience in an operational public safety role, ideally within a campus security environment at a post-secondary institution, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Industry recognized professional accreditation preferred.

• Expert knowledge of the concepts, theories and practices of proactive safety and security management, including but not limited to violence prevention (BTAM competency), life and community safety approaches, protective public safety and crime prevention approaches, and Enterprise Security Risk Management.
• Strategic, authentic relationship-builder with demonstrated ability to establish and maintain trust at all levels of a complex public sector organization, and with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to apply sound judgment and clear communication when faced with making decisions related to complex, dynamic and stressful emergency, safety and security matters.

What We Offer

At SFU, our goal is to ensure our people are valued and supported by promoting a healthy work-life balance, professional growth and development, as well as a safe and respectful workplace. We offer continuing employees who belong in the Administrative & Professional Staff Association (APSA):

• 4 weeks’ vacation (prorated for the first year)*
• Hybrid-work program for eligible positions
• Employer paid defined benefit pension plan
• On-campus tuition waiver for employees and their immediate family members*
• Off-campus tuition reimbursements and professional development funds*
• And more! View our benefits brochure

*Prorated for part-time employees

SFU is an equity employer and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the university.

We are committed to facilitating accessibility within our application and interview processes. If you require any assistance or accommodations, please contact [e-mail].