Executive Director Community Safety

York University; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

York University is seeking an Executive Director to provide strategic leadership for the Community Safety department, guiding governance, policy, and emergency preparedness across campuses. You will collaborate with senior management, campus partners, and external agencies to implement an evidence-informed, community-centred safety model aligned with decolonization and equity principles.

The role requires extensive leadership experience in community safety or emergency management, along with a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant disciplines such as emergency management, criminology, public administration, community development.
• 8 years of related experience in community safety, emergency management, security services, risk management, or similar.
• 6 years of management experience in a senior leadership role.
• Experience applying inclusive, trauma-informed, anti-racist approaches to complex community safety matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for York University's Community Safety department and safety initiatives.
• Lead governance, policy development, emergency preparedness, and risk management programmes.
• Build partnerships with campus, local, and external organizations to advance a community-centred safety model.
• Balance strategic priorities with operational needs and institutional risk while fostering an inclusive environment.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Emergency management

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Inclusive leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in emergency management, criminology, public administration, or related field

Job description

Purpose

As one of Canada's largest universities, York is home to a diverse and dynamic community across multiple campuses, offering a broad range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in a complex urban environment. In this context, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership and subject matter expertise for community safety services. The safety and well-being of all members of the York University community is of paramount importance and is a key institutional priority. The University is committed to fostering an environment where all community members feel valued and safe to study, work, and socialize on its campuses. Working in collaboration with senior management and a broad range of offices, internal and external to the University, the Executive Director leads the visioning and implementation of an evidence-informed, relationship- and community-centred safety model that aligns with the University's commitment to decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The Executive Director is responsible for the comprehensive direction of the University's Community Safety department, ensuring efforts are aligned with the University's strategic objectives and support shared institutional values, mutual trust, interpersonal connection, transparency, accountability, and coordinated response among university community members and external partners. The Executive Director builds and sustains meaningful relationships with students, faculty, staff, senior leaders, campus partners, the public, community organizations, service providers, municipal and provincial agencies, and other external partners. The role also leads high-level community safety projects and transformation initiatives including governance, policy, emergency preparedness, risk management, service coordination, and operational practices.Success in this role is achieved by balancing strategic priorities, operational needs and institutional risk while advancing an inclusive, evidence-informed and community-centred approach to safety and security across York.

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Purpose

As one of Canada's largest universities, York is home to a diverse and dynamic community across multiple campuses, offering a broad range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in a complex urban environment. In this context, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership and subject matter expertise for community safety services. The safety and well-being of all members of the York University community is of paramount importance and is a key institutional priority. The University is committed to fostering an environment where all community members feel valued and safe to study, work, and socialize on its campuses. Working in collaboration with senior management and a broad range of offices, internal and external to the University, the Executive Director leads the visioning and implementation of an evidence-informed, relationship- and community-centred safety model that aligns with the University's commitment to decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The Executive Director is responsible for the comprehensive direction of the University's Community Safety department, ensuring efforts are aligned with the University's strategic objectives and support shared institutional values, mutual trust, interpersonal connection, transparency, accountability, and coordinated response among university community members and external partners. The Executive Director builds and sustains meaningful relationships with students, faculty, staff, senior leaders, campus partners, the public, community organizations, service providers, municipal and provincial agencies, and other external partners. The role also leads high-level community safety projects and transformation initiatives including governance, policy, emergency preparedness, risk management, service coordination, and operational practices.Success in this role is achieved by balancing strategic priorities, operational needs and institutional risk while advancing an inclusive, evidence-informed and community-centred approach to safety and security across York.

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant disciplines such as emergency management, criminology, public administration, community development.

Experience

8 years' related experience, such as in community safety, emergency management, security services, risk management, or similar.6 years management experience, including experience in a senior leadership role.Experience applying inclusive, trauma-informed, anti-racist and human rights-informed approaches to complex community safety matters, including mental health, gender-based violence, sexual violence, systemic racism, and related institutional risk considerations.Experience working with emergency services, public safety agencies, municipal/provincial partners, and community safety-related agencies, including strategic planning, policy development, high-risk incident response, and organizational change in complex community safety or emergency management environments.

Knowledge

Knowledge of inclusive, trauma-informed, anti-racist and human rights-informed approaches to community safety, including the ability to consider the impacts of safety practices on diverse communities. Knowledge of decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility principles, and their application to policy development, service delivery, training, communications and decision making. Knowledge of the legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks relevant to community safety, security services, law enforcement, emergency management, privacy, human rights, occupational health and safety, accessibility and public safety, with the ability to ensure appropriate compliance, risk management, and escalation.

Skills

Ability to make timely, evidence-informed decisions and take clear, appropriate action in emergencies, crisis, high-risk or rapidly changing situations.Clear verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare strategic plans, reports, proposals, briefings and presentation materials for varied audiences.Community building, partnership development, negotiation, conflict resolution, judgment, tact, diplomacy and discretion.Ability to develop, communicate and sustain a clear vision, set priorities, and support shared understanding of community safety goals and expectations.Collaborative, consultative and inclusive leadership skills, with the ability to model and foster trust and accountability, communicate respectfully and build effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups at all levels.Strategic thinking and sound judgment, with the ability to anticipate issues, assess broad implications, use evidence and apply decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility principles to decision making.

Additional Notes

Note: Verification of degree(s)/credential(s) required. The role is usually performed in a general office environment. Required to provide leadership during emergencies, critical incidents or situations that may disrupt university operations or pose a risk of personal injury to members of the community.

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• Compensation: York's CPM Compensation Framework has a salary grid consisting of 6 or 8 steps (depending on job grade) which is reviewed annually with possible adjustments, and a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award. Employees will receive the grid adjustment and depending on performance, eligible permanent employees may move to the next step of the grid and may receive a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award.Visit the CPM Compensation page on the HR Website to find out more about York's CPM Compensation Program.

The University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Indigenous Peoples and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation. York University is committed to a positive, supportive and inclusive environment.York University offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes. If you are contacted by York University regarding a job opportunity or testing, please advise if you require accommodation.We are committed to enhancing our environmentally and socially responsible practices for the benefit of all members of the York community. Our long term perspective recognizes our responsibility to be innovators and to continually work as a community to reduce our ecological impact.York University employees must apply to jobs through the Employee Career Portal - YU Hire. If you are a current York University employee and/or are using your rights under a collective agreement to view and/or apply to jobs, you MUST log into YU Hire to access the York University Employee Career Portal.PLEASE NOTE: This job posting is for an existing vacancy. Applications must be received by 11:55 pm EST on the posted deadline date, if applicable. Posting deadlines can be updated, or modified, at any time based on hiring needs. Please refer to the York U Career Portal when confirming posting deadlines.