Assistant Vice President of Safety & Security

South Dakota State University; Brookings (SD); On-site; USD 109,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation benefits

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Professional development

Job summary

South Dakota State University seeks a dynamic leader to provide strategic vision and executive oversight for campus safety, unifying security, emergency readiness, environmental compliance, and risk management.

The Assistant Vice President of Safety and Security will lead Emergency & Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety, and the University Police Department, partnering with internal and external stakeholders to advance student success and a secure campus environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field by date of application.
• 7+ years of enterprise leadership in safety, risk, or compliance.
• Valid driver’s license and applicable certifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication across diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of federal/state statutes related to safety and security.
• Ability to coordinate with local/state/federal agencies.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership – design and implement a comprehensive campus safety vision.
• Department Oversight – manage Environmental Health and Safety, Emergency & Risk Management, and University Police.
• Partnership & Liaison – build relationships with students, faculty, staff, and external agencies.
• Compliance and Policy – ensure regulatory compliance and best practices in risk management and safety.
• Risk & Incident Analysis – evaluate threat reports and data to inform decisions.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Emergency Management

Environmental Health & Safety

Risk Management

Stakeholder Collaboration

Policy & Compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration or related field

Master’s degree

Job description

South Dakota State University (SDState) is seeking a dynamic, visionary leader to provide overarching strategic vision and executive oversight for the institution’s holistic campus safety environment, integrating physical security, emergency preparedness, environmental compliance, and risk mitigation into a unified campus culture. The Assistant Vice President of Safety and Security provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for Emergency & Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and the University Police Department, fostering a comprehensive and collaborative approach to safety, preparedness, compliance, and organizational resilience. The position reports directly to SDState VP and General Counsel.

The successful candidate will drive innovation, strengthen operational excellence, and cultivate strong partnerships across the university community along with community stakeholders and external agencies to support student success, institutional priorities, and a safe, welcoming campus environment. This leader will champion strategic initiatives, promote a culture of accountability and engagement, and ensure that services overseen evolve to meet the changing needs of a modern university.

This role is located in Brookings, South Dakota and is a 12-month, full-time, benefits-eligible position.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Leadership– design and execute a strategic vision for campus; develop and implement a comprehensive vision for campus safety, security, emergency preparedness, environmental stewardship, and organizational resilience; and lead cross-functional initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, improve service delivery, and support the university’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Department Oversight– Manage muti-faceted teams including the following departments: Environmental Health and Safety, Emergency & Risk Management, and University Police. Direct oversight of the following positions: Chief of Police, Manager-Environmental Health and Safety, Emergency Management Specialist, and Risk Management Coordinator.
• Partnership & Liaison– Build and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, faculty, staff, local, state, and federal agencies as well as community stakeholders.
• Compliance and Policy– Ensure compliance with applicable regulations while advancing best practices in risk management, environmental health and safety, emergency preparedness, and public safety operations.
• Risk & Incident Analysis– Evaluate threat reports, crime data, and physical vulnerabilities. Utilize data-informed decision-making, emerging technologies, and innovative practices to proactively identify risks, improve outcomes, and advance institutional priorities.

SALARY RANGE:

The salary for the Assistant Vice President of Safety and Security is $108,935 – $163,403, commensurate with qualifications and experience. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 6% matching, 10 hours of annual leave each month, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and eleven paid holidays. Relocation benefits are available per university’s guidelines.

BENEFITS:

South Dakota State University is the state’s largest, most comprehensive university with over $60 million annual research expenditures, more than 200 academic programs and an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. We offer a rich academic experience in an environment of inclusions and access. The university is part of a dynamic community for families, students, young professionals, and retirees, which offers an abundance of attractions and activities. South Dakota State University offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business or Public Administration, Administrative or Management Services, Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, or related field by date of application.
• At least 7+ years of demonstrated experience providing strategic, enterprise-level leadership in areas related to physical security, emergency preparedness, environmental compliance, or risk mitigation by setting organizational direction; developing and executing long-term strategic and operational plans; leading people, teams, and high-performing programs; directing complex, high-impact initiatives and organizational change; aligning resources, partnerships, and organizational priorities; influencing decision-making at senior and executive levels; developing leadership capacity; and translating vision into measurable, sustainable outcomes through effective planning, programming, accountability, innovation, and execution.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to maintain proper certifications and licenses required by the state.
• Effective communication skills, both verbally and written, with all levels of the university community and regulatory agencies to accurately represent the University’s goals and objectives.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, interpersonal, and management skills.
• Knowledge of the federal and state statutes and their implementing regulations, particularly as they relate to the overseen offices and the University community.
• Ability to work with leadership and others to establish and foster partnerships to promote the safety and security of the university and local community.
• Ability to coordinate with local, state, and federal enforcement, emergency services, and government agencies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience in enterprise-level risk management.
• Professional experience in a land-grant university environment.
• Familiarity with pertinent local, state, and federal crime reporting. (including NIMS/ICS, Clery Act, FERPA, ADA, etc.)
• Demonstrated training with communications, implementation of emergency plans, training and exercises, and assessment of these activities.
• Demonstrated experience with compliance and reporting, threat assessment, and behavioral intervention teams.
• Knowledge and experience related to environmental health and safety requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership and knowledge of all phases of emergency management, including planning, preparedness, full scale training exercises, all hazards responses, and business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Professional certifications: Certified Protection Professional, Physical Security Professional, OSHA, or equivalents.
• Strong analytical judgement with ability to conduct threat and vulnerability assessments.
• Experience in environments requiring 24/7 on-call response and multi-jurisdictional coordination.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

This position is open until filled with a full consideration date of October 26, 2026.

Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check.

South Dakota State University is a tobacco free environment. It is the policy of the University to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

For questions on the position, contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land-grant access mission. SDSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to, and SDSU prohibits discrimination on, the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, gender identification, transgender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other status that may become protected under law against discrimination in the offering of all educational programs and employment opportunities. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing [e-mail]. Individuals with concerns regarding discrimination should contact: Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Morrill Hall 100, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007, 605-688-4128.