Community Services Officer

Bay Area Rapid Transit; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) invites applications for Community Services Officer positions within the BART Police Department. This role supports high-visibility patrols, parking enforcement, and safety initiatives across stations and parking facilities.

Candidates must have a HS diploma and at least one year of public-facing work, and be able to work varied shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime. The selection process includes multiple phases and a thorough background check.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• At least 1 year of verifiable public-facing work experience.
• Must be physically able to walk up to one mile daily and stand for long periods.
• Must possess a valid California driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record.
• Must be able to work various shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Responsibilities

• Issue citations and warnings for parking violations and manage parking control duties.
• Monitor CCTV and patrol parking facilities and structures.
• Assist the public, answer questions, and process parking applications and permits.
• Direct traffic as needed and operate two-way radio equipment.
• Assist in crime prevention presentations and engage with community organizations.

Skills

Public service

Communication

Customer service

Situational awareness

Conflict resolution

Education

High School diploma

Job description

Salary

This is a BART Police Officers' Association (BPOA) represented position. Step 1: Minimum $31.89/ Hourly - Step 5: $39.17/ Hourly (BPOA). Note: All external candidates will start at Step 1.

Who May Apply

All current BART employees and qualified individuals who are not yet BART employees.

Reports to

Police Sergeant or a Police Civilian Supervisor

Days Off

As assigned. Must be willing to work various shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Department

BART Police Department is a progressive agency and has been on the forefront - and in some cases the model approach to training in the areas of fair and impartial policing, bias-based policing, crisis intervention, cultural competence training, and de-escalation training. The mission of the BART Police Department is to ensure a safe environment within our transit system, reduce crime through a highly visible police presence, and proactive enforcement of the law, and to promote public confidence by working in partnership with our stakeholders and the communities we serve.

Current Assignment

** This announcement will be used to establish a pool of eligible candidates for vacancies that may occur within the next twelve (12) months.

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Police Department is seeking highly motivated and community-oriented individuals to join our team as Community Services Officers (CSOs). This assignment supports several key operational priorities of the BART Police Department, including high-visibility patrol, system safety, customer service, and timely response to quality-of-life concerns across stations and parking facilities.

Responsibilities include issuing citations and warnings for parking violations, staffing a zone command office booth, patrolling parking facilities and assigned areas, and providing technical assistance to police personnel involved in safety and community service activities throughout the District. CSOs are expected to exercise sound judgment, demonstrate professionalism, communicate effectively with the public, and work collaboratively with sworn personnel.

The most qualified candidates for this position will have highly developed competencies in the following areas, which will be reinforced with related work experience and will be clearly articulated during the selection process:

• Commitment to public service: Demonstrates a genuine dedication to serving the community and prioritizing public safety.
• Communication: Ability to convey information clearly, professionally, and effectively in both verbal and written forms.
• Customer service: Strong commitment to assisting the public, resolving concerns, and fostering positive interactions.
• Strong situational awareness: Ability to quickly perceive and accurately assess dynamic environments, anticipate potential challenges or hazards, and make informed decisions in real time.
• Conflict resolution: Skill in managing and de-escalating tense or potentially volatile situations with professionalism and composure.

Selection and Application Process

The selection process for this position will be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement and may include one or more of the following: a skills or performance demonstration, written examination, and/or panel or individual interview.

The selection process for Community Services Officer will include 5 phases:

1. Phase 1: Pre-Screening Application Questionnaire
2. Phase 2: Minimum Qualifications Screening
3. Phase 3: E-Skills Assessment
4. Phase 4: Oral Panel Interview
5. Phase 5: Background Investigation

The entire process may take six (6) months up to one (1) year to complete.

The successful candidate must have an employment history demonstrating reliability and dependability; provide copies of certificates, diplomas or other documents as requested and/or required by law, including those establishing his/her right to work in the U. S.; pass a pre-employment medical examination which is specific to the essential job functions and requirements. Pre-employment processing will also include an extensive background check and successful completion of a polygraph exam. (Does not apply to current full-time BART Police Department employees unless specific job requires additional evaluations).

If selected to proceed in the background investigative phase of the process, you will be asked to provide some essential documents. The following are some of the documents you may be asked to provide naturalization/citizenship papers, birth certificates, school transcripts, proof of selective service (men only), DMV driving history documents, proof of automobile insurance, marriage or divorce certificates (if applicable), and POST certificates (if applicable).

1. Issues citations and/or warnings for parking, standing or stopping violations; marks and authorizes the towing of unoccupied vehicles; researches and conducts inventories of unoccupied vehicles; operates parking control machines and examines parking control machine records.
2. Monitors closed circuit television; conducts periodic patrol sweeps of parking facilities and structures on foot or by vehicle.
3. Answers questions and responds to complaints and requests for services and referrals from the public, other agencies and District departments, processes parking applications and permits.
4. Directs traffic as needed; patrols assigned area and operates two-way radio; operates a motor (gasoline or battery powered) vehicle.
5. Assists in crime prevention presentations; advises patrons and community organizations on crime prevention programs.
6. Conducts surveys and inspections; conducts research studies, compiles statistics and analyzes data.
7. Responds to non-hazardous criminal complaints, such as vandalism, petty theft and auto burglary; prepares designated crime reports at the direction of a patrol sergeant; compiles completed incident reports for records processing and makes follow-up contacts by telephone, letter, teletype or in person; retrieves and deposits lost, found and stolen property; testifies at legal proceedings.
8. Maintains crowd control at the direction of a Sergeant during emergencies, special events or other gatherings, interprets and applies Police Department policies and procedures.

Education

Possession of a High School diploma, GED or recognized equivalent.

Experience

The equivalent of one (1) year of full-time verifiable work experience which primarily involved interfacing with the public in a customer or community service or volunteer setting.

Other Requirements

• Must be physically able to walk up to one mile per day and stand for long periods of time. Nature of duties involves exposure to inclement weather.
• Must possess a valid California driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.
• Must be able to work various shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Working Conditions

Train and station environment; work in confined space; exposure to cold, heat and noise, inclement weather, foul odors, and high voltage.

Requires maintaining physical condition necessary for standing for a prolonged period of time, and for walking, bending, stooping, sitting and climbing.

Knowledge of

• Methods and techniques of dealing effectively with the public in routine and emergency circumstances
• Basic law enforcement organization, activities, terminology, rules, and procedures
• Local parking rules and regulations

Skill/ Ability in

• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work
• Understanding and carrying out oral and written directions
• Maintaining accurate records
• Preparing accurate, clear and concise written reports
• Using initiative and sound judgment within established guidelines
• Remaining calm in emergency situations and providing clear, concise and understandable verbal direction and information