Lieutenant

Columbia University Facilities & Operations; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University Facilities & Operations seeks a Lieutenant in Public Safety to supervise the platoon and direct all operations. The role involves responding to emergencies, coordinating resources, and ensuring readiness across security, medical, laboratory, and fire protocols.

You will oversee payroll, scheduling, and performance evaluations, while maintaining logs and training staff. This is essential personnel work, including weekends and night shifts, with after-hours recall as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• Minimum 2–4 years of related experience; at least 2 years supervisory experience in security/law enforcement.
• Must possess or obtain NY State guard license and valid vehicle operator's license.
• Ability to engage in strenuous physical activity and work in inclement weather.
• Proficient with computers and electronic equipment.
• Effective communication with staff and visitors.
• High level of ethics and professional appearance.

Responsibilities

• Supervise all uniformed Public Safety personnel and contract guards assigned to a platoon and direct operations.
• Respond to campus emergencies and coordinate resource response with other departments.
• Maintain and operate complex computers and alarm systems during desk officer duties.
• Perform payroll, scheduling, and report writing; maintain logs and records.
• Ensure staff are trained to respond to security, medical, laboratory, and fire emergencies; safeguard equipment.
• Communicate professionally with staff and visitors; uphold ethics and appearance.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Emergency response

Payroll management

Shift scheduling

Communication

Ethics

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Alarm systems

CAD systems

Job description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Public Safety Assistant Director, the Lieutenant supervises all uniformed Public Safety personnel and contract guard staff assigned to a particular platoon at the Medical Center and directs all operations by Public Safety personnel unless relieved by higher authority. In addition, the Lieutenant will perform a broad range of operational duties, including report writing, shift administration, payroll, scheduling and preparing performance evaluations and reviewing evaluations prepared by subordinates.

The Lieutenant responds to campus emergencies, directing the Public Safety team’s actions, assessing the need for additional resources, and coordinating their deployment with other departments. When serving as the desk officer in the Operations Center, the Lieutenant operates various complex computer and alarm systems and acts as the radio dispatcher for security officers and supervisors.

Demonstrating leadership under stress, the Lieutenant trains staff on response protocols for security, medical, laboratory, and fire emergencies, ensuring established procedures are followed. This role also involves preparing reports, reviewing subordinate documentation, maintaining accurate logs, and managing essential departmental equipment.

As Essential Personnel, the Lieutenant is expected to work weekends, nights, and flexible shifts, including double shifts when necessary, and to be available for emergency recall and phone consultations after hours.

Responsibilities

• Supervise all uniformed Public Safety personnel and contract guard staff assigned to a particular platoon and direct all operations by Public Safety personnel unless relieved by higher authority.
• Respond to emergency situations across the campus and direct the activities of the responding Public Safety staff. Determine when additional resources are needed and coordinate their response with other departments. Reset fire alarm systems, as required.
• Maintain and operate a number of complex computers and alarm systems when serving as the Operations desk officer. Ensure that the CAD sergeant promptly dispatches security officers to calls for service.
• Perform a broad range of operational , including report writing, shift administration, payroll and scheduling. Prepare reports, review subordinates' reports and other paperwork, and maintain accurate and complete logs and records.
• Ensure that all staff assigned to platoon are properly trained to respond to all security, medical, laboratory and fire emergencies. Maintain and safeguard equipment essential to the efficient operation of the Department.
• Communicate effectively and clearly with staff and visitors in a professional manner.
• Demonstrate a high level of ethics and maintain a professional appearance.
• Perform other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 2-4 years of related experience required. At least 2 years supervisory experience in security/law enforcement, or related field in a complex organization.
• Must possess, or have the ability to obtain a NY State guard license and maintain a valid vehicle operator's license as conditions of employment.
• The Lieutenant should be able to engage in strenuous physical activity, including walking, climbing stairs, as well as standing or sitting for long periods of time. The Lieutenant must also be willing and able to perform duty in inclement weather conditions.
• Should be skilled at the use of a computer keyboard, as well as with other electronic equipment.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and clearly with staff and visitors in a professional manner.
• Demonstrate a high level of ethics and maintain a professional appearance.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.