Professional Safety Officer

Pacific Lutheran University; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Lutheran University is seeking a Professional Safety Officer to ensure campus safety and security on the Tacoma campus. The role requires interaction with community members, presence on campus, and routine safety duties during a Friday-Monday night schedule.

The position reports to the Assistant Director of Campus Safety and involves monitoring, responding to emergencies, and coordinating with local responders while maintaining compliance with PLU policies.

Qualifications

• 2 years of job-related safety/security experience.

Responsibilities

• Engage with community members in a culturally responsive manner and with the goal of developing on-going relationships.
• Proactively monitor activity on campus by providing presence on campus on foot or in a vehicle.
• Lock and unlock buildings and perimeter gates and check fire panels in buildings.
• Assist individuals in locating or obtaining resources to address issues or special needs.
• Respond to emergency incidents, ensuring proper procedures are followed and notifications are made.
• Administer first aid and operate an AED machine.
• Assist local fire and law enforcement personnel in the performance of their duties as requested.
• Provide assistance with vehicle jump starts, walking escorts, and shuttle transports.
• Use weaponless defensive tactics, employing verbal skills to diffuse volatile or hostile situations.
• Perform dispatcher duties including, answering multi-line phones, entering data into the computer system, and addressing walk-in visitors.
• Write reports on incidents.
• Operate university vehicles in conformance with local laws and PLU policies.
• Attend professional development training such as Security Officer Academy and IMS 100/200 and 700 certifications.
• Train new employees on department policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Diversity & Inclusion

Confrontation management

Multitasking

English communication

Radio operations

Driving operations

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Google Mail

Calendar

Job description

• Recruitment Type:** Open to All Applicants
• Position Title:** Professional Safety Officer
• Position Type:** Staff
• Benefits Status:** Benefits Eligible
• FLSA:** Non-Exempt
• Hiring Range:** $22.36 per hour with excellent benefits.
• Location:** Tacoma, WA 98447
• Department:** Campus Safety And Information
• Posting Date:** 02/25/2026
• Closing Date:** When a sufficient number of qualified applicants have been identified.
• Work Schedule:** Friday- Monday, 8:00pm-6:00am

• Posting Number:** 0603042
• Recruitment Type:** Open to All Applicants
• Position Title:** Professional Safety Officer
• Position Type:** Staff
• Benefits Status:** Benefits Eligible
• FLSA:** Non-Exempt
• Hiring Range:** $22.36 per hour with excellent benefits.
• Location:** Tacoma, WA 98447
• Department:** Campus Safety And Information
• Posting Date:** 02/25/2026
• Closing Date:** When a sufficient number of qualified applicants have been identified.
• Work Schedule:** Friday- Monday, 8:00pm-6:00am

Shift times and dates may be adjusted for training or department needs.

This position is eligible to receive a pay differential of $1.00 per hour, for hours worked between 9:00pm and 4:59am.

General Description

The Professional Safety Officer is responsible for the safety and security of the Pacific Lutheran University campus and its personnel. This is accomplished through providing a presence on campus, interacting positively and professionally with community members and guests, and performing a variety of daily tasks. Reports to the Assistant Director of Campus Safety.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Engage with community members in a culturally responsive manner and with the goal of developing on-going relationships.
• Proactively monitor activity on campus by providing presence on campus on foot or in a vehicle.
• Lock and unlock buildings and perimeter gates and check fire panels in buildings.
• Assist individuals in locating or obtaining resources to address issues or special needs.
• Respond to emergency incidents, ensuring proper procedures are followed and notifications are made.
• Administer first aid and operate an AED machine.
• Assist local fire and law enforcement personnel in the performance of their duties as requested.
• Provide assistance with vehicle jump starts, walking escorts, and shuttle transports.
• Use weaponless defensive tactics, employing verbal skills to diffuse volatile or hostile situations.
• Perform dispatcher duties including, answering multi-line phones, entering data into the computer system, and addressing walk-in visitors.
• Write reports on incidents.
• Operate university vehicles in conformance with local laws and PLU policies.
• Attend professional development training such as Security Officer Academy and IMS 100/200 and 700 certifications.
• Train new employees on department policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Excellent human relation skills; ability to deal with a wide variety of people; intercultural skill and capacity necessary to effectively engage individuals from a range of salient identities.
• Knowledge and skill in confrontation management.
• Ability to follow department policies, standard operating procedures, and directives.
• Ability to multi-task and make decisions quickly.
• Knowledge of radio operations, video console operations, and driving operations.
• Ability to deal with a variety of personalities in stressful situations.
• Ability to effectively and clearly read, write, speak and communicate the English language.
• Ability to communicate clearly on a handheld radio.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills such as MS Word, MS Excel, Google Mail, and Calendar, and use of the internet.

Required Qualifications

2 years of job-related safety/security experience, custom