Protective Services Officer Educational Institution

Cooke & Associates; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 63,000; Part time

Job summary

Cooke & Associates, Inc. (CAI) is seeking an experienced Protective Services Agent for an on-site, part-time role at a private educational campus in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula Region.

The position involves discreet armed protection in plain clothes, adhering to post orders and FERPA expectations while interacting with students, faculty, staff, parents, and visitors. The agent will patrol, monitor access, and respond to safety incidents with a low-visibility profile.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of prior law enforcement or 10 years of plain clothes armed protective services with CCW.
• Valid California BSIS Guard Card.
• Valid California CCW permit.
• Licenses must remain valid during employment.
• HR218/LEOSA not accepted.
• Not listed on decertification lists.
• Able to pass pre-employment background check and drug screen.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment around minors and work independently.
• Proficient with smartphones, radios, and security platforms.

Responsibilities

• Maintain safety and security of the campus for students, staff, and visitors.
• Provide discreet armed protection designed to deter and respond to threats.
• Conduct low-profile roving exterior patrols of campus buildings and perimeter.
• Monitor campus activity for safety concerns and respond to incidents.
• Coordinate with campus leadership and external responders as needed.
• De-escalate and detain when required per policy and training.
• Safeguard sensitive information per CAI, FERPA, and NDAs.
• Communicate calmly with all campus stakeholders.
• Ensure post orders and escalation procedures are followed.

Skills

Law enforcement experience

Plain clothes security

Discretion

Communication

Security radios

Tools

Guard Card (BSIS)

CCW permit

Job description

Overview

Cooke & Associates, Inc. (CAI) is seeking an experienced, operationally focused Protective Services Agent to support plain clothes, armed protective services operations at a private educational institution located in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula Region. This role is designed for a seasoned security or law enforcement professional capable of operating discreetly within an academic environment that includes students, faculty, staff, parents, and visitors.

POSITION DETAILS

Location:

Onsite role at a single fixed private educational campus in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula Region.

Schedule

Day shift (school hours), Monday through Friday. Up to 30 hours per week Schedule based on an academic calendar - Off weekends, most major holidays, and the summer

Employment Type

Part-time, W-2 Employee

Attire

Plain clothes, professional appearance appropriate for an educational campus environment

Role

Role Type:

Armed, concealed carry (CCW), plain clothes protective services role

Authorized Equipment

Concealed sidearm carried pursuant to a valid California CCW permit. No exposed carry

Compensation

$40.00 per hour. Overtime eligibility in accordance with California state and Federal labor laws

Position Summary

This position functions as an armed, plain clothes Protective Services Agent assigned to a private educational campus environment. The agent supports campus safety through discreet patrols, access monitoring, and timely response to safety or security incidents while maintaining a low-visibility profile.

The Protective Services Agent operates strictly within established client requirements and Cooke & Associates policies and does not function as law enforcement. All actions must align with site-specific post orders, approved use-of-force guidelines, and escalation procedures.

This role requires exceptional discretion, sound judgment, situational awareness, and a friendly, professional mindset, particularly when operating around minors and within an academic setting.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Maintain the safety and security of the assigned educational campus, including students, faculty, staff, parents, contractors, and visitors
• Provide a discreet, armed protective presence designed to deter, detect, and respond to threats without unnecessary visibility
• Conduct low-profile roving exterior patrols of campus buildings, common areas, and the perimeter
• Monitor campus activity and identify behaviors or conditions that may present safety concerns
• Respond to security incidents, medical emergencies, or campus safety issues in accordance with post orders
• Appropriately delay, de-escalate, or detain individuals when required, consistent with training, policy, and legal authority
• Coordinate with campus leadership, CAI supervision, and external emergency responders when required
• Maintain calm, professional interactions with students, faculty, parents, and visitors
• Safeguard sensitive and student-related information in accordance with CAI policies, FERPA-related expectations, and NDAs

Required

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 8 years of prior law enforcement experience or 10 years of progressively responsible plain clothes armed protective services experience with a valid CCW
• Valid and current California BSIS Guard Card
• Valid and current California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit
• All licenses and permits must remain valid and current throughout employment
• HR218 or LEOSA credentials are NOT accepted
• Not listed on, and not pending placement on, any state or national law enforcement decertification list
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment background investigation
• Ability to successfully complete drug screening
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and operate discreetly in environments involving minors
• Ability to work independently while integrating into a structured protective services operation
• Basic proficiency with smartphones, radios, and security communication platform

Preferred

• Prior experience in campus safety, educational institutions, or youth-adjacent environments
• Tactical experience such as SWAT, SRU, or patrol rifle operations
• Advanced training in defensive tactics, de-escalation, or emergency response

TECHNOLOGY AND REPORTING EXPECTATIONS

• Proficient use of radios, smartphones, and security communication platforms
• Ability to use a computer for basic business functions, including email and internal systems

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• Ability to conduct routine foot patrols across a campus environment
• Ability to respond quickly to incidents, including moving short distances at a rapid pace when required
• Ability to safely and responsibly carry and deploy authorized equipment consistent with training and policy

Who This Role Is Not For

This role is not suited for individuals seeking traditional uniformed guard work or a passive security assignment. It is not appropriate for candidates who lack initiative, situational awareness, or a friendly, professional approach to daily interactions. This position requires proactive engagement and presence and is not a warm body role focused on standing post with minimal interaction or effort.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Employment with Cooke & Associates, Inc. is at-will, meaning that you or Cooke & Associates, Inc. may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. Cooke & Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor under federal, state, or local law.