Supervisor-Public Safety & Security Field Activity

Sound Transit; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 53,643 - 105,964; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

401a retirement plan

Job summary

Sound Transit is seeking a Public Safety Field Activity Specialist in Seattle, Washington. This role involves supervision of safety operations and community engagement, ensuring compliance with safety laws.

The ideal candidate will have an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and extensive experience in a public-facing security role. The position offers a competitive salary range of $38.94 to $76.92 per hour and includes extensive benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Four years of experience in the public sector, preferably in a security or law enforcement field.
• Two years of leadership and workforce management experience.
• Ability to lead and mentor assigned staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and administrative oversight for a Field Activity Specialist Team.
• Prepare daily shift guidance and monitor the transit system for safety issues.
• Coordinate public safety efforts for significant events.

Skills

Public speaking

Leadership

Conflict resolution

Written communication

Cultural awareness

Education

Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice or related field

Tools

Standard office computer technology

Job description

Salary Range

$38.94/hour to $76.92/hour, with a midpoint of $53.85/hour. New hires typically receive between the minimum and midpoint; the figure may be slightly higher based on experience, internal equity, and market.

Benefits

• Health Benefits: two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long‑Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at director level and up accrue additional days. Also 12 paid holidays plus up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks for new parents.
• Pet Insurance discount.
• ORCA Card: all full-time employees receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. Work‑life balance, professional development, and recognition from colleagues.

This posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

General Purpose

Under the general direction of the Public Safety Field Activity Manager(s), this role provides first‑line field supervision, assigns, coordinates, and reviews daily operations, functions, and activities of the Public Safety Field Activity Specialist team. Responsibilities include vehicle‑based security patrols of the Sound Transit enterprise, responding to alarms and calls for service, providing physical security services, managing disruptive and potentially violent offenders on agency property or in transit vehicles, conducting community outreach, responding to emergencies, inspecting safety and security status, and ensuring compliance of contracted security and law enforcement resources. Public Safety and Security Field Activity/Mobile Patrol Specialists serve as a 24‑hour presence, supporting collaboration with community partners and improving system safety for Sound Transit and the communities served.

The position is uniformed, requires identification and mitigation of imminent safety/security issues, de‑escalation of potentially violent situations, removal of offending individuals, protection of staff and customers, use of force for self‑defense, and acting as interim security response until law enforcement arrives. Specialists carry extendable batons for self‑defense and handcuffs for restraining uncooperative/violent individuals; they are not commissioned law enforcement officers.

Essential Functions

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may need to perform additional, position‑specific duties.

• Provide operational and administrative oversight for an assigned Field Activity Specialist Team (up to 8 personnel) working 24/7 shifts.
• Prepare and disseminate daily shift guidance for assigned specialists, including formal mobile patrol routes and post orders.
• Ensure personnel effectively monitor the transit system to identify and mitigate emerging safety and security issues.
• Supervise inspections of contracted security and law enforcement services to align contract performance with agency expectations and values.
• Coordinate safety‑related items during planned or unplanned service interruptions or significant public events, maintaining order and monitoring response and recovery.
• Coordinate public safety efforts for significant events such as concerts, sporting events, drills, parades, and special requests; schedule staff, assign duties, and coordinate with internal and external partners.
• Provide immediate operational direction and resolve issues related to emergency and critical incidents and significant contract security performance failures in person or via phone/email as needed to assign specialists on a 24‑hour basis.
• Prepare, issue, and collect daily operational reports and documents.
• Perform regular inspections of team equipment and non‑revenue vehicles and manage maintenance.
• Monitor operational procedures to ensure safe practices.
• Review and approve Field Activity Specialist formal and informal reports to ensure all documents are clear, complete, accurate, and conform to agency/department policy.
• Ensure overall quality and accuracy for all public safety & security‑related data collected by assigned specialists.
• Perform administrative duties: scheduling, personnel/payroll functions, performance management/goal setting, allocating resources, conducting quality control, developing plans and procedures, filing reports, updating databases, preparing correspondence, creating operational plans.
• Manage investigations of vehicle accidents and employee injuries for assigned personnel.
• Serve as acting/backup for field activity manager(s) when on PTO, in training, or otherwise unavailable.
• Champion collaboration across agency departments, divisions, and contracted security/law enforcement entities to ensure safe and secure operation of the transit system.
• Reflect Sound Transit’s core values and demonstrate values‑based behaviors in everyday interactions.
• Contribute to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with the Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• Follow agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to assigned duties.
• Integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Homeland Security or related field; four years of experience in the public sector providing service to the public or customers, preferably in a public‑facing security, fire/emergency medical or law enforcement field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Two years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Valid state driver’s license. This position operates public‑safety non‑revenue vehicles loaded with security, safety, and first‑aid gear and equipment.
• Public Transit Safety and Certification Training Program certification (within three years of selection).

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to lead and mentor assigned staff.
• Ability to speak in public, in front of small to medium‑sized crowds.
• Ability to prepare detailed operational and administrative reports and gather relevant data using standard office computer technology.
• Knowledge of basic safety, security, and criminal justice concepts.
• Ability to remain calm and focused in situations where personal safety or the safety of others may be at risk, and to communicate positively.
• Ability to resolve interpersonal conflicts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of cultural differences.
• Maintain positive working relationships with staff, customers, and all supporting organizations, such as law enforcement, to promote confidence in safe and secure transit services.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Direct knowledge of community engagement/liaison tactics and practices such as community policing, school resource officer, community outreach, or similar civilian function.
• Experience assisting employees or passengers during critical and emergency situations.
• Experience and ability to secure and preserve an area for emergency response personnel.
• Transit‑related safety and security training.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Work is in a hybrid office and field environment.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• The position is responsible for critical incident response, which could involve a range of physical activities: bending, climbing, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, carrying up to 25 lbs, and lifting over 50 lbs.
• Respond to emergencies at locations not accessible by public transit or to situations interrupting transit modes at any time of day (including weekends/nights).
• Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.