Job Description

Posting number: 202301004

Department: Civil Defense

Job classification: Safe Schools Coordinator

Posting type: Open

Categories: Safety, Communications

Summary

The School Safety Specialist serves as a point of communication in Delaware County for all safety issues related to schools. The School Safety Specialist also coordinates the continued accomplishment of the safe school assessment with each school district, as well as non-public, college, and university liaisons (hereinafter referred to as school sectors), along with the appropriate local Police, Fire, Office of Emergency Management, Intermediate Unit, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and the U.S. Department of Education, as well as the Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Task Force’s School Workgroup membership.

Examples of duties

• Act as the central point of information for all school sectors in response to safety regulatory and compliance issues, planning concerns, assessments, and daily emergencies.
• Identify and document emergency planning liaison(s) in each school sector as the primary point of communication. Communicate with these individuals regularly through meetings, phone calls, on-site visits, and email networking, allowing for up-to-the-minute information sharing.
• Assist in the development, review, and coordination of safety plans for both regulatory compliance and the ability to meet real-world needs. Coordinate submission of safety plans to local response agencies, including Police, Fire, and the Office of Emergency Management, and PDE as required.
• Develop and participate in drills and exercises of school sector safety plans.
• Participate in the selection of schools for risk and vulnerability assessments. Develop a quarterly schedule of assessments.
• Conduct school risk and vulnerability assessments and prepare designated school staff with the ability to sustain the assessment process after the grant-funded position has ended.
• Provide progress reports to the Task Force School Workgroup. Propose improvements based on assessments to the Task Force School Workgroup and follow through with implementation.
• Conduct information-sharing sessions in conjunction with Federal, State, and County agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education, County Police, Fire, Public Health, Mental Health, and Offices of Emergency Management at the state and local levels, to inform school sectors on emergency planning and response issues.
• Provide executive-level briefings, as needed, for principals, facility directors, teachers, security personnel, counselors, and school sector-wide and building-level safety teams.
• Assist with Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations and drills.
• Perform all other duties, tasks, and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Ability to develop presentations and speak and present professionally before audiences of varying sizes.
• Ability to follow existing curriculum to conduct training and/or train-the-trainer classes.
• Must be computer literate with working knowledge of applicable programs and possess the interest and motivation to remain current with program changes and upgrades.
• Professional-level administrative skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be familiar with NIMS/ICS structure, State Board of Education Chapter 10 regulations, and other applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to school sector safety and compliance.
• Experience working within a government setting preferred.
• Experience in disaster preparedness preferred.
• Experience in emergency management preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Supplemental information

PREFERRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Five (5) years of experience working with schools or in a related field preferred.
• Ability to remain focused on daily operations while responding effectively to changing priorities and emergency situations.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate emergency preparedness activities.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with schools, public safety agencies, government officials, and community partners.
• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and honesty.
• General knowledge and understanding of Delaware County policies and procedures.
• General knowledge and understanding of Emergency Services policies and procedures.

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Advanced Microsoft Word skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Advanced Microsoft PowerPoint skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, drive a vehicle, and talk or hear.

The employee must be able to:

• Lift up to 25 pounds to a height of approximately 30 inches.
• Carry up to 25 pounds for a distance of up to 300 feet.

There are no special vision requirements listed for this position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Ability to travel to schools and childcare facilities throughout the County as required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• This position requires flexibility to meet operational and customer needs.
• Ability to work extended hours as required.
• This position requires a high level of professionalism.

THIS POSITION IS GRANT-FUNDED AND WILL TERMINATE UPON EXPIRATION OF THE GRANT FUNDS.