Career Center

Alexander Dawson School Overview
Located at the foot of Red Rock Canyon in the Summerlin community of Las Vegas, Nevada, since 2000, The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain is a top-ranked independent school serving approximately 575 students from Early Childhood through grade eight. As the state's first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school, Dawson embraces a modern learning philosophy and student-centered educational program that emphasizes academics, creativity, student safety and wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance. Our graduates are prepared to achieve their individual potential, savor life, and meet the challenges of the world. 

Shared Values & Competencies of Dawson Employees
Alexander Dawson educators are academic leaders committed to modern learning. Our faculty are engaged and innovative collaborators. Those who tend to see opportunities before problems, who lead with questions, assume positive intentions, are professional and respectful in their relationships, and who work effectively with colleagues of varied backgrounds find success in this working environment.

• Commits to shaping a just, inclusive community and understands how centering equity impacts all aspects of the job
• Adapts a nimble mindset when dealing with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events
• Act with intentionality, transparency, humility, and honesty
• Develops solutions when faced with problems, challenges, or dysfunctions and makes decisions with resolve and empathy
• Communicates with empathy and clarity with multiple stakeholder groups
• Builds trusting relationships, and  demonstrates teamwork through attentive listening and a commitment to collaboration
• Believes they can learn from others and leads with questions to gain perspectives
• Acts ethically, morally, and legally to maintain compliance with organizational policies
  
  

Position Summary

Reporting to the Head of School, the Chief of Safety and Security works collaboratively with organizational leadership to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive physical security plan and school safety program, including emergency preparedness, to promote a safe and secure educational environment for students, faculty, staff, families, and visitors. The Chief of Safety and Security enforces safety and security policies; implements access control procedures; administers accident prevention efforts; supports risk management efforts; and maintains fire, safety, emergency response protocols. The Chief of Safety and Security oversees the safety and security team which is comprised of five full-time employees. This is a full-time, 12-month position.

Essential Functions: 

The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:

Preventative and Responsive Safety & Security Management 

• Create, implement, and manage comprehensive physical, emotional/wellness, and cyber safety and security/school safety programs that include: 
• an assessment plan for addressing internal and external threats; 
• oversight of policies and procedures inline with school operations and schedules;
• maintain, monitor and establish and oversee internal controls; 
• conduct internal inspections and audits, as needed 

• Physical Safety Management

• conduct and coordinate safety and emergency preparedness training by developing, scheduling, and/or facilitating training and drills for faculty, staff, and students;
• create an emergency manual and communication plan for drills and real-life scenarios;
• ensure school safety compliance with federal, state, and local regulations through consistent monitoring of existing and new requirements, as well as overseeing and enforcing school-wide adherence to requirements;

• Emotional/Wellness Safety Management

• work with the School’s crisis response team to provide strategies for addressing crisis intervention within and outside of the school, including drug and/or alcohol abuse, bullying/cyberbullying, death of a student or staff member, a medical emergency, an act of violence (on- or off-campus), sexual assault or misconduct, suicide or attempted suicide, or natural disaster
• liaison with school counselors and leadership to investigate and respond to a student’s or faculty/staff member’s threats to self and/or others 
• remain knowledgeable and informed about current trends related to student emotional health and wellness to provide education plans to the School 
• assist School leadership, counselors, and teachers support to students, faculty, staff, and families as needed
• minimize potential liabilities

• Cyber Security & Safety Management 

• monitor network and data for vulnerabilities and opportunities for growth 
• create and implement mechanisms for incident detection and response
• conduct vulnerability scanning and patch management
• create and implement protective controls
• create and implement network segmentation
• conduct administration and maintenance of access security systems, including surveillance systems
• manage access control and surveillance needs and modifications
• remain knowledgeable and informed about current trends related to cyber security and safety to provide education plans to the School 

• Conduct regular audits and inspections to assess, identify, and mitigate any safety and security vulnerabilities, including facilities’ fire and life-safety protocols and business continuity plans
• Maintain records of incidents and drills
• Work closely with administrators, technology team, and facilities/maintenance department to address and correct physical, emotional/wellness, and cyber safety and security/school safety issues on campus

Strategic Planning, Supervision, and Project Management

• Hire, schedule, and supervise all security personnel; identify and implement proper staffing structure to meet the School’s needs
• Prepare and maintain a balanced budget
• Develop a campus utilization plan with safety and security as the top priority that involves:
• facility rental oversight in coordination with the assistant head of school
• facility projects that impact campus usage in coordination with the facilities manager
• Coordinate with appropriate departments to meet operational security needs, including: 
• facilities/maintenance and capital projects
• on- and off-site school-sponsored activities (field trips, recreational activities, athletics events, other special events)
• after-hours school events
• technology to support personalized learning, connectedness, and increase student engagement
• Supervise and evaluate direct reports and third-party contracted workers;
• Provide recommendations for enhancements to school security and emergency; preparedness systems, and recommend and implement new school safety initiatives
• Conduct incident investigations and regular general safety and security assessments; 
• Secure facilities, assets, students, and personnel by working in conjunction with the appropriate internal and external departments.

Professional Duties

• Support and facilitate the initiatives of Dawson’s strategic plan and positively contribute to school-wide duties;
• Serve on the School’s risk management leadership team, Board facilities committee, and other leadership teams and committees as assigned
• Attend all-school meetings
• Meet periodically with the head of school, assistant head of school, chief financial officer, and campus facilities committee to prioritize key projects/expenditures against budget and advise on matters regarding replacement of worn property and equipment
• Perform other duties and assume other responsibilities as requested by the head of school as deemed necessary for safe and efficient operation of the School to fulfill the Mission of Alexander Dawson School.

Qualifications, Education & Experience:

• Minimum requirement of Associate’s Degree in a related field or equivalent education and work experience;
• At least six (6) to eight (8) years of previous security leadership experience in a similar or related setting; PS-8 educational setting is preferred;
• Clearance by Nevada Department of Public Safety to receive information;
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills in English, including the ability to write clear and concise reports, including business correspondence, training documents, and procedural manuals;
• Computer literacy and extensive knowledge with multiple computer platforms, programs, and systems specifically related to Google Suite applications;
• Ability to obtain information through interviews and observations to conduct comprehensive investigations;
• Ability to take charge with a professional and calm cadence in emergency situations;
• Ability to analyze risk and make appropriate recommendations for a school setting;
• Ability to present and respond to questions succinctly, accurately, and effectively to all levels within and outside of the School including employees, students, parents, school administration, vendors, and local law enforcement representatives;
• Police and/or military background preferred;
• Currently have an active Certified Protection Professional (CPP) or be able to obtain the designation for security management professionals and Combat Tactical Academy training; and
• Perform other job-related duties, as requested.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The school is open for in-person learning. Employees must follow COVID-19 protocols including wearing face coverings, social distancing, regular handwashing, and limiting in-person meetings.
• Must be able to work varied shifts including weekends and holidays, as notified

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.