Chief Security Officer

Position:  Chief Security Officer (Job ID 5579)
Location:  Administration Building
Benefits Eligible:  Yes
Effective Date:  As soon as possible

Are you passionate about helping ALL students learn in a collaborative environment? If so, we may have the career for you! Downingtown Area School District is excited to announce an opening for a Chief Security Officer located at the district administration building.

At DASD, we are committed to sharing values of diversity and inclusion in order to achieve and sustain excellence in education. As a diverse district, we continually seek ways to strengthen our educational environment. We believe that we can best promote excellence by recruiting and retaining a diverse group of staff who bring various backgrounds and perspectives. Our ability to create and maintain a climate of respect is critical to attaining the best teaching and learning environment.

At Downingtown Area School District we value our employees. We seek to hire new staff who:

• Communicate openly to build relationships and trust  
• Partner with team members to see the TEAM succeed
• Demonstrate a growth mindset and seek ongoing opportunities for growth
• Embrace and support a safe and inclusive environment
• Eagerly and enthusiastically support student learning
• Strive to be kind and reflective
• Focus on the solution and put people first
• Lead by example!

If you want to be part of our "Downingtown Proud" team - please apply!  Help us with our mission to educate all students to meet the rigorous challenges of a global society.

Job Summary:  Oversee all security matters regarding the school district. Direct, coordinate, and support the development and implementation of the district's policies and procedures regarding school safety and security.

Qualifications: To successfully perform this position, a person must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.  The qualification requirements listed below represent minimum levels of educational achievement, training, skills, and/or ability necessary.

1. Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a related field plus formal documented training in security and police procedures.
2. Five (5) years institutional security managerial experience and/or police supervisory experience.
3. Proficiency in current security procedures.
4. Ability to express self clearly and concisely in oral and written communications.
5. Ability to maintain cooperative relationships between employees, staff and public.
6. Valid Pennsylvania Driver's License and safe driving record.
7. Candidate must be skilled in the use of current technologies.
8. Organizational skills required to keep current with departmental record needs.
9. Possess and maintain current Act 126 training.
10. Current Act 34, Act 151 and Act 114 clearances.

Duties & Responsibilities:  Employee must have the ability to perform the following essential functions on a timely basis with or without reasonable accommodations.

1. Review of video security needs
2. Provide advice to all building principals about surveillance camera locations inside and outside the school.
3. Assist principals and coordinate with DASD Facilities Department to replace and repair all camera and video needs during the school year.
4. Provide assistance to all building principals on command center location and command operation including video and voice communication to prepare for emergencies.
5. Assist principals and district administration with investigations involving video footage.
6. Advisor/Consultant to DASD Leadership
   1. Advise and consult with DASD leadership on security and safety matters to include the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, Business Manager, Secondary and Elementary School Principals, Maintenance and Transportation Supervisors.
   2. Meet on a routine basis with school principals and employees designated by the Superintendent to discuss security/safety concerns for that particular venue.
      1. Conduct the following drills with each building principal and coordinate with the principal follow-up debriefing activities with the faculty and students:  3 intruder drills, 2 weather emergency drills, 2 building evacuation/fire drills, 2 lock down drills, and reunification protocols must be rehearsed.
      2. The CSO will personally oversee all drills being conducted throughout the school year.  In the event the CSO cannot attend a drill, then he or she may request a designee to oversee the drill.
      3. Provide ongoing support to buildings to expand on the scope/content of emergency drills.
   3. Be personally available to DASD leadership 24/7 via telephone/email to respond to security/safety questions or issues.
   4. At the request of the DASD Superintendent, provide security and safety presentations to the DASD School Board, leadership, teachers, staff and employees.
7. Collaboration with local Chiefs of Police/State Police, the Chester County Fire Marshall, and local Fire Chiefs
   1. Consult with and maintain routine liaison with the local chiefs of police and state police station commanders concerning DASD safety/security issues where DASD schools/facilities are located.  When indicated and necessary or at the request of the DASD Superintendent, liaison will occur with other federal, state, county and local law enforcement and public safety entities.
   2. Represent DASD at State and Chester County Safe Schools Summits/Meetings as the budget would allow.
8. Survey and assessment of 16 school buildings and Administration Building.
   1. Conduct a review of all 16 school DASD Emergency Operations and Communications Plans and make recommendations addressing any gaps or deficiencies.
   2. Assist Assistant Superintendents in creating an updated emergency planning guide for all teachers in all 16 school buildings.
   3. Conduct Site Assessments of all school buildings and the administration building and provide a written report detailing recommendations to enhance security at those venues.
   4. All tracking documentation of drills conducted in all buildings are coordinated and gathered by the CSO.
   5. The CSO shall obtain and maintain certification to conduct school safety and security assessments as required by PCCD.
9. Supervision of contracted school security guards.
   1. Actively supervises all guards assigned to work in the Downingtown Area School District.
   2. Maintain ongoing communication with security service provider to ensure proper staffing levels and to address any security guard performance or conduct related issues.

This position description does not express or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent(s) in this position.  Employee(s) will be required to complete other job-related duties requested by the supervisor.

Salary 2026-2027 School Year:
 $95,868 - $115,042 annually
*Placement upon salary scale is dependent upon years of experience in similar position.  Salary will be prorated based on start date. 

Schedule:
- 7 hours per day, 5 days per week, 260 days per year, based on district-approved calendar
- Full-time, 12-month position

Summary of Benefits:

Select Health Benefits a la carte - Only pay for what you need

• Medical Coverage through IBX - Personal Choice C4-F4-02
  • No Primary Care Physician necessary
  • No referrals required
  • IBC has extensive local and national networks
• Prescription Coverage through CVS/Caremark
• Dental Coverage - Delta Dental Active PPO
  • Allows use of in-network and out-of-network providers
• Vision Coverage - Vision Benefits of America (VBA)

Eligibility - No Waiting Period
All employees may enroll in the district's health benefit plans effective with their date of hire into the benefit eligible position. 

Eligible Dependents
A legally married spouse as defined by PA law and children up to age 26 may enroll in the District's health benefit plans.

New Hires or Newly Eligible
You have 31 days from the date that you are benefit eligible to make your elections. If you do not make elections during this time, you will only be enrolled into any benefit that is provided by the District at no cost to you.

Flexible Spending Accounts
Benefit eligible employees have the opportunity to elect to participate in a Flexible Spending Account. DASD offers both a Healthcare Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account. This benefit allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for out of pocket eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.

Support for the Whole You

• Fitness Program
  • Receive $150 back when you complete 120 workouts at an approved fitness facility within 365 days. www.ibx.com/reimbursements
• Nutritional Counseling
  • Up to 6 free visits per calendar year with a registered dietitian.
• Employee Assistance Program
  • Health Advocate is a free, confidential program that offers EAP+ Work/Life benefits to help you address difficulties in your life by providing short term assistance with personal, family, and work issues. In addition, it simplifies the navigation of the health care system by helping you find the right doctors, resolving billing and insurance claim issues, explaining benefit coverages, helping your parents or in-laws with the complexities of Medicare, and much more!
• Telemedicine
  • The telemedicine benefit through SwiftMD is offered to ALL DASD employees at no cost to you. The telemedicine benefit allows for consultations with US board-certified doctors over the phone or online, from your home, office, or on the road. These physicians can diagnose, recommend treatment, and submit prescriptions to your pharmacy of choice. 

Retirement - Member of State Pension System (PSERS)
As a PSERS member, you'll join with over a half million fellow public school employees who are also members.  You'll contribute to your own personal PSERS retirement account and have a safe and secure benefit payment(s) from one of the largest public retirement plans in the nation.

Student Loan Forgiveness
All DASD employees are eligible to apply for loan forgiveness through the federal government's Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Find out more here: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
DASD provides group term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage at no cost to you. The plan includes double indemnity for accidental death and dismemberment.

Optional Life Insurance 
You may also purchase additional life insurance as a supplement to the company paid benefit. 

Income Protection Benefits
DASD provides income protection insurance at no cost to you. This provides income if you are disabled and unable to work. The benefit begins on the 61st day of disability or illness or the exhaustion of your sick days, whichever is later. Pays 60% of your basic monthly pay, up to $10,000 per month

Life Benefit
Pays 3x your basic annual salary up to maximum of $800,000

Executive Flexible Benefits Plan
You are provided funds equivalent to 2.5% of your annual base salary, up to a maximum of $2,500. This money is intended to fund healthcare-related expenses and will be disbursed as part of your paycheck. 

Tuition Reimbursement
100% of tuition for all graduate or doctoral courses, if grade of ‘B' or better is attained. Cap $15,000/yr

TSA Contribution

• 3% of annual salary into 403(b) account after one year of service

Paid Time Off

• 12 sick days annually
• 3 personal days annually
• 20 vacation days annually for 12-month staff; 1 additional day per year to a max of 30 days after 10 years as an administrator
• Vacation payout for unused days - up to 10 days annually
• 19 paid holidays per year

Retiree Benefits

• Health Insurance
  Can purchase insurance for retiree and spouse until the lesser of 10 years or age 65 for medical, prescription, dental and vision. Health contributions will be the greater of the DASD Act 93 contribution or co-pay equal to PSERS premium assistance. To qualify, employee must be age 55 or have 35 years of service, retired under PSERS and have worked as a DASD administrator for 10 years.
• Life Insurance
  • 2.5 times annual salary until lesser of 10 years or age 65
• Personal Days Payout
• Sick Days Payout
• Vacation Days Payout

Salary Increases
Based on performance; up to 3% per year

Merit Pay
Based on completion of 2 goals; up to 1% per year

EOE