Job Description:

• Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizona for multiple years.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.  

In preparation of anticipated openings for the 2026-2027 school year, applications are being accepted for the position of Director of Safety & Security with Mesa Public Schools.

Overview

The Director of Safety & Security serves as Mesa Public Schools’ leader for all emergency preparedness, safety systems, and security operations. The Director of Safety & Security provides strategic direction for the vision, mission, goals, and continuous improvement of the district’s safety and security department. The Director of Safety & Security oversees all security personnel, ensures optimal staffing and deployment across the district, and leads comprehensive professional learning that strengthens safety capacity at every level. The Director of Safety & Security ensures the district remains ahead of emerging school safety trends through proactive planning, innovative solutions, strong data analysis, and strategic partnerships with law enforcement and emergency agencies. The Director of Safety & Security is committed to protecting students, staff, and visitors while aligning with the District’s Strategic Goals, Vision, and Promise.

Employment Type:

Director ll, Full-time

Salary Range:

$97,301 - $126,491

Salary Procedures:

Years of similar work experience and education considered

Benefits:

Vacation, sick leave, holidays, matched retirement through the Arizona State Retirement System, health, and life insurance

Performance Pay:

Available annually

Calendar:

Administrative Exempt, 12-month position

Reports To:

Chief of Staff

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Safety Leadership

• Develops and leads a clear, measurable department vision, mission, and set of goals aligned to district priorities.
• Uses data analysis, environmental scans, incident trends, and predictive indicators to guide department strategy and operational decisions.
• Establishes and monitors continuous improvement cycles for safety practices, security operations, staffing, and emergency preparedness.
• Creates districtwide safety standards, emergency operations plans, and crisis response protocols grounded in best practices.
• Provides executive leadership for all department initiatives and evaluates the effectiveness of security systems and safety programs.
• Leads the development, submission, and oversight of all safety-related grants, ensuring effective implementation, compliance, and alignment with district priorities.

School and Staff Support

• Partners with district and school leaders to support readiness, risk mitigation, and the development of a proactive safety culture.
• Uses data to assess security staffing needs and maximizes security officer placement and deployment through ongoing analysis of campus patterns and trends.
• Leads professional learning for security personnel and school personnel to strengthen emergency response, situational awareness, and preventive practices.
• Ensures each school develops annual safety goals and supports schools in using data to measure progress and refine practices.
• Conducts school-site safety assessments and guides improvement planning based on findings.

Supervision, Staffing, and Evaluation

• Supervises all district security-related personnel, including district security officers, campus safety teams, dispatchers (if applicable), and contracted security providers.
• Oversees hiring, onboarding, professional learning, and ongoing development of all security staff.
• Conducts performance evaluations for district security personnel and ensures goal setting, coaching cycles, and continuous improvement are embedded within the department.
• Develops staffing models and schedules using data to ensure efficient and effective coverage across all campuses and district facilities.

Emergency Management and Incident Response

• Leads districtwide emergency preparedness planning, training, drills, and readiness assessments.
• Serves as the district incident commander or primary liaison during crises, coordinating with police, fire, EMS, and emergency management partners.
• Leads post-incident debriefs to evaluate response effectiveness, identify lessons learned, and recommend improvements to plans, procedures, and training.
• Oversees post-incident reviews, analyzes contributing factors, and implements systemic changes to prevent recurrence.
• Oversees protocols for responding to online threats, social media leakage, swatting incidents, and digital hoax events. Supports district threat behavioral assessment protocols.
• Develops and maintains mass-reunification plans, training, and physical kits.
• Ensures compliance with all local, state, and federal safety mandates and maintains accurate reporting and documentation. 

Partnerships and Law Enforcement Collaboration

• Builds and sustains strong partnerships with law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and city emergency agencies.
• Oversees the School Resource Officer (SRO) program and ensures alignment with district expectations and student-centered practices.
• Represents the district on regional safety committees and collaborates on multi-agency initiatives that advance school safety.
• Coordinates and leverages police, fire, EMS, and city emergency management with safety and emergency professional learning and various strategic exercises for security and school personnel.

Security Operations and Technology

• Monitors district security technology systems, including surveillance, access control, alarms, visitor management, and emergency communication tools.
• Uses system data and technology analytics to identify operational gaps and guide upgrades or preventive measures.
• Evaluates and recommends innovative tools, platforms, and monitoring systems that enhance situational awareness and emergency response capabilities.
• Works with the Information Systems Department on district emergency communication systems, including mass notification platforms, radio systems, and interoperability tools. 

Data-Informed Strategy and Continuous Improvement

• Leads the department in using data dashboards, incident logs, safety audits, and trend analyses to identify patterns and guide decision-making.
• Develops measurable department performance indicators and monitors progress toward annual goals.
• Facilitates data reviews and continuous improvement cycles with security staff, school teams, and district leadership.
• Creates transparent reporting systems to communicate progress, risk areas, and improvement plans.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

• Ensures timely, clear communication regarding safety initiatives, expectations, and emergency protocols.
• Serves as a key communicator during critical incidents, providing guidance to staff, families, and community partners.
• Builds trust through proactive engagement, visibility in schools, and consistent follow-through on safety commitments.
• Establishes emergency communications protocols in coordination with the Communications Department. 

Operations and Compliance

• Manages all budgets for security operations, equipment, technology, staffing, and professional learning.
• Leads grant development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting for safety-related initiatives.
• Ensures all district safety practices, documentation, and reporting meet federal, state, and local requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, criminal justice, public safety, education leadership, or related field.
• Leadership experience in security, law enforcement, emergency management, or school safety.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and evaluating security or law enforcement personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in emergency management, security studies, law enforcement administration, public administration, or related field.
• Direct law enforcement experience, especially supervisory or command-level.
• Experience leading districtwide or organizational safety and security operations.
• Specialized safety or emergency management certifications.
• Experience implementing enterprise-level safety or security technology systems.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs)

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications below represent the knowledge, skill, abilities, and other characteristics necessary for this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Models the essential attitudes and skills of Mesa Public Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate.

• Understanding and demonstrating the essential attitudes and skills of the Mesa Public Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate (e.g. Ethical, Resilient and Inclusive).
• Strong ability to analyze data, identify trends, and use evidence to drive decisions;
• Knowledge of current best practices in school safety, threat assessment, and emergency management;
• Ability to forecast safety needs and plan long- and short-range goals;
• Skill in leading continuous improvement processes, including goal setting and progress monitoring;
• Effective communication and presentation skills for staff, leadership, and community partners;
• Ability to build strong working relationships with law enforcement and emergency personnel;
• Capacity to plan, supervise, and evaluate staff in a high-stakes environment;
• Expertise in security technologies and data systems;
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and crisis-management abilities; and
• Engaging and fostering positive and productive relationships with various stakeholders.
• Effective planning and organizational ability.
• Developing and providing professional learning to various stakeholders.
• Interpreting federal/state laws and Governing Board policies.
• Facilitating and/or participating in collaborative teams.
• Having effective skills in interpersonal relationships, communication, organization, leadership, decision making and problem solving.
• Researching, identifying, and implementing new concepts and practices.
• Forecasting trends.
• Leveraging the use of Microsoft, Google, and other programs/systems.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and sound professional judgment.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Primarily office-based work with frequent travel to schools, district facilities, and community partner sites.
• Regular on-campus presence required to support safety reviews, drills, incident response, and staff supervision.
• Occasional exposure to moderate or high noise levels during drills, emergency responses, or field operations.
• Requires availability during evenings, weekends, or after hours in response to emergencies or safety-related events.
• Fast-paced, high-stakes environment requiring adaptability, calm decision-making, and responsiveness. 
• Ability to move quickly and safely across large campus environments during emergencies or assessments.
• Frequent standing, walking, climbing stairs, bending, and reaching during site visits, facility reviews, and incident response.
• Ability to lift, carry, or move equipment and materials up to 25 pounds.
• Visual acuity required for monitoring video systems, reviewing reports, conducting assessments, and operating technology platforms.
• Ability to remain seated for extended periods when performing administrative and technology-based work.