Lead Public Safety Officer

Beth Israel Lahey Health•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Lead Public Safety Officer provides day-to-day operational leadership and direction to Public Safety Officers while helping maintain a safe and secure environment throughout the hospital. This working-leader role responds to incidents, coordinates security resources, supports staff performance, and serves as a primary point of contact between frontline security personnel and Security Supervisors. The Lead is expected to demonstrate advanced knowledge of hospital security operations, emergency response, de-escalation, customer service, and hospital policies, and to mentor officers and promote consistent execution of departmental standards and procedures. The role coordinates shift activities, including officer assignments, post coverage, patrols, special assignments, and escorts; conducts rounds and security inspections; responds to incidents and emergencies; and coordinates security response until relieved by a supervisor or designated leader. The Lead also supports training, reviews incident documentation, assists with investigations and emergency preparedness, monitors security technology and officer compliance, and coordinates with hospital departments, law enforcement, and emergency responders as appropriate. The position requires professional conduct, confidentiality, and a commitment to the organization’s WE CARE values and an inclusive working and learning environment. Work may involve rotating shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, exterior duties in adverse weather, extended periods of standing and moving, and physically demanding tasks. The stated base hourly pay range is $24.00–$29.26. Staff must be vaccinated against influenza as a condition of employment.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
A current, valid driver’s license is required.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to read and write in English and communicate effectively with patients, families, medical center staff, and external customers.
Ability to lead, coach, mentor, and motivate frontline employees.
Ability to remain calm and exercise sound judgment during emergencies and high-risk situations.
Strong conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple competing demands in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Commitment to professional conduct and appearance consistent with hospital standards.
Ability to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime as operationally required.
Ability to perform exterior tasks in adverse hot or cold weather conditions.
Ability to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or 50 pounds frequently, and to stand and/or move for extended periods.
Ability to make decisions guided by general instructions and practices that require some interpretation, and to recommend solutions to problems of moderate complexity and importance.
Ability to address routine, somewhat repetitive problems by following directions and procedures and identify process-improvement opportunities.
Ability to follow precedents and procedures, set priorities, organize work within general guidelines, and seek assistance in difficult or unpredictable situations.
Ability to demonstrate working knowledge of standard concepts, practices, procedures, and policies and apply them in varied situations.
Ability to collaborate in small teams, contribute ideas, identify issues, and respect team members.
Ability to provide professional, respectful, service-oriented customer service using active listening and problem-solving skills, including remaining calm in stressful situations.
Must complete upon hire AVADE Workplace Violence Prevention Levels I, II, and III Certification; BLS Provider Certification (CPR and AED); AHA Heart-Saver First Aid Certification; Stop the Bleed; Nasal Naloxone Certification; and Safe Environment for Suicidal/Homicidal Patients and Restraints/Seclusion Safety Training.
Must consistently promote the organization’s WE CARE values and demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
Must maintain confidentiality of patient, employee, and hospital information.
Must be vaccinated against influenza as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

Two to three years of security, healthcare security, public safety, military, or law enforcement experience is preferred.
Prior hospital security experience is strongly preferred.
Previous lead, senior officer, field training officer, or equivalent leadership experience is preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of hospital security operations and workplace violence prevention principles.
Proficiency with computers, security systems, access control, CCTV, and other technology is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide daily operational direction and guidance to Public Safety Officers assigned to the shift.
Serve as the lead security resource during incidents, emergencies, and high-risk situations.
Assign officers to posts, patrol areas, special assignments, escorts, and other operational activities as directed.
Monitor staffing and post coverage and communicate staffing concerns to the Public Safety Supervisor.
Conduct regular rounds to assess security coverage, officer performance, and hospital security conditions.
Respond to security incidents, workplace violence, disruptive behavior, patient or visitor disturbances, alarms, and emergency situations.
Coordinate security response during significant incidents until relieved by a Public Safety Supervisor or other designated leader.
Assist with behavioral health, high-risk, and potentially combative patient situations.
Coach and provide real-time guidance to officers on appropriate responses and hospital procedures.
Assist with training and onboarding new Public Safety Officers.
Reinforce departmental policies, procedures, standards of conduct, appearance, customer service, and performance expectations.
Monitor access control, CCTV, alarm systems, emergency communication systems, and other security technology.
Conduct and document security inspections and identify potential vulnerabilities.
Ensure required security rounds, checks, and documentation are completed accurately.
Review incident reports for completeness and accuracy and provide feedback or corrections when necessary.
Escalate significant incidents, policy violations, staffing concerns, equipment issues, and safety risks to the Public Safety Supervisor.
Assist with investigations and collection or preservation of information related to security incidents.
Coordinate with nursing, clinical departments, Facilities, Emergency Management, Human Resources, Risk Management, and other hospital departments as appropriate.
Assist law enforcement and emergency responders during hospital incidents.
Support emergency preparedness activities, drills, evacuations, lockdowns, disaster response, and other emergency procedures.
Assist with special events, VIP visits, high-risk patient situations, and other security-sensitive activities.
Monitor officer adherence to required equipment, uniform, identification, and post requirements.
Provide guidance regarding traffic control, parking, access control, visitor management, and other security functions.
Promote a professional, service-oriented security culture.
Address minor performance or operational concerns in accordance with departmental procedures and escalate issues requiring supervisory intervention.
Maintain confidentiality of patient, employee, and hospital information.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.