SCHOOL AND CAMPUS SAFETY (PSC)

State of Illinois•Chicago, IL

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is a team of dedicated public servants committed to better preparing the State of Illinois for natural, manmade, or technological disasters, hazards, or acts of terrorism. IEMA-OHS coordinates the State's disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery programs and activities, functions as the State Emergency Response Commission, and maintains a 24-hour Communication Center and State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). The SEOC acts as lead in crisis/consequence management response and operations to notify, activate, deploy and employ state resources in response to any threat or act of terrorism. IEMA-OHS assists local governments with multi-hazard emergency operations plans and maintains the Illinois Emergency Operations Plan. IEMA-OHS is also responsible for protecting Illinois residents from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation, administering more than two dozen programs to protect citizens and the environment. Programs include extensive emergency planning and response efforts and training for local responders for accidents involving radiation; inspecting and regulating radioactive materials licensees; registering and inspecting radiation producing equipment and facilities statewide; accrediting medical radiation technologists; and certifying mammography facilities. IEMA-OHS also monitors 11 nuclear power reactors at six nuclear stations licensed to generate electricity in Illinois and inspects and escorts spent nuclear fuel shipments. This position leads statewide school safety initiatives for the Safe2Help Illinois program, shaping policy, strategy, and program implementation. It serves as a subject matter expert, analyzing data, guiding best practices, and representing the program through trainings, conferences, and stakeholder engagement. The role builds and coordinates partnerships across education, public safety, and community organizations, while overseeing outreach, training delivery, and program development. It also supports strategic planning, policy alignment, and the expansion of initiatives to strengthen school safety across Illinois.

Requirements

Knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to four (4) years of college or professional training in homeland security and training and exercise.
Prior experience equivalent to four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in a public or business organization.
Ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
Appropriate, valid driver’s license.
A criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.

Nice To Haves

Five (5) years of experience in training and exercise, education, and/or public safety.
Five (5) years of experience in formulating and establishing policies, procedures, and/or training and exercise programs for a program.
Three (3) years of experience facilitating professional meetings and presentations.

Responsibilities

Formulates and establishes policies, priorities, plans, and philosophy related to school safety.
Research, collects, and analyzes data for the Safe2Help Illinois program, and explores conference opportunities.
Responds to and manages requests for training or speaking engagements, coordinating with agency staff and external partners as needed.
Assists in the ongoing development and implementation of the Safe2Help Illinois program, including outreach planning and stakeholder engagement.
Works collaboratively with state, local, and federal partners to support integrated approaches to school safety and homeland security planning.
Monitors developments in school safety and homeland security to ensure agency efforts reflect current best practices and guidance.
Directs, plans, and implements the development of a cadre of trained speakers to present information on the Safe2Help program throughout the state to educators, law enforcement, mental health professionals and other interested parties.
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.