Director of Enterprise Threat Assessment

The Director of Enterprise Threat Assessment chairs and directs the multidisciplinary Behavioral Consultation Team (BCT). In conjunction with the BCT, the Director is responsible for developing policies and procedures for the prevention of violence at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks, including assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior poses a threat to the safety of the University and Medical Center community. 

The Director will also work directly with the Threat Assessment Coordinator and BCT members who represent the Office of the Provost, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Risk Management, 

Office of the General Counsel, Counseling & Clinical Services, Vanderbilt University Medical 

Center Operations, Equal Access, Emergency Management, Health and Wellness, Communications, and Vanderbilt University Public Safety. As the enterprise subject matter expert in threat assessment and management, this position is responsible for identifying and providing ongoing training and awareness programs in issues related to threat assessment and management, crisis intervention and support, and provide outreach and resources to the campus community. 

This position reports to the Chief of Police and will meet regularly with the leaders across Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks. This position requires availability after hours and on weekends for emergencies and threat cases. 

About the Work Unit

Vanderbilt University Public Safety (VUPS) is led by the Office of the Chief of Police in the Division of Administration. VUPS is a dedicated team of over 400 professionals united by a shared commitment to fostering a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all in the Vanderbilt community, as well as the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Organized into several specialized units, our department includes commissioned officers, security 

professionals, and skilled administrative staff—all working collaboratively to uphold the highest standards of community-based policing. 

Duties and Responsibilities

BCT Leadership and Management: 

• Provide leadership, vision and oversight to the Behavioral Consultation Team (BCT).

• Manage and chair BCT meetings. Direct and coordinate BCT investigations of significant disruption to the safety to the community or any reported threatening or violent behaviorby or against faculty, staff, students, medical center employees, patients, visitors, and organizations.

• Assess, triage, manage or refer all incoming threat cases about actual or potential incidents of violence, and provide the BCT recommendation to appropriate university or community resources for ongoing victim assistance and community assurance as needed.

• Ensure referrals are timely and appropriately directed to support services across Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks. Coordinate intervention and safety plans by working collaboratively with the appropriate community partners.

• Determine if there is a pathway toward violence from referrals or police reports behaviors that include, but are not limited to: increasingly erratic, unsafe, or aggressive behaviors; hostile feelings of injustice or perceived wrongdoing; drug and alcohol abuse; significant changes, in performance at work or school; financial difficulties; pending civil or criminal litigation; observable grievances with threats or plans of retribution; expressed concerns about personal safety; making explicit threats of violence to any member, department, or organization; behaviors that include paranoia, incoherent emails, or concerning communication; and being cited, arrested, or investigated for a violent or threatening incident.

• Assess, triage, manage or refer all incoming threat cases about actual or potential incidents of violence, and provide the BCT recommendation to appropriate university or community resources for ongoing victim assistance and community assurance as needed.

• Ensure referrals are timely and appropriately directed to support services across Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks. Coordinate intervention and safety plans by working collaboratively with the appropriate community partners.

• Determine if there is a pathway toward violence from referrals or police reports behaviors that include, but are not limited to: increasingly erratic, unsafe, or aggressive behaviors; hostile feelings of injustice or perceived wrongdoing; drug and alcohol abuse; significant changes, in performance at work or school; financial difficulties; pending civil or criminal litigation; observable grievances with threats or plans of retribution; expressed concerns about personal safety; making explicit threats of violence to any member, department, or organization; behaviors that include paranoia, incoherent emails, or concerning communication; and being cited, arrested, or investigated for a violent or threatening incident.

Case Management Report Oversight:

• Manage oversight of case management reports and track cases being investigated. Work directly with BCT members on investigations involving violations of criminal law or threatening and intimidating behaviors that violate Vanderbilt policy.

• Manage oversight of annual and quarterly reports of case and team activities as well as analysis of responses to the reported incidents.

• Provide oversight of the monitoring of cases to track progress, ensure compliance with recommendations and on-going assessment, and address new or emerging concerns as they arise.

• Review reports and referrals to determine cases that will be tracked or monitored by the BCT.

Community Training and Awareness Programs: 

• Provide a variety of community training and awareness programs that support community members in recognizing potential threats or seriously concerning behaviors.

• Provide timely sharing of concerns through established reporting mechanisms, enhancing understanding of the threat assessment and management process, and the role and function of the Vanderbilt Behavioral Consultation Team.

Policy Development & Analysis: 

• Guide the ongoing development and revision of threat assessment and violence prevention procedures, protocols, and resources.

Supervisory Relationships

This position has supervisory responsibility over the Behavioral Consultation Team (BCT) for Vanderbilt University and VUMC and reports directly to the Chief of Police. 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related filed from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience is required.

• Threat Management Certification (CTM) through the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) within 12 months is required.

• Possession of a valid driver’s license in the State of Tennessee or be eligible to obtain one within sixty (60) days of appointment is required.

Experience and Skills

• At least twelve (12) years of related experience including 5 years of managerial experience is required.

• Previous experience in threat assessment and management of cases involving potential violence in higher education is preferred.

• Previous experience managing staff, or a department is preferred.

• Experience developing and managing projects involving complex and sensitive issues and coordination with multiple departments is preferred.

• Demonstrated experience with application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Clergy Act, Title IX, and other statues as they relate to threat assessment as applicable in the higher education environment is preferred.

• Ability to maintain professionalism, credibility, and excellent customer service skills when dealing with all contacts, internal, and external is necessary.

• Experience working with Microsoft Office applications, WVR-21 and other assessment tools is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Ability to effectively communicate risks to provide high quality threat assessment, intervention, and management to the Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks community.

• Ability to work across multiple departments, with various administrators, faculty, staff, students, patients, organizations, and other community members.

• Demonstrated ability to review and interpret threat assessment tools and formulate interventions to minimize risk of violence and to provide crisis intervention and response, case management support in field/crisis settings, and information and referral.

• Ability to develop strategic plans with benchmarking, assessment, and reporting, and ability to analyze data, aggregate information, and conduct statistical analysis.

• Ability to effectively develop and deliver training to the campus community across all levels on a wide variety of threat assessment, crisis intervention and conflict related issues.

• Ability to collaborate with diverse communities.

• Knowledge and understanding of violence prevention and intervention techniques.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of interpersonal and targeted violence.

• Effective problem solving, decision-making, analytical and organizational skills.

• Ability to collaborate and coordinate with other staff, law enforcement, courts, and mental health professionals.

• Ability to act independently in a dynamic and demanding environment and resolve escalated issues utilizing knowledge or procedures.

• Ability to exercise discretion and good judgment, upholding the highest level of confidentiality.

• Ability to manage a wide range of non-routine projects, with close attention to detail and project follow-through.