Community Service Officer

Department

OPS DSS Campus Safety - Charter School

About the Department

The Campus Safety Division of the Department of Safety and Security is responsible for the following areas: Security and Law Enforcement Systems, Security Services and security for the University of Chicago Charter School campuses and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. The Campus Safety Division also oversees the University Safety Ambassador Program.

Job Summary

The Community Services Officer assists campus, students, faculty, staff, and visitors of either campus, elementary, and/or the high school environment. The CSO maintains a safe and secure environment and performs a variety of duties in providing a safe learning and work environment for students, staff, and visitors and protecting property. The Community Services Officer serves as a link between law enforcement and the school, school administration, teachers, parents, and students. This position will be assigned to UCPD, the Charter Schools, and the Lab School.

Employees in these positions are designated as 'essential staff'. Essential staff members are required to report to work to ensure that University operations continue uninterrupted during emergencies, inclement weather, or conditions that require the University of Chicago to close or restrict operations. Essential staff may be required to report for an unscheduled shift and work more than his/her regularly scheduled hours.

Responsibilities

• Assists students, faculty, staff, and visitors whenever needed and works to maintain a safe and secure environment for the entire community.
• Patrols campuses on foot and inspects hallways, stairways, and all other public areas for fire/safety hazards. Reports any unusual condition or malfunctioning equipment.
• In conjunction with the University Police Department, assists with investigations of all criminal and suspicious occurrences on school campuses and act/reports same.
• Responsible for the visitor management function of the Charter School including checking identification and logging visitor information and monitoring incoming personnel and visitors after hours.
• Works with guidance counselors and other student support staff to assist and provide services to students involved in situations where referrals to service agencies are necessary.
• Enforces photo ID policy and parcel inspection policy along with all other University of Chicago policies.
• In the event of emergencies, requests emergency services assistance, obtains necessary information, and notifies appropriate personnel, giving nature and location of the incident. Evacuates persons from dangerous areas, secures buildings or areas, and/or assists in disaster situations.
• Responds to non-hazardous, non-emergency and other calls for service in lieu of a police officer, such as lost property, requests for safety escorts, building close procedures, and motorist assistance.
• Maintains various logs and records; gathers information and prepares routine reports as assigned; enters input and retrieves a variety of information using a computer.
• Supports a variety of administrative functions for the department and assists with projects as needed.
• Provides traffic control at traffic crashes, school dismissal periods, special events, and unusual occurrences as necessary.
• Observes activity and traffic in the assigned area to enforce University rules/regulations; alerts visitors of infractions; removes unwanted or disruptive individuals from University property.
• Assists in conducting security-related drills.
• Openly supports the mission and vision of the Department of Safety and Security.
• Provides safety escort services upon request.
• Provides information to students, faculty, staff, and visitors including directions, information about crime prevention, community services, programs, and practices.
• Establishes and maintains a close partnership with school administrators and other security personnel.
• Performs a variety of specialized and technical non-sworn law enforcement duties in support of the University of Chicago Police Department in the areas of patrol, community services, training, and other areas as assigned.
• Supplies information and assistance to the general public; answers citizen inquiries and responds to complaints and requests for services.
• Maintains a variety of clerical and administrative functions in support of the Department and assists with projects as needed.
• Fingerprints citizens for employment and licensing.
• Openly supports the mission and vision of the University of Chicago Police Department.
• Writes and completes incident reports and calls for service, and makes appropriate notifications to the proper parties, completing work with a moderate degree of supervision. Prepares other written correspondence as needed.
• Assists with fire alarm drills or dissemination of information regarding fire alarms.
• Completes reports, when required, and makes appropriate notifications, completing work with moderate supervision. 
• Assists with planned and unplanned events which may include emergency situations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Driver's License - Multiple States

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Associates degree from an accredited college.

Experience:

• One year of successful experience performing in a position which requires a high level of service-oriented public contact.
• Prior security and law enforcement experience working in a K-12 academic environment. 

Certifications:

• Valid driver's license; good driving record.

Preferred Competencies

• Commitment to serving the interest of the University community and the strategic goals of the Department of Safety and Security.
• Absorb and interpret information given while maintaining perspective on the goals of the department.
• Maintain professionalism, credibility and good customer service skills when dealing with all contacts, internal and external.
• Remain calm and objective throughout stressful and unpleasant situations.
• Make timely and sound decisions and accept concomitant responsibility; communicate effectively and consistently with others using tact when necessary; knowledge of importance/priority in determining what should be communicated to supervisors; and negotiate compromises between others.
• Evaluate the job performance of employees through observation and/or review of work product.
• Effectively deal with a variety of unpleasant circumstances and unusual human conduct associated with and/or arising from emergency situations including, but not limited to, physical trauma, mental and/or physical stress, panic, etc.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and enforcement officials, general public and members of the University community.
• Work with people of various ages and backgrounds and with diverse constituencies, including students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Build consensus and credibility across the campus.
• Resolve conflicts and manage sensitive emergency situations appropriately; demonstrate self-restraint in challenging and/or difficult situations.
• Demonstrate good moral character.
• Mentally and physically react effectively, quickly, calmly, and rationally during times of conflicts and emergencies.
• Use a desktop computer, pager, two-way radio, fingerprint equipment, camera, copy machine, and telephone.
• Initiate, implement and follow through on projects, programs or assignments with completed staff work.
• Think critically.
• Communicate verbally.
• Condense complicated issues into simple summaries that can be understood by a variety of constituents.
• Comprehend technical documents.
• Create and deliver presentations.
• Develop and manage interpersonal relationships.
• Exercise absolute discretion regarding confidential matters.
• Comfortable interacting with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to human blood, human blood components, and/or products made from human blood.
• High-stress environment.
• Walking, standing and sitting for prolonged periods of time.
• Frequent stooping, bending kneeling, crouching, reaching, lifting and twisting.
• Operate vehicles and bicycles safely.
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination.
• Work in inclement weather or weather extremes, outdoor weather exposure.
• Requires use of personal protective equipment.
• Operate equipment necessary to perform job.
• Perform strenuous physical exertion at times.
• Stand for 4 hours or more.
• Travel to various off-campus locations.
• Travel to various on-campus locations.
• Use standard workstation equipment.
• Use standard office equipment.
• Aware of safety hazards and take appropriate precautions.
• Communicate in writing.
• Communicate orally.
• Follow written and verbal instructions.
• Give directions.
• Handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion.
• Handle stressful situations.
• Learn and develop skills.
• Maintain a high level of alertness.
• Pay attention to detail.
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• React effectively, quickly, calmly, and rationally during conflicts and emergencies.
• Read and comprehend information.
• Train or teach others.
• Work effectively and collegially with little supervision or a member of a team.
• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Active listening skills.
• Decision-making skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Math skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Planning skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Quantitative and analytical skills.
• Reasoning skills.
• Time management skills.
• Bend, climb, crouch, or stoop.
• Ability to run.
• Sit for 4 hours or more.
• Walk for 4 hours or more.
• Use computers extensively for 4 hours or more.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Police & Security

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

Yes

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Yes

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$18.00 - $22.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

In addition to the base pay posted above, this position may be eligible for N/A

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.