Director of Enterprise Threat Assessment

Position Summary

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 and implementing policies, procedures, and best practices for the prevention of violence across Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks, and the Vanderbilt Campus Network campuses. This includes the behavioral threat assessment and management of individuals exhibiting concerning or threatening behaviors that may indicate an elevated risk of violence or harm, as well as the development, coordination, and monitoring of appropriate intervention and risk-management strategies.

The Director works directly with the Threat Assessment Coordinator and BCT members representing 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. Through this multidisciplinary partnership, the Director coordinates the assessment and management of complex cases and facilitates appropriate information sharing, intervention planning, and follow-up.

As the enterprise subject matter expert in behavioral threat assessment and management, the Director is responsible for developing and delivering ongoing training, education, and awareness programs on behavioral threat assessment and management, violence prevention, coordination of crisis response and supportive resources, recognition and reporting of concerning behaviors, and related topics as well develop and implement a community-centric strategy that focuses on best practices in threat assessment, behavioral intervention and the overall safety of the University community.. The Director also provides consultation, outreach, and resources to the Vanderbilt University and Medical Center communities to strengthen awareness, early identification, reporting, and prevention efforts.

This position reports to the Chief Security Officer and meets regularly with leaders across Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks. The position requires availability outside normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, to provide consultation and coordination on urgent or significant threat-assessment and management cases.

About the Work Unit: 

Vanderbilt University Public Safety (VUPS) is led by the Office of the Chief of Police in the Division of Operations and Campus Network. 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.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

BCT Leadership and Enterprise Program Management

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for Vanderbilt's enterprise behavioral threat assessment and management program and the multidisciplinary Behavioral Consultation Team (BCT).
• Chair the BCT and establish consistent processes for the identification, assessment, management, monitoring, and resolution of behavioral threat concerns across Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary collaboration among BCT members, organizational leaders, and other appropriate partners to support timely information sharing, informed decision-making, and effective threat management strategies.

• Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert and senior advisor to leadership on behavioral threat assessment and management, violence prevention, and complex or significant cases.

Behavioral Threat Assessment and Case Management

• Oversee the intake, triage, assessment, and management of reports involving threatening, violent, or seriously concerning behavior and determine the appropriate level of BCT involvement, consultation, monitoring, or referral.
• Lead and coordinate behavioral threat assessments using established, evidence-informed practices to evaluate concerning behaviors, communications, circumstances, warning behaviors, protective factors, and other relevant information that may indicate escalation or an elevated risk of violence or harm.
• Develop and coordinate multidisciplinary threat management strategies in collaboration with appropriate organizational partners, including safety planning, supportive interventions, administrative actions, law enforcement coordination, clinical or community referrals, monitoring, and other risk-mitigation measures appropriate to the circumstances.
• Provide oversight of active cases to ensure appropriate documentation, ongoing assessment, implementation and evaluation of management strategies, and timely response to new or emerging concerns.

Training, Consultation, and Community Awareness

• Develop and lead enterprise training, consultation, and awareness efforts related to behavioral threat assessment and management, violence prevention, recognition and reporting of concerning behaviors, and the role and function of the BCT.
• Promote awareness of established reporting mechanisms and provide consultation and resources to leaders, departments, and community members regarding concerning behaviors, threat management, and coordination of appropriate response and supportive resources.

Policy, Prevention, and Program Oversight

• Lead the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of policies, procedures, protocols, and resources supporting behavioral threat assessment, threat management, and violence prevention.
• Establish appropriate standards for case management, documentation, information sharing, monitoring, reporting, and program evaluation consistent with applicable laws, organizational policies, confidentiality requirements, and professional practices.
• Analyze case activity, trends, and program performance to identify emerging risks, organizational vulnerabilities, training needs, and opportunities to strengthen violence prevention and community safety.
• Maintain knowledge of current research, professional standards, and evidence-informed practices in behavioral threat assessment and management and incorporate relevant developments into Vanderbilt's enterprise program.

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. 

Education and Certification:

• 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.