Comer Education Campus

Job Description

Position Title: Safety Officer

Dept: Safety & Security Department

Reports to: Safety Manager

Status: Part Time

Schedule: Monday-Friday. Flexible schedule with occasional Weekends, depending on organizational needs and events.

Gary Comer Youth Center: Having opened its doors in June 2006, the state-of-the-art Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC) offers positive extracurricular alternatives in a welcoming and safe environment. The mission is to provide the support for all of our youth to graduate from high school, prepared to pursue college and careers. Located on Chicago’s South Side, the Gary Comer Youth Center draws its primary membership from the youth residing on the South Side of Chicago with a focus on Grand Crossing residents. GCYC is the oldest and largest institution sitting on the Comer Education Campus which includes our organizational partners Gary Comer College Prep High School, the South Shore Drill Team and Gary Comer Middle School. For more information, please visit: www.garycomeryouthcenter.org.

Comer Education Campus: With a comprehensive approach to education and youth development, the Comer Education Campus is devoted to guiding young people to and through college and into adult life. The campus constitutes a unique partnership between Gary Comer Youth Center, Gary Comer College Prep, Gary Comer Middle School, and the college success initiative UtmostU. The campus serves over 2,000 youth from across Chicago’s South Side, offering out-of-school time enrichment, academic enhancement, and college success programs. Working with best-in-class partner organizations, the Comer Education Campus empowers young people with the tools they need for post-secondary and life success. For more information, please visit: http://comereducationcampus.org/

Position Summary

Provide for the safety and security for all visitors, members, and staff at GCYC. Applying excellent customer service skills and crisis management knowledge creates a safe environment.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Security coverage of the Center and its grounds on an ongoing basis daily via physical building rounds and camera surveillance
• Responsible for intervening and managing conflict amongst youth, adults and/or visitors
• Implement all GCYC safety related building operations policies and procedures including conduct and incident reporting
• Create an engaging, safe and educational environment for members and participants

• Attend all meetings required for safety team members
• Support membership functions when posted in the lobby including member/guest reception, youth departure and proper dissemination of Center information under the direction of the program coordinator
• Support the mission of GCYC
• Work collaboratively in a team setting serving the needs of youth
• Committed to the safety and development of all GCYC members

• Take on other duties as needed
• Serve as a role model for youth and community
• Abide by the employee handbook and established GCYC policies and procedures

Miscellaneous:

• Responsible for maintaining a physically and emotionally safe environment to further ensure proper youth supervision and managing conduct issues and incidents.
• Attends required staff meetings and trainings.
• Works with other staff to execute effective outreach, recruitment and retention strategies.
• Responsible for accurate data collection and data entry for grant and program compliance.
• Supports the mission of GCYC.
• Works collaboratively in a team setting serving the needs of youth.
• Is committed to the safety and development of all GCYC members.
• Takes on other duties as needed.
• Serves as a role model for youth and community.
• Abides by the employee handbook and established GCYC policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Minimum high school diploma required with advanced training and education in safety and security
• 2-3 years of work experience in youth development or security fields
• Security function experience with a focus on youth and families
• Strong written and oral communication skills, as well as ability to present information effectively in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Good crisis intervention skills

• Must demonstrate cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care
• Competency in MS office applications and competency in surveillance camera software a plus

Education & Skill Requirements

• Minimum high school diploma required with advanced training and education in safety and security
• Strong written and oral communication skills, as well as ability to present information effectively in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Good crisis intervention skills
• Must demonstrate cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care

Core Competencies

• Must possess genuine care and concern for youth – especially pre-teens and teens.
• Program area management skills that are engaging, non-oppressive and age appropriate.
• Strong project management and organizational skills. Must be able to initiate and finish projects.
• Able to communicate effectively with youth, co-workers, stakeholders and families in a respectful and culturally competent manner via written and verbal communication.
• Must enjoy working with teams but can also work independently.
• Enjoys being the leader but is also confident enough to take directions from others.
• Must be able to take initiative and problem solve. Must be a creative thinker.
• Demonstrates strong accuracy in all areas of work.
• Must possess adaptive vitality.
• Demonstrates understanding of the positive youth development philosophy.
• Demonstrates an understanding of guidance and discipline principles & conflict resolution strategies.
• Must demonstrate cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care.
• Must have basic computer literacy skills – including Microsoft Office, independent use of the internet and ability to learn and properly utilize software systems.

Physical Work Requirements & Environment:

The GCYC environment is consistently bustling with youth and community members. The Center’s work is fast paced and varied. Our work is done on site where our youth and families are. Therefore, it is required that team members meet these requirements:

• Have the ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to perform duties while walking, standing, stooping and/or lifting
• Dexterity sufficient to perform computer functions
• Ability to lift materials weighing up to 30 lbs.
• Typical physical demands require full body movement, physical strength and stamina sufficient to chase, apprehend, and detain person(s) when required
• Carrying standard equipment and conducting security patrols
• Ability to withstand various weather conditions for outside safety patrols

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