Job Description

General Summary: 

A Community Service Officer (CSO) is an unarmed, uniformed security position, and is a non-sworn (civilian) member of the UMass Boston Police Department (UMBPD). With a strong emphasis on community engagement, CSO’s are responsible for performing a variety of duties to assist the (UMBPD) with its campus safety and community policing efforts. CSO’s assist UMBPD to make connections between students, faculty, staff, and other members of the community. The incumbent of this position enforces university policy, by-laws, the student code of conduct, and performs other non-criminal police related duties such as: community engagement and outreach; patrolling the campus on foot and/or be assigned to a designated post; provides direction, general information, and resources to the public, issuing parking tickets; performing walking escorts; respond to non-criminal complaints, building checks and other duties assigned. CSO’s are essential employees that do not carry firearms and have no powers of arrest.

Essential Functions:

• The following duties are typical of those performed by incumbents of this position; however, employees may perform other related duties, and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each employee in the job title.
• Serves as an “ambassador” for the UMBPD by providing friendly, helpful customer service and resources to students, faculty, staff, and other community members.
• Actively involved in UMBPD’s community policing/engagement efforts by providing a variety of services, including but not limited to building patrols, assisting with staffing events, along with offering assistance and being a resource for members of the UMass Boston community.
• Serves as a “Campus Security Authority” and “Responsible Employee or Mandated Reporter” pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
• Take steps to effectively handle or control emergency situations by administering first aid, summoning assistance, directing traffic, safety escorts, and participating in building searches.
• Supported with a security monitoring system, patrols on foot the campus grounds, buildings, and facilities during an assigned shift, following an established route or designated post; standing for long periods of time; make regular inspection tours of the campus facilities noting unusual occurrences to ensure the security and safety of property and persons i.e., noted trespassers, fire, water leaks, or other hazardous conditions and circumstances which could lead to loss or damage to property and equipment.
• Prepare reports and logs on non-criminal matters such as but not limited to fire alarms or the occurrence of a fire, disturbances, and accidents.
• Unlock buildings as scheduled for events and inner office spaces upon request.
• Enforce campus policies and procedures including smoking, alcohol usage, drug usage, and other concerns that may relate to safety and security concerns.
• Enforce campus traffic regulations including parking.
• Observe weather conditions on campus and report dangerous or unusual weather-related activity to supervision.
• Provide awareness education and participate in crime prevention programming to students, faculty, staff, and other members of the community.
• Monitor and operate access control systems, alarm systems, and CCTV.
• Maintain radio communications with UMBPD Dispatch, using proper communication procedures to transmit information based on safety priority and availability of personnel.
• Operate a department vehicle under all conditions.
• May be assigned to assist in providing security for dignitaries; control crowds at public gatherings or demonstrations; and assist in the evacuation of residents or students in drills or emergency situations.
• May be assigned to appear personally as a witness in order to assist in court or grand jury proceedings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.    

Other Functions:

• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements. Serves as Campus Security Authority as outlined by the Clery Act and is familiar with other federal mandates 2008 Higher Education and Opportunity Act (HEOA), 2013 Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Save Act), 2013 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
• Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
• Understands ethical responsibilities as a public employee with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with university and department policy.
• Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.
• Understands and contributes to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must possess a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Must possess valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain a valid MA driver license.
• Be able to successfully complete and pass a background check; (must not have been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or job-related crime).
• Be able to successfully complete and pass drug screening.
• Be in good mental and physical condition.
• Ability to work at any hour and in all weather conditions to include nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to maintain professionalism and acceptable personal demeanor under periods of stress, verbal and physical abuse, danger, and emotional tension.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time and physically perform the essential functions of a job.
• Knowledge of the methods and procedures followed in the security of buildings and property.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques of vehicular and pedestrian traffic control.
• Knowledge of the methods of general report writing and the ability to accurately record information provided orally.
• Ability to gather information through observing and questioning individuals and examining records and documents.
• Ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful and emergency situations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to make decisions and act quickly in emergency and dangerous situations.
• Ability to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress.
• Ability to deal tactfully with others.
• Ability to establish rapport with persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds.
• Ability to understand, explain and apply the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines governing assigned activities.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions and give oral and written instructions in a precise and understandable manner.
• Possess personal characteristics that ensure effective working relationships with all segments of the University and the public, including: a commitment to meeting the needs of diverse student/community backgrounds, and a commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.
• Anticipates and embraces change; demonstrates willingness to achieve, acquire, and utilize new skills and challenging tasks; and is flexible in changing conditions.
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Background Check Information: 

In addition to the mandatory standard background check package, please select additional products from the a la carte menu below. 

UMass Boston Standard Background Package (Mandatory)

• Criminal Felony & Misdemeanor - 7 years (a) - Unlimited # of counties as revealed by SSN Trace
• Federal Criminal
• Massachusetts CORI
• Education Report - highest degree (b)
• Employment Report - 7 years, previous employer
• National Sex Offender Search
• Professional Licenses Report - per license
• SSN Trace
• SSN Validation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Some college credits from an accredited college or university, OR prior military experience is preferred.
• Three (3) years of progressive work experience in a security service industry is preferred.
• Previous security experience in higher education or a university security/police department is preferred.

Supervision Received:

• Incumbent receives supervision from the shift supervisor.

Supervision Exercised:

• Number of non-student employees directly supervised:  0
• Number of non-student employees indirectly supervised: 0
• Average number of student employees supervised at any given time:  0

Application Instructions: 

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional work references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Grade: 13  

This is a non-exempt union position.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the ADA/504 Coordinator Andrea Haas or 617-287-5148.

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