The posting
Location: Bennington,Vermont,United States
Working in partnership with the campus community, the College welcomes applications for per diem (on-call, as needed) Campus Safety Support Staff. Support Staff are responsible for providing essential, on-call support to the Campus Safety team, filling in as Campus Safety Officer, Dispatcher, or Van Driver based on departmental needs. This versatile role ensures continuity of operations, maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community. The position requires flexibility to adapt to different responsibilities, each requiring a unique set of skills to address safety, administrative, and transportation needs. The hourly rate of pay is $22.44.
Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty, staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, power, and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishments to apply.
Available Shifts
- Per Diem - work on an as-needed basis (on-call support)
Key Responsibilities:
Safety and Security Operations:
- Conduct proactive patrols by foot or vehicle across campus, ensuring the safety of community members and protecting College property.
- Monitor buildings, outdoor spaces, and parking lots for suspicious activity, vandalism, and maintenance concerns.
- Secure buildings by locking/unlocking doors, inspecting alarm systems, and responding to unauthorized access.
Incident Response and Crisis Management:
- Act as the first responder to emergencies, including medical incidents, fire alarms, and disturbances.
- Provide immediate assistance, such as first aid or CPR, and coordinate with external emergency services (police, fire, EMS) as necessary.
- Manage crowd control during events or emergencies to ensure safety and order.
Community Engagement:
- Develop positive relationships with students, faculty, and staff, emphasizing collaboration and mutual respect.
- Assist in de-escalating tense situations, applying conflict resolution techniques while enforcing campus policies.
- Participate in community-building initiatives, such as safety workshops or events, to foster trust and awareness.
Reporting and Documentation:
- Document significant incidents in writing, including gathering witness statements, and assessing property damage.
- Prepare accurate reports detailing incidents, actions taken, and recommendations for follow-up.
- Attend disciplinary hearings or meetings to provide factual accounts of incidents as needed.
Traffic and Parking Enforcement:
- Monitor and enforce campus traffic regulations, ensuring safe vehicle and pedestrian flow.
- Issue parking citations or warnings for violations, and assist with traffic control during peak times or special events.
Communication and Coordination:
- Serve as the primary contact for all incoming calls, including routine inquiries, service requests, and emergencies.
- Determine the nature and urgency of calls, dispatch Campus Safety Officers accordingly, and provide detailed information for efficient response.
- Maintain real-time communication with officers in the field, relaying updates, instructions, and support as needed.
- Notify on-call administrators of any significant events in accordance with protocols.
Administrative Support and Record Keeping:
- Maintain accurate and detailed dispatcher logs, recording incidents, calls, and officer actions.
- Oversee key inventory management, ensuring proper sign-out and return protocols for campus facilities and vehicles.
- Assist with data collection and reporting for departmental use, including statistics required for federal compliance (e.g., Clery Act).
Visitor and Guest Services:
- Greet visitors and provide information about campus facilities, events, and policies.
- Address inquiries from students, faculty, and the public, offering clear and courteous assistance.
- Manage lost and found items, ensuring accurate records and prompt return of belongings.
Emergency Support:
- Monitor campus security systems, including alarms, and notify officers of any concerns.
- Provide critical information to emergency responders during incidents, ensuring swift and effective action.
Transportation Services:
- Safely operate a 15-passenger van or other College vehicles, transporting students and staff between designated stops on campus and nearby locations.
- Adhere to established routes and schedules, accommodating passenger requests within policy guidelines.
Passenger Assistance and Customer Service:
- Provide a safe, welcoming, and professional transportation experience..
- Respond to passenger inquiries, offering information about campus and local destinations.
Vehicle Maintenance and Reporting:
- Conduct pre- and post-shift vehicle inspections, ensuring vehicles are clean, fueled, and in proper working condition.
- Report any maintenance or safety concerns promptly to the Assistant Director of Campus Safety.
Safety and Compliance:
- Follow all traffic laws and campus driving regulations, prioritizing passenger safety at all times.
- Communicate with the dispatcher during shifts, reporting pick-ups, drop-offs, and any incidents encountered.
Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
- Experience in campus safety, customer service, or transportation services preferred. Preference for candidates who possess demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed practices, counseling, crisis intervention and/or mental health support services.
- Candidates must be comfortable with and/or have experience working with students (or other populations) from diverse ethnic/racial backgrounds. Able to recognize, acknowledge, respect and effectively interact with people of different ages and cultures - and individuals at all levels of the organization; able to establish positive relationships; gain trust and respect of others. Must have patience and empathy.
- Strong communication, listening, problem-solving, and crisis management skills.
- Experience in recognizing emergency/high-stress situations and effectively de-escalating/resolving highly desired. Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills are required. Must be able to remain calm during stressful situations. Ability to treat sensitive/confidential information with discretion and tact.
- Must possess a collaborative and collegial style with the ability to maintain balance, consistency and flexibility in decision-making. Must be effective and work well in a collaborative environment.
- Demonstrated ability to accept sensitive information and to facilitate initial handling/processing while maintaining confidentiality. Able to interact, communicate and build/maintain effective working relationships with individuals at all levels of the organization as well as guests/visitors and the general public.
- Highly proficient in use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word and Excel required), Gmail/Google docs and calendars, and Internet research. Able to learn new programs (i.e. SchoolDude, Report Exec) as needed.
- Must have demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate and facilitate work independently in an organized manner and with limited supervision. Work requires continual attention to detail, ability to use good judgment in decision-making and must be able to manage effectively under stress. Must be flexible to changing priorities, able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple, competing tasks and demands.
- Valid driver’s license with a clean record required; defensive driving certification required for Van Driver duties (College will provide training). Professional driving experience preferred. Knowledge of local and regional roads preferred.
- Current certifications in First Aid and CPR/AED preferred. (College will provide training).
- Successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.
The College
Bennington College is a laboratory for innovation in higher education. At Bennington, learning and making—on campus and in the field—are inseparable, and its graduates are noted for their outsized impact on the world’s stage. This campus celebrates the ongoing making of work—shared on walls, in shows and performances, in lectures and readings, and in conversations—and believes that equity, diversity, and inclusivity are vital to a collaborative community. This position captures, contributes to, and reflects the ethos of this creative community.
Nestled at the foot of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the campus consists of approximately 370 acres. The College was named one of ten with the best architecture by Architectural Digest. From campus, it is a short drive to the cultural offerings of the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and many of Vermont’s top recreational centers. New York City, Boston, and Burlington, Vermont are all within three and a half hours by car.
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