Manager, Physical Security

Position Overview

The Office of Operations (OoO) is comprised of the Strategic School Operations, Food and Nutrition Services, School Security, and Facilities Planning and Design divisions. OoO is responsible for guiding the operations and functions for all 117 schools within the District. Our mission is to ensure DCPS Stakeholders – principals, teachers, students, and central services teams – have the operational systems, facilities, and support to be excellent.   

Divisions/Teams:  

• The Operations Strategy team manages major initiatives across all OoO teams and oversees the DCPS Operations Center, the central operations hub which receives, triages, dispatches, monitors, and analyzes both emergency and non-emergency issues related to all operations functions across all 117 DCPS Schools, central services office, warehouse, satellite sites, and related properties. The Operations Strategy team directly supports the Chief Operating Officer to ensure all schools and DCPS divisions are supported and to operationalize OoO’s mission and vision. The team manages office-wide initiatives including budget oversight, procurement support, fleet management, and strategic planning. 

• The Facilities Planning and Design division is comprised of two main teams: Modernizations and Small Capital Projects. The Manager supports the overall Facilities Planning and Design approach for both teams. 

• The School Security division provides direct, day-to-day school safety and security related support to all DCPS schools. This division is comprised of the Contract Security and Training, DCPS Special Police, and Physical Security teams. The mission of the School Security division is to ensure the safety and security of all DCPS students, staff, buildings, public spaces, and property. A safe school promotes a healthy learning environment – where teachers can teach, Principals can lead, and students can learn and enjoy a rich academic experience. 

• The Strategic School Operations (SSO) division provides direct, day-to-day support to all DCPS schools, students, and staff. The Division consists of the following areas of focus: day-to-day support from SSO specialists, School Strategy and Logistics program, Intra/Interagency Affairs, Emergency Preparedness and Guidance, and Warehouse logistics. The mission of the SSO division is to provide excellent customer service and operational support to school. The division has a 1:1 ratio of School Operations Specialists to each school cluster. SSO is prepared to support and liaise on behalf of schools to ensure they are equipped with and connected to appropriate operational resources. 

• The Warehouse and Logistics team within the Strategic School Operations division provides direct operational support to all DCPS schools. The Warehouse consists of the following areas of focus: emergency supplies and equipment, textbook replacements and closed school records, mail distribution, special event support, shipping and receiving, DCPS fleet management and copier management, emergency school moves and surplus office and student furniture. The mission of the Warehouse and Logistics department is to provide DC Public Schools with the logistical support necessary to achieve its academic mission. 

• The Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) division is recognized for its healthy and innovative school food. The Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) division is recognized for its healthy and innovative school food. The scope of the DCPS FNS’ operations extends beyond school meals to include nutrition-related activities such as school gardens and farm-to-school as well as environmental sustainability and stewardship initiatives for cafeteria operations. FNS is made up of three smaller teams: Finance, Strategy and Data, Nutrition, Compliance & Partnerships, and Food Service Operations. The mission of the DCPS FNS is: All DC Public Schools students are engaged and have access to wholesome and delicious meals that promote long-term wellness, preparation for learning, and satisfaction with their school. 

The School Security division provides direct, day-to-day school safety and security related support to all DCPS schools. This division is comprised of the Contract Security and Training, DCPS Special Police, and Physical Security teams. The mission of the School Security division is to ensure the safety and security of all DCPS students, staff, buildings, public spaces, and property. A safe school promotes a healthy learning environment – where teachers can teach, Principals can lead, and students can learn and enjoy a rich academic experience. 

The Manager, Physical Security will support DCPS’ overall mission to keep all school buildings safe and secure. The Manager will be responsible for maintaining equipment and assets throughout DCPS and will lead and track the progress of team-specific projects; equipment inventory, life cycle management, budget forecasting, and fiscal planning. In addition to monitoring various physical security contracts and maintaining vendor relationships, the Manager, Physical Security plays an integral part in the planning and design of new and modernized schools as it relates to security. With technology constantly changing, the Manager, Physical Security must stay up-to-date on all emerging technologies and the potential effectiveness of these advancements on the physical security of DCPS. The candidate will also play an integral role in working with school-based staff and security personnel, by training and sharing best practices for operating and maintaining equipment.

This position requires regular travel to DCPS schools and facilities to provide on-site physical security support. The incumbent will assess and evaluate physical security equipment and systems, identify operational or equipment-related concerns, and provide recommendations for improvements, repairs, upgrades, or replacement. The position will also evaluate the overall effectiveness of physical security operations at school sites and recommend strategies to strengthen security measures, improve system performance, and support safe and secure learning environments.

This position has been designated as Safety Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying safety sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Pre-employment drug and alcohol test; Traffic record check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

The Manager, Physical Security will report to the Director, School Security.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

•  Oversees the development, implementation, coordination, evaluation, and ongoing management of DCPS’ comprehensive physical security program, ensuring security strategies, systems, and operations effectively support the safety and security of schools and facilities.
• Works closely with School Leaders, Central Services colleagues, contractors, law enforcement officials, and representatives of District and Federal Agencies.
• Advises Principals and school-based security personnel on shared best practices and contributes to the continuance of a robust and comprehensive school safety and physical security program.
• Maintains current knowledge of emerging physical security technologies, school safety policies, industry trends, and research; and advises DCPS Senior Leadership on proposed legislation, policies, and directives that may impact physical security technology and operations.
• Conducts physical security surveys and risk assessments to inform next steps for the deployment of multi-layered security and surveillance systems.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of alarm systems (DMP and Focus 200 panels) and monitors connectivity to DCPS' monitoring system - Mastermind in the DCPS Police Command Center; issues alarm codes to local school administrators and contractors.
• Serves as the Contract Administrator for various maintenance contracts and will be responsible for assessing vendors' overall effectiveness and their ability to successfully meet district level expectations.
• Leads inventory and asset management activities and uses data to inform budget and life cycle management decisions for all physical security equipment in school buildings.
• Reviews and provides input on all design plans for new school modernizations and Capital improvement renovations by working closely with Architects, Project Managers, and the DCPS Facility Planning and Design team (areas of focus include CCTV, Alarms, Access Control Systems, Security Screens, and Physical Security Equipment).
• Works closely with vendors and District Government agencies to troubleshoot and repair Intrusion Detection (IDS) and Fire alarm (FA) systems, and other related physical security issues.
• Responsible for the management of all video surveillance (CCTV) requests from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Fire and Medical Emergency Services (FEMS), Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Office of General Counsel (OGC), Public Defenders Office, and any other requesting organization.
• Manages budget requests, purchase orders, and requisitions; tracks the spending down of all contracts and is responsible for contributing to the budget formulation process.
• Leads the research, vetting, assessment, and evaluation of prospective physical security vendors and solutions to ensure alignment with DCPS security needs and operational requirements.
• Conducts regular site visits to assess physical security equipment and operations, identify needs or vulnerabilities, and recommend improvements to enhance security effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and four to six years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating equitable improvements in security and safety that align with anti-racist principles.
• Experience supervising others.
• Ability to build trust and foster positive working relationships with diverse groups, including educators, students, stakeholders, emergency management personnel, legislative/policy staff, and community members.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of policy and procedures, management, change management, negotiation, and technology.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, for both internal and external audiences.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1962, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's permit to operate DC Government vehicles.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact [email protected].