Chief Safety and Security Officer

Description:

The Chief Safety and Security Officer serves as the University of Toronto’s senior executive responsible for the strategic leadership, direction, and oversight of safety and security across the tri-campus, under the administrative direction of the Vice-President, Legal, Risk and Safety and Chief Legal Officer. The incumbent leads the University’s safety and security operations, including law enforcement, crime prevention, community safety, emergency preparedness and response, security technology, and related public safety programs and services.

The Chief Safety and Security Officer provides strategic advice and subject-matter expertise to University leadership on public safety, security, emergency management, institutional risk, and emerging threats. The incumbent leads the development and implementation of institutional strategy, policies, programs, operational standards, budgets, and performance objectives, and provides executive leadership during critical incidents and major emergencies across all three campuses.

The incumbent builds and sustains effective partnerships with students, faculty, staff, University leadership, law enforcement and emergency services, government and community agencies, neighbours, and other partners. Through these relationships and the leadership of Safety and Security personnel, the Chief Safety and Security Officer advances a safe, secure, inclusive, responsive, and prepared University environment while supporting the University’s academic mission and institutional priorities.

The responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for all tri-Campus safety and security functions, including patrol and law enforcement services, criminal investigations, community safety and crime prevention, internal affairs, traffic and parking enforcement, communications, property and evidence management, security technology, and related support services.
• Develops and oversees the implementation of strategic, financial, and operational plans across the University that address current and emerging safety and security needs, risks, and priorities.
• Provides executive oversight of personal safety and high-risk case management, including cases involving threats, harassment, sexual assault, violence, complex mental health concerns, and other serious safety risks.
• Provides direct advice to all levels of University leadership, up to and including the President, on public safety, security, emergency management, institutional risk, and related programs and priorities.
• Provides authoritative interpretation and application of relevant legislation, regulations, codes, policies, and standards to support institutional compliance and effective public safety operations.
• Leads University emergency preparedness and response, including emergency planning, training and exercises, incident command coordination, critical incident response, and integration with business continuity planning.
• Leads public safety planning and operational readiness for major campus events, dignitary visits, protests and demonstrations, athletic and cultural events, and other high-attendance or high-risk activities.
• Develops preventive, intelligence-led, and data-informed strategies to reduce crime, identify emerging threats, mitigate risk, and strengthen campus safety.
• Monitors emerging public safety issues, legislative and regulatory developments, technologies, and leading practices; assesses their potential impact on the University and implements appropriate policy, procedural, and operational improvements.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with University leadership, departments and committees, law enforcement, emergency services, mental health and social service agencies, community organizations, and municipal, provincial, and federal partners to advance University safety priorities.
• Oversees financial administration and management of the unit including financial planning and forecasting, analysis, purchasing, accounting, reporting and internal audit implementation to ensure that financial integrity is maintained.
• Full managerial authority over the staff in the work unit/department.  Joint reporting relationship with UTM and UTSC Campus Safety leadership.
• Plans strategically for and defines the organizational structure of the unit/department, including the kinds of equipment used, the methods and techniques of work, the work assignments, duties and responsibilities of positions, and the classifications and qualifications of positions, as well as other management rights contained in appropriate collective agreements.

Essential Qualifications:

I. Education 

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, emergency management, criminology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Additional training in the field of law enforcement.

II. Experience

• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible law enforcement or public safety experience, including significant command-level or senior leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience in campus safety, law enforcement and/or public safety within a higher education institution or similarly complex organization.
• Extensive experience leading patrol operations, criminal investigations, community policing, crime prevention, special event and demonstration planning, and emergency management.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing personnel, including recruitment, hiring, training, mentoring, performance management, succession development, and employee supervision.
• Proven experience developing and implementing strategic objectives, policies, procedures, operational standards, internal controls, and public safety programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, resources, and program performance, including budget development, financial administration, and performance evaluation.
• Proven ability to establish effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, community organizations, University leadership, faculty, staff, students, and the public.
• Comprehensive knowledge of contemporary law enforcement and public safety practices, supported by relevant training in community policing, procedural justice, and related policing practices. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of emergency preparedness and emergency management principles, including disaster response, active assailant response, terrorism response, crisis management, and operational continuity.
• Strong knowledge of crime prevention best practices, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), security systems, alarm and camera technology, and other contemporary security technologies.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable federal, provincial, and municipal legislation and regulations affecting law enforcement, public safety, and higher education, including the Community Safety and Policing Act, Criminal Code of Canada, Ontario Human Rights Code, applicable privacy legislation, and relevant case law.
• Thorough knowledge of legal principles governing apprehension, arrest, search and seizure, rules of evidence, use of force, and individual rights.
• Knowledge of administrative regulations, personnel policies and procedures, memoranda of agreement, reporting requirements, and other governance frameworks relevant to public safety operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, law enforcement reporting systems, administrative software, security systems, alarm and camera technology, and other relevant technologies.

III. Skills

• Strong organizational leadership, strategic planning, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to community policing, procedural justice, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive public safety practices.
• Proven ability to lead effectively during emergencies, critical incidents, and other complex or high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, professionalism, integrity, and independent decision-making.
• Ability to analyze complex operational, technical, and administrative public safety issues, evaluate alternatives, assess risk, and determine effective courses of action.
• Ability to plan, organize, administer, and coordinate comprehensive Safety and Security services and programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain productive, collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholder groups and organizational levels.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and timely reports, correspondence, policies, briefing materials, and other professional documents.
• Strong oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with University leadership, employees, students, community organizations, law enforcement partners, and the public.
• Ability to set clear goals and expectations, delegate effectively, hold teams accountable, and support the professional development of staff.

IV. Other

• Must meet the Toronto Police Service and Peel Regional Police Service requirements for appointment as Chief Special Constable.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required defensive tactics and weapons qualifications.
• Must possess a valid Ontario driver’s license.
• Ability to successfully complete all required background, psychological, physical, and drug screening processes.

Please note: 

• This is an on-site role.  
• In this role, the incumbent is required to be on call at all times when required to act as leader of the Emergency Response Team.
• Regular calls regarding events occurring outside of general office hours.

Closing Date: 10/01/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Personnel Subarea: PM
Appointment Type : Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  PM 10 -- Hiring Zone: $215,260 - $251,137 -- Broadband Salary Range: $215,260 - $358,767 (Open)
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial