This position will start July 1, 2024

Bennington College invites applications for an Associate Director of Campus Safety and Transportation.  The Associate Director is responsible for helping to create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive living, learning and working environment while serving as a supportive resource for community members in need of services. Grounded in a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, the Associate Director is responsible for positively impacting campus through building community and relationships, promoting accountability, and maintaining the safety and security of College properties, facilities, students, staff, faculty, and visitors. The position reports to and works in partnership with the Director of Campus Safety in all facets of the work and acts as one of the Director's designees, when needed. 

The Associate Director is primarily responsible for oversight/management of student transportation and management of associated staff drivers and serves as the College’s Fleet Coordinator, managing the safe and efficient functioning of College transportation vehicles.  Additionally, this position is responsible for assisting with the day-to-day operations of the entire Campus Safety team on designated shifts.

The Associate Director works with various academic and administrative areas of campus to create a community of care and to promote safety and wellbeing. Bennington's Campus Safety approach is one of harm and risk-reduction, and is focused on finding the learning moments possible in any given interaction and honoring student growth and development. This approach is applied to all aspects of student engagement including all policy enforcement and general service requests. 

The administrative work schedule is Thursday through Monday and a minimum of 3 nights a week with on-call duties to ensure layered and regular support for the Campus Safety team and the broader campus community. Occasional support for 2nd and 3rd shift required.

The position works with students, faculty, staff, and all College departments. External relationships include, but are not limited to Bennington Rescue Squad; Vermont State Police; Bennington Police; N. Bennington Fire Department; Bennington Fire Dept; Green Mountain Community Network (GMX) Fire Marshals; Liquor Inspectors and other agencies, transportation network, as well as guests/visitors and the public.

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 accomplishment to apply.

Responsibilities

1. Work with the Director and Assistant Director to support the mission and goals of the Campus Safety Department. Uses appropriate judgment to promote a philosophy of care and safety. 

2. Assist with managing the daily operations of the Campus Safety Department with particular attention to Transportation Services and Transportation Infrastructure. Provide supervision to all Campus Safety team members during shifts. 

3. In absence of the Director (or when instructed), assume the responsibilities of the Director of Campus Safety.

4. Create and monitor weekly Transportation schedules and ensure the Campus Safety Department is appropriately staffed 24 hours a day seven days a week.

5. Manage the van reservation program and the College's approved driver list. Become familiar with reservation requests, update van reservation log, assign driver coverage and communicate status of reservation to requestor. Prepare reserved vehicles for checkout and complete inspection upon return.

6. Ensure proper care of vehicles and equipment including taking reports of deficiencies, maintaining a Vehicle Maintenance Log, executing repair orders, and retaining appropriate documentation. Ensuring that all motorized vehicles in the Campus Safety fleet, ranging from golf cars, cars, to passenger vans, are in safe working order. 

7. Maintain preventative and regular maintenance records for all of the Campus Safety fleet vehicles, schedule preventative maintenance like oil changes, tire rotation, and brake jobs in collaboration with the Director of Campus Safety, and schedule all maintenance on Campus Safety vehicles. 

8. Coordinate the rental of vehicles to supplement the Campus Safety fleet when needed from area auto rental agencies.

9. Work in collaboration with Buildings and Grounds to place current registration stickers on the Campus Safety fleet vehicles and maintain the proper registration and insurance information in the glove boxes of each vehicle. 

10. Coordinate annual inspections of the Campus Safety fleet vehicles, securing the appropriate inspection sticker. 

11. Collaborate with drivers to ensure each vehicle has a filled first aid kit, fire extinguisher, snow/ice removal equipment and window washer fluid. Investigate and follow up on any concerns drivers bring forward regarding the repair of any vehicles.  

12. As directed, update and manage the StarRez daily log and shuttle driver logs

13. The Associate Director is responsible for directly supervising, mentoring and coaching a team of campus safety Drivers, guiding them in their work and overseeing their professional development and progress. Provide performance coaching and feedback to Drivers to ensure efficient and professional execution of job responsibilities.

14. Manage student, staff, and faculty parking on campus in accordance with College policies.

15. Act as First Responder during emergencies and serve as a liaison between the College and outside agencies such as law enforcement, fire, or EMS as necessary. 

16. Assist in conducting thorough investigations to gather all pertinent information. Write reports on accidents, incidents, suspicious activities, safety, and fire hazards/alarms and other safety and security related situations. File complete and accurate reports in a timely manner. Attend disciplinary hearings when requested.

17. Assume duties of Officer, Dispatcher, or Van Driver as needed to provide assistance to students, faculty, staff, and visitors/guests. Perform safety patrols in vehicles and on foot or by bicycle. Secure buildings and property.

18. Obtain and keep current all required certifications for all Campus Safety staff which include but not limited to CPR, Basic First Aid, AED, Vermont Medical First Responder.

19. Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree required. Experience in fields of campus safety, emergency management, or human services preferred.

2. Minimum of three years of related experience; preferably in a higher education setting.

3. Minimum of three years of supervisory experience (coaching, mentoring, developing talent).

4. Current/valid driver's license required. Ability to possess or be willing to train for CPR, Basic First Aid, AED, Vermont Medical First Responder. Must be willing to travel to attend training courses as assigned.

5. Proficient in Google applications, email applications required. Ability to adapt to and use changing technology.

6. Must be effective and work well in a collaborative environment. Excellent organizational skills and the ability to set priorities and multi-task in a fast-paced setting required.

7. Strong verbal and written communication skills required, including ability to negotiate and resolve conflict. Able to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization; able to establish positive relationships; gain trust and respect of others

8. Demonstrated experience and ability to work with a diverse student population and inclusive practices and demonstrated commitment to continued learning of issues, and practices of diversity and inclusion.

9. Superior interpersonal skills necessary to maintain good relations and open communication with a variety of constituents. 

10. Ability to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment.

11. Experience in recognizing emergency/high stress situations and effectively de-escalating/resolving. Must be able to remain professional and calm during stressful situations and be able to treat sensitive/confidential information with discretion and tact.

12. Must have a high attention to detail and be able to work independently with limited supervision.

13. Strong problem solving, critical and analytical thinking, good judgment with creative resolutions for positive outcomes.

14. Bennington College requires the successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.

The College

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on-site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.

Bennington College is a small residential liberal arts college in southern Vermont, long distinguished for its progressive approach to higher education. The College was founded in 1932 on the principle of active engagement in learning, which is manifest in individualized plans of study developed by students together with faculty. We serve a diverse student population, and our faculty and staff also reflect diverse backgrounds and identities.  Our aim is to educate students towards self-fulfillment and constructive social purposes, and we believe that equity, diversity, and inclusivity--in community and in curriculum--are vital to achieving those aims.

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.