Security Operations Specialist

Security Operations Specialist

Employment Group ADMIN Position Number 01088 Division VP Administration and Finance Department Facilities Management and Development Campus Nanaimo campus *Successful candidates must be able to attend in person on campus as required Location Nanaimo, British Columbia Country Canada Appointment Type regular full-time FTE 1.00 Workload 35 hours per week. Working hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 6:30 pm - 2:30 am Pay Level Excluded Pay Band 7: Minimum salary is $84,119 and maximum salary is $95,590 Starting Salary Normal salary placement at the time of hire is $84,119 (prorated if part-time). This position is eligible for annual performance-based salary increases Start: As soon as possible Applicant Documents CV/Resume, Cover Letter, Qualifications , Name and contact information of recent supervisors willing to provide a reference Posted Date 30-Oct-2025 Closing Date 05-Nov-2025 Job Reference 2818

Duties:

Vancouver Island University (VIU) Campus Security is responsible for providing a safe, secure, and welcoming learning and teaching environment to enhance the safety and well-being of students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

Reporting to the Manager, Security Operations, the onsite Security Operations Specialist has a primary focus on coordinating contracted security personnel (approximately 18+ contracted employees) and maintaining a safe and supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff. This role involves close collaboration with Student Residences, ensuring that student accommodations are supported at all times.

This position ensures that operational targets are met, security services are being delivered courteously and professionally, and that customer service standards are upheld. In addition to primary responder for personal safety and property security incidents, the Security Specialist supports fact-finding processes related to student and staff conduct concerns, making recommendations to the Manager, Security Operations for appropriate actions. Provides primary response to issues of public safety, personal, and physical security.

Key Duties:

• Establishes trust and cultivates a positive presence on campus, becoming an on-site subject matter expert (SME) on security-related issues.
• Collaborates with the Manager, Security Services and Manager, Security Operations, faculty, staff, and students to develop, implement, and maintain effective and responsive security services, aligned with VIU’s mission and goals.
• Primary contact for ensuring shift coverage/scheduling for incoming security services, access control and contracted security staff on their duties and responsibilities, including all new activities and patrol related situations (e.g., criminal activity, planned events, etc.)
• Serves as the main liaison between VIU and contracted security firms on a daily basis to ensure compliance with the service agreements, policies, and expectations.
• Make accommodations that include physically supporting the site should a guard position be vacant.
• Monitors guard performance, conduct spot checks, and coordinate ongoing training or onboarding as needed.
• Assists in the strategy development for reducing crime and enhancing public safety, including community safety, educational programs, and preventative measures.
• Supports investigations and assessments of security incidents, hostile situations, and other sensitive matters.
• Assists in investigations and evidentiary reports for internal and external stakeholders, law enforcement, and crown prosecutors in internal hearings and legal proceedings.
• Supervises contracted security personnel and reports incidents and activities, including weekend shifts when required.
• Provides services in a polite, friendly, and respectful manner, sincerely caring for the welfare of the community and respecting differing viewpoints.
• Provides advice, consultation, information, and training to faculty, staff, and students concerning public safety and security matters.
• Assists with the university’s emergency management program by training staff, conducting drills, and revising plans.
• Liaises with departments and resources to promote strong working relationships and coordinate responses to security and first aid issues.
• Interprets and applies legislation, community policing concepts, and university policies when responding to complaints.
• Supervises on-site security-related contractors and actions items requiring follow-up on behalf of VIU.
• Patrols campus, buildings, and grounds to ensure compliance with university policies.
• Monitors and maintains records management for security reports, ensuring quality assurance and confidentiality.
• This position is required to participate in an on-call rotation for emergencies. Calls/emails may come from Student Residences, RCMP, Security, Senior Executives, or the alarm monitoring company.
• Assist in coordinating special events that involve employees, students and community events. Many events require building access, security, etc.
• Assists with CCTV maintenance and review as well as access control review requests relating to investigations and community safety.
• Operates campus security platforms, including intrusion alarm systems, CCTV, and access control.
• Provides technical assistance by troubleshooting problems, proposing solutions, and coordinating with vendors for service and maintenance of campus security systems.
• Prepares reports and maintains records, statistics, and graphical systems.
• Represents the University and Department on various internal and external committees as required.
• Conducts Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments on university facilities.
• Participates with Campus Security management in the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures.
• Acts as primary security contact for Student Housing Community, and future Community Safety/Safety Liaison growth.
• Participates with Student Housing social media strategies on behalf of Security Services, in conjunction with Manager, Security Operations and Director of Security Services. Responds to incoming messages for security-related content.
• Participates in workplace committees and ensures Campus Security staff follow Health and Safety policies.
• Design/deliver and/or participate in regular scheduled training opportunities for contracted security officers, student housing staff, welcome programming for new housing residents,
• Collaborate with Student Housing staff, Student Services, and Facilities teams to assess and address security/safety risks.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Assists Health & Safety and ensures quality training for contracted guards when needed (i.e., first-aid, etc.)

Required Qualifications:

Diploma in a relevant field, such as criminology, justice, Mental Health and Wellness, Law and Security Administration. Minimum 10 years’ experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered; Security Supervisory experience is essential.

• Must hold, or obtain within 6 months of employment, Province of British Columbia Security Worker License with Security Guard Endorsement.
• 10 years’ security supervisory/leadership experience in conducting investigations, gathering and documenting evidence and enforcing policies/procedures/statutes.
• Recent experience training in personal safety or other security-related programs.
• Recent experience conducting assessments, (ie. CPTED).
• Must be able to deal with complaints and cases involving safety and security concerns maintaining confidentiality throughout all investigations.
• Strong understanding of student housing security and the unique safety needs of post-secondary student populations.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have excellent interpersonal, conflict resolution, team building and problem-solving skills.
• Must have excellent investigative and reporting skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of personal safety and security issues, regulations, and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to respond to complaints involving safety and security concerns appropriately and successfully.
• Demonstrated knowledge of security case management and emergency management.
• Ability to gain trust, develop and maintain collaborative relationships with sensitivity and respect.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills including the ability to negotiate and influence others.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in resolving complex or sensitive issues.
• Ability to work independently and make well-reasoned decisions as well as adapt and respond to emerging needs.
• Thorough understanding of the Criminal Code of Canada, Federal and Provincial Statutes.
• Strong competence with Microsoft Office applications.
• Willingness to work a shift pattern that includes nights and weekends on a rotational basis.
• Participates in on-call rotation with Campus Security Director and Manager. Future 24/7 on-site coverage with Security team,
• Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, professional, and effective manner.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with and/or knowledge of post-secondary environments and communities is preferred.
• Minimum 10 years related experience working with site security platforms, such as access control, CCTV and intrusion alarms systems.
• Occupational Intermediate First Aid, formerly OFA Level 2.

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

Note:

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.