Lead Public Safety Officer

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you're making a difference in people's lives.

Beth Israel Lahey Health and New England Baptist Hospital are devoted to consistently promoting a culture of Wellbeing, Empathy, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Equity as outlined in our organization's WE CARE values which can be reviewed here Our Values.

The Public Safety Lead provides day-to-day operational leadership and direction to Public Safety Officers while maintaining a safe and secure environment throughout the hospital. The Lead serves as a working leader who responds to incidents, coordinates security resources, supports staff performance, and serves as a primary point of contact between frontline security personnel and Security Supervisors. This position is expected to demonstrate advanced knowledge of hospital security operations, emergency response, de-escalation, customer service, and hospital policies. The Lead provides guidance and mentorship to Public Safety Officers and helps ensure consistent execution of departmental standards and procedures.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to):

• Provide daily operational direction and guidance to Public Safety Officers assigned to the shift.
• Serve as the lead security resource during incidents, emergencies, and high-risk situations.
• Assign officers to posts, patrol areas, special assignments, escorts, and other operational activities as directed.
• Monitor staffing and post coverage and communicate staffing concerns to the Public Safety Supervisor.
• Conduct regular rounds to assess security coverage, officer performance, and hospital security conditions.
• Respond to security incidents, workplace violence, disruptive behavior, patient/visitor disturbances, alarms, and emergency situations.
• Coordinate security response during significant incidents until relieved by a Public Safety Supervisor or other designated leader.
• Assist with the management of behavioral health, high-risk, and potentially combative patient situations.
• Provide coaching and real-time guidance to Public Safety Officers regarding appropriate response and hospital procedures.
• Assist with training and onboarding of new Public Safety Officers.
• Reinforce departmental policies, procedures, standards of conduct, appearance, customer service, and performance expectations.
• Monitor access control, CCTV, alarm systems, emergency communication systems, and other security technology.
• Conduct and document security inspections and identify potential vulnerabilities.
• Ensure required security rounds, checks, and documentation are completed accurately.
• Review incident reports for completeness and accuracy and provide feedback or corrections when necessary.
• Escalate significant incidents, policy violations, staffing concerns, equipment issues, and safety risks to the Public Safety Supervisor.
• Assist with investigations and collection/preservation of information related to security incidents.
• Coordinate with nursing, clinical departments, Facilities, Emergency Management, Human Resources, Risk Management, and other hospital departments as appropriate.
• Assist law enforcement and emergency responders when they respond to hospital incidents.
• Support emergency preparedness activities, drills, evacuations, lockdowns, disaster response, and other emergency procedures.
• Assist with special events, VIP visits, high-risk patient situations, and other security-sensitive activities.
• Monitor officer adherence to required equipment, uniform, identification, and post requirements.
• Provide guidance regarding traffic control, parking, access control, visitor management, and other security functions.
• Promote a professional, service-oriented security culture.
• Address minor performance or operational concerns in accordance with departmental procedures and elevate issues requiring supervisory intervention.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient, employee, and hospital information.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of security, healthcare security, public safety, military, or law enforcement experience preferred.
• Prior hospital security experience strongly preferred.
• Previous lead, senior officer, field training officer, or equivalent leadership experience preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of hospital security operations and workplace violence prevention principles.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, mentor, and motivate frontline employees.
• Ability to remain calm and exercise sound judgment during emergencies and high-risk situations.
• Strong conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple competing demands in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
• Proficiency with computers, security systems, access control, CCTV and other technology preferred.
• A current, valid driver's license is