Director of Safety and Security for Oak Hill School and First Presbyterian Church of Nashville

Title: Director of Safety and Security for Oak Hill School and First Presbyterian Church of Nashville

Status: Full Time

Reports to: Head of Oak Hill School

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Start Date: July 1, 2026

About Oak Hill:

Oak Hill School (www.oakhillschool.org) is a preK-6th coeducational, non-denominational independent school in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1961, Oak Hill School provides a strong, child-centered academic program in a nurturing, Christian environment. Oak Hill School is committed to the intellectual, social, and spiritual growth of each of its 560 students.

Mission: It is the Oak Hill School mission to build character and integrity in a Christian environment for a lifetime of learning and service. This staff member will join a nurturing, Christian community committed to the School’s mission and vision for building a diverse and inclusive environment where all children learn, grow, and thrive.

Summary:

The Oak Hill School seeks a Director of Safety and Security to oversee the development, implementation, and management of safety, security, and emergency preparedness for Oak Hill School and First Presbyterian Church of Nashville (https://fpcnashville.org/).

Responsibilities:

Job-Related Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the strategic development, implementation, and management of comprehensive safety, security, and emergency preparedness programs to ensure a safe learning and working environment for all staff, students, members, and visitors

• Serve as the senior campus safety executive with operational authority during emergencies

• Serve as the primary liaison between the school/church and local law enforcement, fire protection agencies, emergency management services, and public health entities

• Serve as the liaison to insurance carriers and oversee enterprise-wide risk assessment, security technology systems, volunteer safety teams, and capital security planning

• Lead the Behavioral Threat Assessment framework, oversee data systems for safety monitoring, and collaborate with school/church leadership, student services, technology, and facilities to proactively mitigate risks and integrate safety systems.

Specific Job-Related Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and regularly review emergency operations plans, Behavioral Threat Assessment protocols, and school/church-level crisis response procedures.

• Serve as the lead in responding to critical incidents, threats, or emergencies and ensure the safety of all constituents on the campus.

• Lead the implementation and consistent usage of emergency procedures across all school/church sites.

• Supervise all security personnel, contracted guards, off-duty officers, and volunteer safety teams.

• Provide quarterly safety reports to school and church leadership, their security committees, if any, and their governing boards.

• Initiate emergency protocols, including lockdowns, evacuations, and campus closures when necessary for life safety.

• Lead the development, training, and oversight of school/church Threat Assessment Team, ensuring alignment with Tennessee law and leading practices.

• Establish and maintain systems for tracking safety incidents, drills, compliance reporting, and threat assessments; provide regular updates to school/church leadership, boards, and stakeholders.

• Conduct weekly, monthly, seasonal, and annual facility security audits and make recommendations to mitigate potential risks.

• Participate in facility planning processes to review and advise on safety features, secure design elements, and site hardening measures, applying (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design ) CPTED principles.

• Ensure all relevant stakeholders are trained in emergency procedures.

• Coordinate and/or initiate regular emergency drills in collaboration with school/church leaders and first responders.

• Deliver training and professional development for staff on de-escalation, emergency response, and Behavioral Threat Assessment.

• Oversee incident documentation, conduct investigations as needed, and collaborate with local law enforcement and emergency responders.

• Collaborate with the Technology Department to ensure alignment between physical security systems and cybersecurity protocols.

• Lead parent and community engagement efforts related to safety and security, including public forums, educational sessions, and crisis communications.

• Collaborate with student services and counseling teams to integrate safety programs with mental health supports, restorative practices, and behavioral interventions.

• Oversee campus residence reviews and communicate enforcement actions

• Coordinate security staff coverage for special events, including but not limited to Sunday worship services, school day security, overnight security, and special events

• Develop and oversee volunteer safety and usher security teams, including background checks and training

• Maintain a centralized incident reporting and documentation system with a record-keeping system

• Work with insurance carriers for loss control reviews and claims mitigation strategies

• Develop and present quarterly safety reports and annual security improvement plans to leadership and boards

• Oversee access control systems, visitor management systems, video surveillance, panic alert systems, and radio/emergency systems

• Coordinate with the school and church finance departments to develop an annual security budget and recommend capital expenditures for improvement

• Promote a campus-wide “See Something Say Something” policy and provide ongoing staff and volunteer training in de-escalation and violence prevention

Professional Responsibilities:

• Communicate clearly, promptly, and professionally

• Be available to respond to emergencies outside of regular working hours.

• Periodic involvement in Professional Development opportunities (e.g., conferences, webinars).

• Be a positive advocate of the school and church, both internally and externally

• Maintain 100% compliance with mandated emergency drills and reporting requirements.

• Complete annual vulnerability assessment with documented mitigation plan.

• Quarterly board-level reporting.

• Demonstrate year-over-year reduction in preventable safety incidents.

• Report timely and defensible documentation of all safety incidents and threat assessments.

Skills & Characteristics:

Skills and Characteristics:

• A commitment to support the mission and vision of the school and be a part of building a diverse community that reflects God’s love as expressed in the Christian tradition.

• An ability to work collaboratively with a positive spirit and sense of humor

• A growth mindset as demonstrated by a willingness to take feedback, be reflective, and adapt as needed

• Excellent communication, organizational and time management skills

• An ability to maintain integrity and confidentiality of sensitive student/school information

Physical Demands:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. A request for reasonable accommodations must be submitted to the HR department.

The physical demands of this position include the ability to conduct facility inspections and participate in drills and training exercises, lifting or carrying up to 10 pounds often, up to 25 pounds regularly, and up to 50 pounds rarely; crawling rarely; climbing/balancing and kneeling intermittently; pushing/pulling and crouching regularly; reaching, sitting, walking, standing, bending, and stooping often. To perform this job, the person must be able to talk, hear, stand, sit, and/or walk for extended periods of time; and must possess normal manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. The position may require working in various environmental conditions, including hot, cold, or outdoor settings.

Nothing in this job description restricts the School’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This description reflects the School’s assignment of essential functions. It does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Educational Background and Work Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Safety, or Education Administration preferred

• 7–10 years of responsible experience in campus security, public safety leadership, law enforcement, or enterprise security management.

• Law enforcement and school-related experience, such as an SRO, or in a similar educational setting preferred

• Certification in NASRO Basic SRO course is required in the first 6 months; Advanced or Supervisor-level NASRO training is preferred.

• Relevant applicable Tennessee certifications.

• National Incident Management System (NIMS) ICS-100 certified preferred or required in the first 6 months

• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.

• Working knowledge of FERPA, FOIA, and applicable school safety legislation and compliance requirements.

• CPTED certification or willingness to obtain within the first year

• Valid Tennessee driver's license.

• Trained and experienced in the preferred method of Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM)

• Willingness to consider obtaining PSP or CPP credentials through ASIS International.

• FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications preferred or required within the first year