Security Officer Armed

Location Site: Salem Health, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Security
Position Type: Full Time, 40 hours, Non-Exempt
Schedule: Three 12-hour days or Four 9-hour days, start times and working days will be determined based on business needs

Your role with us:
Are you committed to maintaining safety and security while upholding excellence? We are seeking a dedicated armed security officer to help protect our staff, patients, and visitors. This role involves ensuring a safe and secure environment through vigilant monitoring, emergency response and proactive security measures. If you have strong situational awareness, excellent judgment, and a commitment to public safety, we invite you to join our team.

What you’ll do:

• Respond to high-priority situations, including security threats, utilizing effective prevention and intervention methods.
• Act as a first responder during emergency situations, maintaining a calm and organized approach to resolution.
• Support and manage safety protocols during critical incidents to ensure the well-being of staff, patients and visitors.
• Participate in investigations and provide expert guidance for complex incidents.
• Ensure consistent, safe, and secure facilities and grounds through effective surveillance, patrol, and preventive methods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Requires routine communications with hospital personnel, patients, visitors, physicians and outside law enforcement personnel.
• Strong decision-making ability under pressure, composure in crisis situations, high level of integrity, unwavering commitment to upholding the law, strong sense of responsibility, attention to detail, ability to remain calm under duress, good judgment and the willingness to act decisively when necessary; all while adhering to ethical principles and prioritizing the safety of others.
• The ability to manage stress and anxiety in high-pressure situations, remaining calm and collected when facing threats or emergencies.
• Keen observation skills to identify potential risks and threats within the environment.
• Analyze situations quickly and make sound judgments based on available information.
• Dedication to protecting the assigned property and people, following established security protocols.
• Maintain a level of physical ability to meet the requirements of this position, perform required tasks like patrolling, quickly and timely responding to incidents, potentially engaging in physical confrontations, and ability to use appropriate level of force when required by the circumstances and as consistent with applicable law.

Required qualifications:

• Minimum of one year of experience in security, law enforcement or military, with hospital security experience is preferred.
• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Successfully pass the Oregon Physical Abilities Test (ORPAT) with a score of up to 6 minutes and 30 seconds.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license a minimum of two years.

Additional information

• DPSST armed security certification within 30 days of hire.
• Successfully complete the firearm qualification course within 30 days of hire.
• Basic life support (BLS) obtained within 3 months of hire.
• Successfully complete violence prevention and de-escalation course within 6 months of hire.
• Conductive energy weapon (CEW) certification within 6 months of hire.
• NIMS HICS 100, 200, and 700 online certificates obtained within one year of hire.

To ensure we select the most qualified individuals, we have established a rigorous, multi-step hiring process that emphasizes professionalism, integrity and fitness for duty, designed to identify top-tier professionals for this critical role.

Armed Campus Security Officer Hiring Process:
The hiring process for Salem Health’s armed campus security officers is a comprehensive and competitive process. You must successfully complete all steps to be considered for employment.

Step 1: Application
Start by submitting your application online through Salem Health’s career portal. Be sure to provide complete and accurate information that highlights your qualifications.

Step 2: Initial Candidate Review
Our team will review your application to learn more about your background and experience. This step helps us understand how your skills align with the role.

Step 3: Initial Interview
If your application moves forward, you’ll participate in a phone or virtual interview with our hiring team.

Step 4: Physical Fitness Test
If your application moves forward, you’ll complete the Oregon Physical Abilities Test (ORPAT). Salem Health contracts with the National Testing Network (NTN) to offer this test, which is designed to evaluate candidates on the essential physical capacities required to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position. You will be responsible for registering and paying for ORPAT. If you are successful with ORPAT, are offered an armed security position and begin work at Salem Health, you may submit a receipt for the price of the test for reimbursement. Salem Health will reimburse only one test fee per hired candidate. Please plan to register for and take the test at the soonest available date. Salem Health will accept results for up to 6 minutes and 30 seconds.
If you have already successfully completed ORPAT, Salem Health will accept results from tests completed within six months preceding the date of your application.
Click here to learn more about the Physical Fitness Test

Step 5: In-Person Interview
Upon successful completion of the Physical Fitness Test, you will be invited to an in-person interview with the hiring team.

Step 6: Conditional Offer of Employment
If you successfully complete the previous steps, you’ll receive a conditional offer of employment. This offer is contingent on successfully clearing the following evaluations and checks.

Step 7: Reference and Background Checks
Professional References: We’ll ask you to provide references, which will be contacted.
Background Check: A thorough background check will be conducted.

Step 8: Psychological Evaluation
If you successfully clear Step 7, you’ll complete a psychological evaluation. Salem Health contracts with a 3 rd party vendor to assess suitability for public safety work.

Step 9: Drug & Alcohol Screen
If you successfully clear Step 8, you’ll complete a drug and alcohol screen as part of our pre-boarding process.

Total rewards package

Salem Health's comprehensive benefits package prioritizes your mental and physical health, financial stability, family obligations and professional growth. Click here for details.

Why Salem Health?

Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.

We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org.