Director, Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management

Department: University Life

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Starting high $90's and commensurate with education and experience.

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Dean of Students’ Office works to promote the engagement, well-being, and success of all Mason students and the Mason community.

About the Position:

The Director of Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management is responsible for the oversight of the university’s threat assessment and threat management responsibilities and activities.

The Director is responsible for leadership related to threat assessment and management regarding potential threats of and acts of violence on campus by members of the University community or by those not affiliated with the university. This position oversees the university’s Threat Assessment Team, including the assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior poses or may pose a threat to the safety of the community, and compliance with all laws and policies related to violence prevention and threat assessment.

The Director is responsible for initiating and fostering effective collaboration with both the Mason and local communities, as well as assisting with outreach, education, and training for the university community related to active threats/violence and general prevention efforts.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for leadership related to threat assessment and threat management regarding reports of and/or potential threats of and/or acts of violence by members of the University community or by those not affiliated with the university that could impact the university community;
• Serves as a co-chairperson of the University’s Threat Assessment Team and manages the daily operation of the program, including case management, consultation, and intervention with individuals who engage in behavior that poses or may pose a potential threat to the safety of the university community;
• Responsible for identifying, providing, and/or ensuring ongoing training to Threat Assessment Team members and their alternates;
• Oversees the management of sensitive information for the university’s Threat Assessment Team and ensure compliance with all laws and policies;
• Ensures the maintenance of records, produces reports, and organizes and disseminates Threat Assessment Team case management information, as needed. Provides guidance on the utilization of a case management process that gathers, analyzes, documents, and disseminates sensitive information;
• Responsible for initiating and fostering effective collaboration with both the Mason and local communities, as well as assisting with outreach, education, and training for the university community related to active threats/violence and general prevention efforts;
• Responsible for identifying threat assessment processes, engaging key stakeholders with effective program analysis, helping to develop faculty, staff, and student training, and helping to establish proactive policies and protocols. Helps to develop and conduct educational programs for the university community on topics related to threat assessment and management, crisis intervention, de-escalation of volatile situations, and reporting; 
• Serves on university committees and collaborate with key university partners, including the Violence Prevention Committee, the Care Team, and other committees/groups as needed;
• Provides professional expertise and leadership to university constituencies, as needed; and
• Develops strategic and operational plans for the Threat Assessment Team, manages execution, and assesses/measures results. Conducts programmatic evaluation and recommend policy and practice changes.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated experience managing violence related cases and high-risk cases;
• Demonstrated experience with utilizing threat assessment tools and formulating interventions to minimize risk of violence;
• Demonstrated experience with case management;
• Demonstrated experience in completing requests and projects from multiple people in a timely manner;
• Demonstrated experience engaging with, supporting, and interacting effectively with diverse populations;
• Demonstrated experience in developing comprehensive and multi-faceted communication, awareness, and education programs around topics of threat assessment and prevention;
• Working knowledge of threat assessment and threat management theory and practice and experience in assessment and management of cases involving potential violence;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to contribute constructively to a team;
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Technically proficient: demonstrated ability to learn and use databases proficiently in support of the office operations;
• Ability to communicate and interact with students, families, faculty, community, stakeholders, and law enforcement agencies;
• Ability to respond and manage difficult situations involving issues of crisis/emergency situations;
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply institutional policies and privacy laws regarding access to student records and other sensitive information; ethical and legal uses of technology in storing or accessing confidential student records and institutional data;
• Ability to learn/apply/ensure that information management procedures comply with federal and state requirements and university policies; and
• Ability to create an atmosphere where people feel welcome, valued, and free to ask questions and obtain assistance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within a higher education setting working with multi-unit, multi-disciplinary, multi-generational teams;
• Demonstrated experience and technical proficiency with data management software;
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations;
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and respond operationally to issues or situations posing a threat to the safety of the university community;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage projects that will involve complex and sensitive issues;
• Other attributes include integrity, initiative, attention to detail, dedication; and
• Certified Threat Manager (CTM), preferred.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director, Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and provide a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Posting Open Date: February 15, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by: March 27, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes