Director - Courts Security

Job Description Summary

Directs the security services and emergency procedures for Pima County Superior Court, Juvenile Court, and the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, and its satellite offices, including Adult Probation, Pretrial Services, and Conciliation Court offices. Responsible for the daily management and supervision of court security functions and security staff activities. Directs the security efforts of court security staff. Develops and monitors security procedures for the entrance into court facilities, the safety of patrons in/out of courtrooms, and evacuation procedures in support of the Presiding Judge's jurisdiction in southern Arizona.

This is an unclassified position that reports to the Court Administrator. The incumbent performs duties under limited supervision and has supervisory responsibilities for the security staff.

Job Description

Salary Range: $121,784- $136,989

Open Until Filled

Applications are screened as received

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a relevant field of study, and six years of experience in court security, or law enforcement as a certified peace officer, and a minimum of two years in a supervisory capacity directing the work activities of security and other employees OR any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education approved by Human Resources. Must be able to qualify and maintain mandatory court security standards as stated in Administrative Order No. 2019-105.

Essential Duties & Functions

• Directs the court’s safety and security services and a staff of security managers, armed and unarmed court security officers, including contracted entry security staff.
• Provides leadership, direction, and coaching to subordinate employees in areas of performance management, problem resolution, planning and work assignments.
• Assists divisions and external Limited Jurisdiction courts, as directed by the Presiding Judge and Court Administrator, with the development of strong safety and security procedures for entrance and exit to court locations at the superior court, juvenile court, consolidated justice court, and the court’s satellite offices.
• Participates in the development and implementation of emergency procedures and evacuation plans for all court facilities.
• Develops, tests, and maintains business continuity plans for disaster recovery and other crisis situations. Directs the emergency response teams for superior court, juvenile court and justice court in accordance with the court's disaster emergency response procedures.
• Coordinates and serves as the contact for emergency protocols with county security, law enforcement, the office of emergency management, federal, security and intelligence agencies, and the fire department.
• Assures effective communication of security issues and strategies with court security, judicial security, court administration, county security, local law enforcement, and judicial officers.
• Compiles and analyzes statistical reports regarding courthouse entrants, intercepted contraband, court security officer responses and a variety of courthouse incidents and makes security recommendations to court administration. Prepares standard and ad-hoc reports concerning various aspects of court security and emergency functions and activities.
• Responsible for the development, implementation, and management of training programs for court security officers, contracted entry security staff, judicial officers, law clerks/bailiffs, and new employees with job specific security training.
• Develops systems and standards for safety and security program evaluation.
• Monitors and reviews trends in court security and justice systems and recommends improvements in operational and policy.
• Advises and coordinates with judicial and law enforcement agencies on issues of security duties, functions and obligations.
• Develops the annual budget and projects costs for the court security unit.
• Manages the court’s surveillance system that monitors the entrance and exit of patrons to superior court, juvenile court, and Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, courtrooms, judicial hallways and offices. Enforces rules and regulations pertaining to proper or improper flow of traffic and authorized travel of individuals.
• Directs the processes of security related investigation for the court including its satellite offices and coordinates all judicial investigative issues to include risk assessments.
• Develops curriculum and materials to provide training to new court security staff on building security procedures, and emergency evacuations. Provides training to volunteer emergency coordinators on evacuation procedures and meeting locations. Training is also provided to the Southern Regional Limited Jurisdiction Courts as assigned by the Court Administrator and Presiding Judge.
• Ensures that the court security officer staff receives the appropriate training to maintain certifications in firearms, first aid, CPR, and COJET.
• Ensures all training files are maintained for security personnel to include all required certifications and general orders.
• Identifies goals with employees, monitor and evaluate their performance, conduct performance appraisals, and address performance issues and/or adherence to court policies and procedures. Manages employees' time, attendance, vacations, and leaves using the court’s timekeeping system.
• Conducts background investigations on prospective new court personnel and recommends the approval/denial of employment or the offer of work to contractors to perform work in court facilities.
• Manages the acquisition of various security monitoring equipment and coordinates the placement of security equipment to optimize maximum usage, including the Southern Regional Limited Jurisdiction Courts as assigned by the Court Administrator and Presiding Judge.
• Serves as a liaison as directed by Court Administration and/or the Presiding Judge with internal and external partners within the scope of assigned duties.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities/Duties

• Provides support for high profile trials to include media accessibility, crowd control and courtroom management.
• Provides transportation and coordination of visits to crime scenes for the judge, jurors and needed court staff.
• Serves as Chair and oversight of the Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee (SEPC).
• Participates in and supports local and statewide committees, within the scope of assigned duties.
• Coordinates security with other court departments and divisions on related projects, such as conference room arrangements for special events and training programs.
• May operate Pima County vehicles when necessary.
• Performs special projects and related duties as necessary.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Must have knowledge of the principles and practices of law enforcement techniques, investigative procedures, local law enforcement rules and jurisdictions, security principles and methods.
• Must have knowledge of the usage of security equipment, courtroom procedures, and the principles and practices of building evacuation.
• Must have knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and performance management.
• Must have the skills to prioritize and coordinate multiple tasks, projects and demands, work within deadlines to complete projects and assignments, and identify effective resolutions to incidents.
• Must have skills to read, interpret and apply relevant city, county, state and federal statutes, rules, ordinances, codes, administrative orders, and other relevant directives.
• Must have skills to operate a personal computer using Microsoft Office and some specialized software applications.
• Must have knowledge of National Incidence Management System and FEMA prescribed training and education in accepted emergency management procedures and the incident command system.
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of employees and judges, as well as county departments, vendors, the public, law enforcement agencies and Homeland Security.
  
  

Licenses And Certificates

Must have a valid Arizona Driver's license at the time of appointment. Within 6 months from the date of appointment the incumbent must acquire first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Physical/Sensory Items

Typically performs duties in an office environment and may lift materials and/or equipment 20 lbs. or less.

Must be able to react, at times physically, to emergency situations swiftly and effectively. Must be able to patrol the entire building, elevators, and parking facility on a random, but regular basis. Will travel between various court facilities.

Benefits

Our exceptional benefit package includes:

• Retirement Plan
• Vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• 100% paid parental leave
• Employer-paid Short -term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Wellness discount program
• Paid Training with Advancement Opportunities
• Upon yearly anniversary, 56 hours of sick time accrued, less usage, may be rolled over to vacation time.
  
  

We offer a competitive benefits package to benefits eligible employees, which includes medical, dental, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, paid vacation and sick leave. Some benefits require contributions by employees in addition to contributions made by the employer. Please see the link below for a complete description of the offerings.

Pima County Benefits

Retirement Plan Participation Is Mandatory For All Eligible Employees To Include a Mandatory Pre-tax Pay Deduction. Current Rates Can Be Viewed Here

ASRS Contribution Rates

Full-time employees of government organizations may be able to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information click Student Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid.