Transit Security Officer - Multiple

Under the general guidance, the Transit Security Officers (TSO’s) in Community Transit’s Office of Physical Security Services (OPSS) provides security services twenty-four hours per day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, for employees, contractors, customers, and visitors.  Primarily working in the Security Operations Center (SOC) and on Community Transit property, vehicles, and throughout the service area.  TSO’s, with the support of the Transit Police Unit (TPU), the Social Worker Program and customer service positions across the agency, help provide a safe and secure environment. 

TSO’s handle complex interactions using their most important tools of interpersonal communication, verbal de-escalation, customer service, conflict resolution and incident assessment.  This includes providing uniformed and undercover services in a calm, respectful, trauma informed, ethical, and diplomatic manner.  TSO’s work with a diverse group of individuals and must apply an equity and culturally appropriate approach to their work.   

As authorized by Community Transit, may be required to wear, carry, and utilize defensive equipment, communication equipment, audio / video recording equipment, ballistic vests, flashlight, PPE, and similar security equipment while on duty.     

1. Patrol: Patrols Community Transit property, vehicles, and service area, to prevent and discover Rule of Conduct and policy violations, prevent and discover suspicious activity, assist customers in successfully using our services and assist employees as needed. This includes patrolling solo, with a partner and as a group. Patrolling will be on foot, driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, riding the bus and other similar activities. Provide Patrol, Response and Investigation, Rules of Conduct and policy enforcement with a focus on operating bases, employee facilities, and non-public facilities. Patrolling techniques may apply to an entire shift or part of a shift, based on operational needs. Inspect property. Performs event security, crowd control, checkpoint control, vehicle flagging as requested.
2. Response & Investigations: Respond to all types of incidents and emergencies, takes appropriate action possibly in a lead role. This includes responding to in-progress incidents and not in-progress incidents. Liaison with responding law enforcement, first responders, and other Community Transit employees. Assist Transit Police with non-law enforcement activities. Provides first aid, CPR, AED, and other approved medical aid. As directed, conducts internal security investigations, and facilitates fact-finding.
3. Rules of Conduct, fare and policy enforcement: As authorized by policy, enforces Rules of Conduct and Community Transit policies.  This includes, but is not limited to, issuing warnings, reseat requests, temporary denials of service, exclusions, parking warnings or impoundments, and conducting fare enforcement activities.  Interprets, administers, and ensures compliance to federal, state, and local security policies, laws, and regulations. 
4. Security Operations Center (SOC): Manage CCTV, access control, alarm monitoring and security communication systems. Monitor activity, assess activity, deploy resources, and coordinate cross-departmental activity. Produce, review, and approve incident reports. Process records requests. Answer phones, radios, and other communication methods. Receive, triage, deploy resources and record incidents. Monitor intelligence and threat information, both open source and confidential, to determine appropriate situational options and approaches response and mitigation. Monitor non-security systems, to provide notification to other departments as needed. Assist individuals with access badge and facility key issues. Process incoming public records requests, internal records requests, and customer complaints. Monitor security staffing levels and adjust schedules and deployments as needed. Monitor and deploy security and Transit Police personnel as needed. Maintains assigned equipment and uniforms in good operating conditions.
5. Employee and Contractor Support. Works with all employees and contractors to help process and debrief security incidents. Fosters continuous improvement and employee emotional support. This includes applying mediation, emotional intelligence, and culturally sensitive communication skills.
6. Training: Assist with training, SOP development, and program support activities.  Assists in training other Transit Security Officers, employees, and contractors.
7. Hours: Serves as an on-call as needed. This may include nights, weekends, and holidays. Must be available within general geographic area and capable of responding within specified timeframe to respond to emergencies.
8. Emergency Management: Serve as emergency responder during disasters/emergencies.  Participate in Emergency Management training, exercises, and response.  May serve as Incident Commander, or similar positions, in the in the field, or part of Unified command for extended periods of time until properly relieved.  Acts as Transit Security Officer In-Charge (OIC), as needed, providing company-wide lead for security services and security response activity. 
9. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Minimum Qualifications

1. High school diploma or GED certificate

2. Two years of experience responding to, de-escalating, investigating, and maintaining records of emergencies or security incidents

3. Previous security experience with the public in an urban environment, possessing excellent communication and de-escalation skills, and demonstrate a passion for customer service.

4. Valid Washington State driver’s license.

5. Ability to successfully pass comprehensive background investigation, including:

          a. Ability to obtain and maintain clearance for access to the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) and Washington State Fusion Center (WSFC) within 30 days of hire.

          b. Ability to obtain and maintain fingerprint clearance from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, including FBI fingerprint screening, within 30 days of hire.

          c. Must not have any of the following to meet minimum qualifications of a background check.

              i. Must have no felony convictions within 7 years of date or hire.   

              ii. 1 or more traffic crime convictions in last 5 years (DWI, Suspended, Reckless,etc).

              iii. Suspension of driver's license within past 5 years.

              iv. 3 or more moving violations in past 3 years.

              v.  2 or more at-fault accidents in past 3 years.

              vi. No illegal sale of ANY drug, including marijuana, in the past 7 years. 

              vii. Has a validated history of criminal physical violence or has been convicted of a crime of Domestic Violence as defined by law, in the past 7 years.                   

              viii. Any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity within the last 7 years. 

6. Valid First Aid/CPR/AED certification or the ability to obtain such certification within 30 days of hire.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job listed above may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

1.       Associates Degree with an emphasis in law, risk management, criminal justice, emergency management, or closely related field.

2.       Five years of experience responding to, de-escalating, investigating, and maintaining records of emergencies or security incidents

3.       Public transit, public agency, or regulated private industry experience.

4.       Experience using Lenel OnGuard and Avigilon.

5.       Experience with serving in a dispatch center, security operations center, 911 center or similar environment. 
6.       The ability to speak Spanish, Korean, Chinese, or Russian, is helpful but not required.

Qualification to enter this position requires knowledge of the following:

1. Familiarity with de-escalation techniques for challenging behaviors and demonstrated experience using those skills.
2. Making good decisions by considering the potential consequences.
3. Principals and processes for providing excellent customer service.
4. Broad understanding of the characteristics, services, and activities of general security functions.
5. Communicates successfully using language that is culturally appropriate ad promotes inclusion.
6. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
7. First aid, CPR, AED, and other approved medical aid

Qualification to enter this position requires skill in:

1. Demonstrated patience and sensitivity to serve the needs of internal and external customers. Including those from culturally diverse backgrounds, the elderly, persons with disabilities and/or other vulnerable populations.
2. Maintain composure and accept criticism, resolve conflicts, negotiate solutions persuade or influence cooperation and compliance. Without resorting to force or provoking unneeded conflict, in high stress situations.
3. Excellent interpersonal skills for establishing and maintaining professional working relationships with customers, employees, contractors, and first responders

4. Communicate in English verbally and in writing, clearly, equitably, and diplomatically with employees, contractors and the public while enforcing rules, often under very stressful situations.
5. Use handheld electronic devices such as portable fare transaction processors, mobile radios, cell phone, and handheld ticketing devices. Data entry with high accuracy.
6. Exhibiting a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism.
7. Conducting investigations, creating investigative reports, and maintaining investigative files.
8. Managing multiple tasks, setting objectives/goals, and re-prioritizing in fast paced environment with little supervision.
9. Report to work on time and work any day of the week, any shift, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions for extended periods of time, including entire shifts.
10. Wear security uniform, PPE, and flashlight. Wear, carry, and utilize defensive equipment, communication equipment, audio / video recording equipment, and similar security equipment while on duty.

Proficient Performance Requirements for Knowledge and Skills

Qualification to fulfill the full range of this position’s duties requires the following knowledge, which may be gained or further developed after entering the job:

1. Implicit Bias Training.
2. General understanding of Video Surveillance Systems (CCTV) Alarm Systems (intrusion and duress), Barrier Systems (Fencing, Pedestrian, and Vehicle), and Communication Systems (Emergency Assist Stations and Mass Notification).
3. Knowledge of current and future trends in transit security
4. Knowledge of security functions and programs, including security planning, threat and vulnerability assessments (TVA), resource management and emergency management.

Qualification to fulfill the full range of this position’s duties requires the following skills, which may be gained or further developed after entering the job:

1. Ability to use social media platforms, search tools, productivity applications and communication tools to maintain situational awareness and complete job tasks.
2. Lenel OnGuard Alarm Monitoring
3. Avigilon Control Center Monitoring
4. Ability to engage in continuous development of critical thinking skills, necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats. Identify, evaluate, and apply appropriate situational options and approaches.  This may include application of risk-based security screening protocols that vary based on program requirements.

Physical Requirements

Climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions.

Adequate health and physical ability to participate in defensive tactics training and other required physical activity of the job. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, night vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Medium Work: Exerting up to 75-100 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Wearing 20 to 30 pounds of gear for entire shift. 

Working Conditions:  Requires that the person stand or sit, either aboard moving vehicle/bus or on fixed platforms for extended periods of time under a variety of weather conditions.  Requires that the person be able to effectively use a bicycle as assigned.  Requires person to occasionally run, including up and down stairs and lifting an adult in an emergency.    Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, in varying weather conditions, including inclement weather. Employee’s risk physical hazard from individuals attempting to harm them physically. Must be physically able to use armed and unarmed defensive tactics and equipment to stop a combative individual from harming themselves and others, and detain individuals for police, as authorized by policy. 

Exposed to automotive fumes, odors, dusts, intense noise, and diverse weather conditions.

Other Employment Conditions:

·       Falsified application, personal history questionnaire, or any other forms during hiring process or lied during any stage of the hiring process will be grounds for immediate termination.

·       Lying, falsification of records, or abusing one’s position are grounds for immediate termination.

·       Ability to comply with Community Transit Drug Policies and Non-Fraternization Policies that may be adopted by the agency from time to time.   

·       Ability to pass annual and for cause background investigation

·       This position has a full-time variable schedule including work at night, on weekends and holidays to provide sufficient 24/7/365 coverage. 

Employee Benefits: 

Employees (and their families) are covered by medical, dental, vision, basic life and disability insurance. Employees participate in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and have the option to enroll in the agency’s deferred compensation plan. In addition to WA Paid Sick Leave, employees in this position, accrue of 24 days of Paid Time off (192 hours) in their first year and nine (9) paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Full list of all benefits and details can be found here.

 If you have a family member, or share the same living quarters of a current Community Transit employee, please let your Human Resources Recruiter know as your eligibility for this position will be affected.

Community Transit provides a tobacco-free and drug-free work environment. As a recipient of federal funds, Community Transit is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on an basis prohibited by Federal, State or Local law.  We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.  EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, protected veteran status or disability.