Current Opportunities
Manager (and Assistant Manager) of Property Protection
Oberlin College invites applications for the position of Manager of Property Protection. This is a full-time Administrative & Professional Staff position reporting to the Director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum. Additionally the College is seeking an Assistant Manager who will report to the Manager.
Responsibilities: The Manager will have general responsibility for life and property protection and facility management and preservation at the Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM) and on its grounds, and will provide emergency and general public safety services through supervision of personnel assigned safety and security duties within the Allen Memorial Art Museum. Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Works with the Director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM) and the Director of Campus Safety to coordinate security services in support of the facility, collection, programs, visitors, and staff functions, including, but not limited to:
o Establish, maintain, and periodically review standard operating procedures for all AMAM security processes and for those relating to access to the museum by Oberlin College campus safety personnel, staff, contractors and skilled tradesmen, and civil emergency responders.
o Facilitate and support after-hours call-outs and response to issues and emergencies, responding to museum as appropriate for intrusion alarms, and, with OC Facilities staff, for after-hours building alarms relating to HVAC system equipment, water infiltration, and other building issues.
o Understand the needs and interactions required between safety and security staff working in the museum and AMAM staff, and facilitate communication between them.
o Work with the AMAM Director to facilitate compliance with American Alliance of Museums (AAM) security guidelines.
o Work with the AMAM Director and AMAM staff to create and/or modify Emergency Preparedness Plans and coordinate training with the Director of Campus Safety for mutual aid.
o Stay well-informed on worldwide crimes of art theft, and proactively seek ways of deterring harm to the collections of the AMAM.
o Provide orientation and training in current topics relating to security issues to all museum and campus safety personnel and local city support services related to mutual aid, and encourage comprehension of and compliance with museum policies.
o Maintain statistical and administrative records relevant to museum safety and security activities.
o Coordinate with the Director of the AMAM, the Director of Campus Safety, and Oberlin College Human Resources in establishing job descriptions and postings for safety and security personnel working in the museum, participate in recruitment and interviews for open positions, and make hiring recommendations.
Manage all aspects of the AMAM’s building and security infrastructure including:
o Arrange scheduling and monitor duty performance of all safety and security personnel working in the museum, maintaining flow of work assignments, providing feedback, training, counseling, and guidance and discipline where circumstances require, including through annual performance reviews.
o Manage all aspects of the AMAM’s security command center.
o Maintain awareness of AMAM scheduled events and facilitate needed security responses and services.
o Communicate information regarding museum safety and security and required support services to campus safety and communications officers.
o Ensure that the AMAM’s integrated security and video systems function properly, and supervise periodic testing of all electronic devices.
o Negotiate all service contracts and replacement or repair of all AMAM security devices and software, with approval from the Director of AMAM.
o Achieve and/or maintain certification as a Lenel OnGuard administrator and serve as primary contact with service contractor.
o Oversee filing of incident reports using Campus Safety’s reporting system, AMAM collection reports and daily activity logs and other written records generated by safety and security personnel working in the museum.
o Oversee and coordinate the filing of facility work orders and the completion of work requested, serving as primary liaison with OC Facilities Operations staff and outside contractors to schedule preventative and routine maintenance, including arranging for the delivery and receipt of equipment, materials, and parts.
o Monitor and report temperature and humidity issues to AMAM staff and OC Facilities personnel.
o Monitor all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, mechanical, and structural needs of the AMAM, including reporting to OC Facilities on all interior spaces for water infiltration, equipment leaks, and drainage problems, and for mold and dust, and exterior spaces for bird, bee, and rodent problems and blocked downspouts, scuppers, gutters, and drains, as well as the roof, steam vaults and air intake wells with regard to build-up of extraneous material, overseeing AMAM construction and maintenance projects and their scheduling.
o Oversee AMAM custodian, and work with AMAM registrar, preparators, and pest control contractor as needed to monitor and identify potential problems.
o Liaise with Oberlin Fire department and OC Facilities staff to schedule regular tests and inspections of systems and equipment, including alarms, sensors, pressurized suppression pipes, VESDA system, and extinguishers.
o Conduct thorough investigation and inquiry into incidents involving unusual activities, violation of AMAM or College policies or criminal offenses as assigned.
o Submit biweekly payroll after verifying any needed time clock information of safety and security personnel working in the museum.
o Conduct walking patrols of the museum and its grounds for the purposes of assisting staff and patrons, protecting the collection and facilities, and monitoring activities within and around the facilities to ensure safe and appropriate patron access.
o Oversee all security needs of the Frank Lloyd Wright Weltzheimer-Johnson House, liaising with Campus Safety, the contracted security monitoring firm, OC Facilities, and AMAM staff as needed.
o Monitor input from electronic alarms, cameras, security equipment and all museum entries and egresses, and oversee key and card access to AMAM spaces.
o Enforce the rules, regulations and policies of the AMAM, the Office of Campus Safety, and of Oberlin College, as well as applicable local ordinances, and state and federal laws necessary to maintain a peaceful and orderly academic environment.
o Promptly report all observed security, safety, fire, utility and environmental hazards to the appropriate College personnel/department/office for correction.
o Fulfill requirements of a Campus Security Authority (CSA) as defined by the Jeanne Clery Act in relation to reporting crimes to law enforcement authorities.
The responsibilities of the Assistant Manager are similar to those above although with less oversight, and can be found at https://jobs.oberlin.edu/postings/14769.
The incumbents in both positions will also perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements: CIPM (Certified Institutional Protection Manager) certification through the International Foundation of Cultural Property Protection, and/or Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement or a related field; a minimum of 10 years prior experience working in a museum or other cultural property institution (5 years for the Assistant Manager position); excellent knowledge of national standards and practices for museum security; detailed knowledge of and prior experience with integrated security and video systems; experience in preparing emergency preparedness plans; experience in interviewing and hiring security personnel; demonstrated knowledge of developing and implementing training programs for security personnel and local city support services; knowledge of fire suppression and detection; certification for AED and CPR/first aid; training through FEMA Emergency Management Institute. Must be at least 21 years of age with a valid OH driver’s license and driving record which meets College insurability standards; willingness and availability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime coverage for extracurricular campus events; excellent oral and written communication skills (letter of application demonstrating this ability is required); excellent leadership skills; demonstrated ability to interact in a sensitive, courteous and understanding way with members of a diverse residential and academic community, including students, faculty, staff and the general public; ability to handle public complaints in a constructive, professional manner; demonstrated ability to handle several projects simultaneously, as well as the ability to maintain composure in emergency situations; and excellent references. Any offer made is contingent upon a pre-employment physical and a drug test. Candidates must also satisfactorily complete a comprehensive background check.
Desired Qualifications: Certification through the Ohio Police Officers Training Commission in Basic Law Enforcement, Private Police, or Campus Safety and Security.
Compensation: Salaries will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Manager's is expected to range from $75,000-80,000; the Assistant Manager's from $58,000-65,000. Both positions include an excellent benefits package.
To Apply: Candidates should submit: 1) a cover letter, 2) a résumé of prior work and educational experience, and 3) contact information for three references by July 22, 2024 through Oberlin College’s job portal. For the Manager, at https://jobs.oberlin.edu/postings/15396 and for the Assistant Manager at https://jobs.oberlin.edu/postings/14769. All applications must be received through the portal. Applications received after the deadline may be considered.
About the Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM): For more than a century, Oberlin College has been committed to promoting direct study of original works of art to foster visual literacy and a deeper understanding of the diversity of the world’s cultures. Today the AMAM houses an encyclopedic collection of more than 15,000 works selected to provide a comprehensive overview of the history of art and is recognized as one of the best academic museums in the country. The AMAM serves a broad regional audience and operates on the premise that learning about art is important for everyone, a principle demonstrated by free public admission, offered since its founding in 1917.
The museum complex includes a 1917 building designed by Cass Gilbert. In the 1970s, Robert Venturi designed a gallery dedicated to the presentation of modern and contemporary art, the architect’s first museum commission. The AMAM also shares responsibility with Oberlin College for a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house, the first Usonian house in Ohio, located in Oberlin.
Founded in 1833, Oberlin College is a private, four-year, highly selective national liberal arts college near Cleveland, Ohio, and is also home to an outstanding Conservatory of Music. Together, the two divisions enroll approximately 2,900 students. Oberlin College was the first college in the U.S. to make interracial education and co-education central to its mission. The College continues to view a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational environment as essential to the excellence of its academic program. Among liberal arts colleges, Oberlin is a national leader in successfully placing graduates into Ph.D. programs.
Oberlin College is committed to professional staff, faculty, and student diversity, equity, and inclusion. The incumbent will bring understanding of or experience working with underrepresented and diverse academic populations. Oberlin is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the excellence and diversity of the academic community. Oberlin recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran’s status, and/or other protected status as required by applicable law.