Library Safety Officer

Position Description

Invitation to Compete #14-26: Library Safety Officer (Multiple Positions)

Safety and Security Services, Central Library, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle
Regular, FLSA non-exempt, benefitted, full-time position (80 hours per two-week pay period)

Safety and Security Services, Central Library, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle
Regular, FLSA non-exempt, benefitted, full-time position (80 hours per two-week pay period)

Salary Range: $37.87 - $45.93 per hour

Overview

At The Seattle Public Library, our mission is to bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and empower community. We envision the Library as the central hub of an equitable and connected city where knowledge flourishes, and people find opportunities. Since 1891, we have grown from a single reading room in Pioneer Square to a world-class library system with 27 locations.

The Library works every day to foster and support a healthy city and a healthy democracy. We do this work guided by our commitment to intellectual freedom, literacy and the love of learning, racial equity, privacy and confidentiality, respect for the community, strong partnerships and innovation. We are an active and committed partner in the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Ordinance.

Safety and Security Services at the Library

The Library's facilities include the 11-story Central Library in Downtown Seattle and 26 neighborhood branches located across Seattle. The Library’s Security Team is based at the Central Library and provides safety and security services to all Library locations.

Mission:

The Security Team’s mission is to foster a safe and welcoming environment for all Library patrons, staff, and community members. We maintain a visible presence at Library locations, uphold and enforce the Library’s Community Use Agreement, respond quickly to resolve incidents, and serve everyone in the Library with compassion, respect, and professionalism.

Vision:

The Security Team’s vision is to be the recognized gold standard for public service, safety, and security. Through our expertise, versatility, and commitment to constant improvement, we will provide a strong and trusted foundation for the successful operation and public use of the Library.

Values:

The Security Team is dedicated to the values of safety, compassion, and excellence.

If you support our mission and share our dedication to these values, we encourage you to apply for the position of Library Safety Officer.

About the Safety Officer Position

Under the supervision of the Safety and Security Services Supervisor, the Safety Officer provides courteous and professional customer service to all Library patrons and staff, and strives to ensure that all Library locations are safe, accessible and welcoming. The Safety Officer operates with discretion and sound judgment in handling safety and security issues, using various security methods including de-escalation techniques, and the ability to prioritize the handling of multiple incidents, occasionally under potentially stressful or volatile circumstances. Please note that this position does not have the formal arrest authority of a sworn police officer.

The Safety Officer receives and acts on information about security incidents from personal observation or from Library patrons or staff. Regular work actions include patrolling Library locations, warning patrons about Community Use Agreement violations, giving information to patrons and staff, explaining safety and security procedures, investigating incidents and disturbances, writing incident reports, suspending and/or removing patrons from Library facilities, and calling for police assistance.

The Safety Officer documents security activities through verbal and written reports and communications which may be used for further administrative or police actions. The position may also communicate with police agencies and internal departments to assist with criminal matters occurring on Library property.

The Safety Officer routinely engages in other safety and security-related activities, including monitoring and reporting on building safety and security, inspecting fire extinguishers, securing and processing lost and found articles, enforcing staff and visitor compliance with the access control program, assuring building security during non-public hours, and issuing building keys.

The Safety Officer operates in accordance with all Library safety and security policies and procedures and provides input on the evaluation of Library safety and security needs, the maintenance of program standards, and the planning and implementation of program improvements.

This position is currently scheduled to begin shifts at the Central Library, but must be able to begin shifts at other Library locations as needed.

Job Responsibilities

Customer Service and Security Patrol: Greet and interact with patrons and visitors as they enter the Library’s buildings. Provide for the enforcement of Library security standards, policies and procedures by performing regular security patrols and monitoring of Library facilities as assigned in order to identify, prevent and respond to violations of the Library’s Community Use Agreement, or other policies and procedures. Respond to medical emergencies. Support effective and timely responses to building emergencies and evacuations.

Prevention activities: Contribute to building safety and security by monitoring and reporting physical security and safety conditions. Provide input on procedures and methods to prevent property loss and damage. Work with Library staff to identify and resolve security problems and to keep the Safety and Security Services Supervisor informed of activities and/or problems.

Security support activities: Provide for timely and effective support of security operations and activities by obtaining, recording, and maintaining necessary documentation, reports, and records. Operate security and property-related programs such as lost and found materials, staff training, building access control, and security-monitoring activities.

Administration activities: Contribute to the administration of the safety and security program maintaining program standards, participating in necessary training, providing input on policies and procedures as requested, communicating clearly and effectively, and writing complete and accurate incident reports and other necessary documentation.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience providing complex customer service support to the general public, specifically experience providing customer service with attention to supporting social justice and equity. Ability to develop trust and foster on-going positive customer service relationships with Library patrons and staff. Ability to be coached, mentored and/or trained.
• At least one year of security experience or experience performing similar duties in settings that require highly visible and sensitive public contact; require exercising conflict resolution and problem-solving skills; and require the ability to respond appropriately to critical incidents in an occupational setting. Experience operating in a security capacity in an employer-operated security department is preferred, but not required.

Educational and general skills requirements:

• Education: High School diploma or equivalent is required. Education, training and/or experience in social justice, criminal justice, public service, and/or hospitality are desired.
• Verbal skills: Strong verbal communication skills are required. This includes the ability to communicate in English and to communicate with Library visitors for whom English is a second language. Knowledge of conversational Spanish, Asian languages, Eastern European languages or American Sign Language is a plus.
• Writing skills: Strong written communication, including proofreading, editing and document production skills. The ability to apply written and verbal instructions to daily work and to correctly interpret and adhere to policy and procedure. The ability to perform while being tactful, diplomatic and maintaining confidentiality.
• Conflict resolution skills: Ability to approach conflicts through a trauma-informed lens. Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. Ability to communicate clearly and diplomatically with Library staff and the public while enforcing security rules, often under stressful situations. Ability to resolve conflicts between patrons and/or staff and negotiate solutions without resorting to force or provoking unneeded conflict. Ability to persuade and elicit cooperation and compliance under difficult or stressful circumstances.

Occupation-specific skill requirements:

• Knowledge of accepted practices relating to security operations in an employer-operated Security Team, particularly those that relate to public facilities.
• Excellent observation skills; an ability to remain alert and attentive, anticipate and assess potential disruptive behavior and safety or security threats and take preventative action.
• Ability to prepare clear, detailed and accurate written reports, logs and other documentation.
• Ability to operate two-way radio, communications and a camera system located at the Central Library.
• Possession of a currently valid First Aid & CPR certification, or ability to obtain certification within sixty days of employment.
• Ability to perform the physical activities inherent in security patrol duties for the duration of a typical shift. These activities include walking, running, standing, rapidly ascending and descending stairs in a high-rise building, and lifting a fully grown adult in emergency situations.

Other requirements:

• Possession of a currently valid Washington state driver’s license.
• Ability to commute to any one of the 27 Library locations.
• Available to work evenings and weekends as needed, with consistent punctuality required for all scheduled shifts.
• If selected, candidates will be required to provide a driver’s record abstract and to authorize a check of criminal convictions.
• This position requires the employee to wear the supplied uniform and related security gear, including non-lethal defensive equipment and a two-way radio.

Desired Qualifications:

• Minimum of three years of either Security experience or experience in performing similar duties in settings that required (1) highly visible and sensitive public contact, (2) exercising conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, and (3) the ability to respond appropriately to critical incidents in an occupational setting.

Additional Information

How to Apply

Candidates who meet the qualifications are asked to submit the following items in NEOGOV by 5:00 p.m. on March 21, 2026 for first consideration. This recruitment will be open until the position is filled.

• Online application with responses to the supplemental questions.

• A cover letter that briefly describes how your experience and skills align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications. Please let us know why you are interested in this position.
• Current resume that summarizes relevant education, experience, knowledge and skills.

Applications that do not include a cover letter and complete online application will not be considered.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Benefits and Salary Information

The full salary range for this position is $37.87 - $45.93 per hour

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and covered family-members/most employees-plans

Information about retirement plans can be found at: https://www.seattle.gov/retirement

Additional information

If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library, please send an email to job.applications@spl.org. The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.

Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.