Residence Requirements:

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one vacancy at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (Central). 

Examples of Duties:

A Director of Security and Safety Management -Library manages and supervises the daily activities of the Department of Security and Safety at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (B&ECPL); 

Develops, implements, coordinates and evaluates security services policies, standards, guidelines and operations to ensure compliance with the State of New York, Department of State, Division of Licensing Services standards and best practice security methods;

Develops and implements policies and measures to ensure the safety and security of property, buildings, grounds, equipment, library patrons, staff, and visitors;

Enforces B&ECPL policies;

Interpret provisions of the collective bargaining agreements and participates in labor relations including negotiations of bargaining agreements affecting security staff;

Implements, directs and supervises an access control system for all B&ECPL libraries;

Conducts unscheduled tours of buildings to assure that safety and security measures are maintained; Coordinates law enforcement and investigation efforts with federal, state and local agencies;

Coordinates and monitors activities of library patrons, staff and visitors entering the facility, including law enforcement and other agency personnel and the general public;

Conducts investigations into allegations of inappropriate activities, rule infractions or illegal actions; Assesses situations and applies appropriate interventions to prevent or resolve crisis situations;

Supervises personnel including hiring, assigning work, training, monitoring and evaluating performance and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions;

Assists Library Administration with process service and receipt of legal documents;

Makes presentations, trains or instructs staff, management and Library Administration general public on safety and security procedures and policies;

Maintains liaison with appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree and seven (7) years of experience in safety and security work for a public law enforcement or institutional security agency of which included two (2) years of supervisory or administrative experience; or

B) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an Associate’s Degree and nine (9) years of experience in safety and security work for a public law enforcement or institutional security agency of which included two (2) years of supervisory or administrative experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
US Citizenship; and
Resident of Erie County; and
Possession of a valid New York State Driver’s License at time of appointment and throughout duration of employment.

Notes:

1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting the experience requirements.

2. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.
All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

A Guide for the Written Test for Safety and Security is available at the New York State website: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm . Candidates not having access to a computer or the internet may request copy of the test guide from the municipal civil service office conducting this examination using the contact information found elsewhere on this announcement.

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Administrative techniques and practices

These questions test for a knowledge of management techniques and practices used in directing or assisting in directing a program component or an organizational segment. Questions cover such areas as interpreting policies, making decisions based on the context of the position in the organization, coordinating programs or projects, communicating with employees or the public, planning employee training, and researching and evaluating areas of concern.

2. Ensuring effective inter/intra agency communications

These questions test for understanding of techniques for interacting effectively with individuals and agencies, to educate and inform them about topics of concern, to clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with the staff of one's own agency and/or that of other agencies in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.

3. Preparing written material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

4. Safety and security methods and procedures

These questions will test for knowledge of the methods and procedures utilized in safety and security. The questions will cover such areas as principles and practices of safety and security precautions in a building or grounds setting, accident prevention, proper response to safety or security related incidents, the investigation of incidents, and the inspection of buildings or grounds for potential safety and/or security problems.

5. Supervision

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

6. Understanding and interpreting written material

These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic. 

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.