Merged Promotional and Open Competitive Recruitment
CAMPUS SAFETY OFFICER
Under general supervision, Campus Safety Officers will assist sworn Police Officers with maintaining the safety and security of students, staff, visitors, and personal and District property on assigned campuses; and provide a uniformed patrol presence on District properties, including all building and grounds areas. Current vacancies are scheduled to work variable hours, and will receive a corresponding 5% pay differential in addition to the stated salary.
What You Will Bring To The College
The ideal candidate will possess prior experience as a security guard or active military personnel; impeccable observational skills and the ability to recall detailed information under pressure; effective oral and written communication skills; the ability to understand and interpret maps and directions; exercise sound decision making and safely perform the duties of the position; a strong customer service orientation and an interest in meeting the needs of stakeholders; and a high level of integrity and ethics.
Campus Safety Officers are regularly required to work outdoors, and are subject to changing weather conditions. Extended sitting, walking, and/or standing at an assigned post is required. Patrolling on a bicycle is required, along with ascending and descending up to four flights of stairs. Employees will be frequently required to lift and/or move equipment weighing up to 30 pounds. Campus Safety Officers are often exposed to dissatisfied or abusive individuals.
Please note that all candidates must have authorization to work in the United States; the District does not have the ability to provide sponsorship.
Important note regarding the District budget
In An Effort To Address Budget Shortfalls And Ensure The Long-term Financial Health Of The College, The Board Of Trustees Has Approved Cost Saving Measures For The 2026-27 Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2026. These Measures Consist Of
- one unpaid furlough day per month for classified staff, which approximately amounts to a 5% salary reduction, and
- freezes in step advancement that will halt salary advancement for at least one year.
The posted salary for this role does not reflect the one unpaid furlough day per month that will take effect on July 1, 2026. Please note that the District will continue to offer
fully paid health, dental and vision benefits for employees and their eligible dependents.
Why Work at SMC?
At SMC, you will work beside a diverse group of individuals who leverage their combined talents and passions to accomplish something great. No matter what department you are in, or what job you have, your contributions will be critical to helping our students fulfill their dreams.
Some Details About Us
- We are currently the number one transfer college to UCLA, USC, the University of California system, and Loyola Marymount University
- We are dedicated to sustainable practices and are accessible via environmentally-friendly transportation options, including the Expo Line and Big Blue Bus.
- We are one of the select community colleges in California approved to award a Bachelor's degree. SMC currently awards a Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design.
Please visit www.smc.edu/about to learn more about us and why we are
Proud to Be SMC!
Benefits
We value our employees as individuals, and recognize the value of work-life balance, the health of you and your family, and professional development. We offer a variety of benefits and perks to support new members of our team, including:
- 18 paid holidays*
- 12 paid vacation days*
- 12 paid sick days*
- Fully paid medical, dental, and vision-care coverage (including eligible dependents)
- Free mental health support through the Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE) program.
- Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CALPERS)
- 5% increase in base pay for every 5 years worked with SMC, up to 40 years of service (On hold for Fiscal Year 2026-2027).
- Waived tuition fees for classes taken at Santa Monica College.
- Reimbursement for related classes, conferences or workshops to empower your professional development.
- Free Big Blue Bus access and monthly incentives for eligible employees through the Sustainable Transportation Incentive Program
- CSEA, Chapter 36 Union Membership Option
*Benefits, holidays, vacation, and illness days listed above assume a 40-hours per week, 12-months per year schedule. Benefits, vacation and illness days are prorated for other work schedules.
Salary Placement
New Employees: Generally, new employees start at the first step on the salary schedule. A new permanent classified employee may request a higher salary placement (not to exceed the third step) based on recruitment issues and/or additional training and experience which greatly exceeds the minimum requirements.
Current Employees: Upon promotion, the new salary for a current, permanent employee is based on Merit Rule 12.2.7. In accordance with this rule, employees are entitled to at least a one-step (5%) salary increase, and may be eligible for advanced step placement in accordance with established criteria.
About The Selection Process
All qualified applicants will be invited to a Written Exam (pass/fail). Candidates who are successful on the written exam will be invited to the Writing Project and Qualifications Appraisal Interview (weighted at 100%), to be scheduled at a later date. Candidates who are successful on the Writing Project and Qualifications Appraisal Interview will be invited to the Physical Abilities test, to be scheduled at a later date. Candidates must be successful on all test parts to be placed on the eligibility list. Santa Monica College reserves the right to modify the stated examination components and weights prior to the administration of any examination.
This position is eligible for Veteran's Preference (Attach DD214).
Santa Monica College reserves the right to modify the stated examination components and weight prior to the administration of any examination.
Background Investigation
Candidates will be required to pass an extensive background investigation prior to appointment which includes a final interview, polygraph, psychological evaluation, and a medical examination. Making a false statement or omitting a statement as to any material fact on an application will result in your disqualification.
Email Communication
Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method.
Eligible List
A Merged Promotional and Open Competitive list is being established to fill two vacancies in the SMC Police Department. The positions will work 40 hours per week, 12 months per year, and may be assigned to any one of three shifts (Day, Swing, or Graveyard), which may include regular weekend assignments. In addition to the stated salary, there is an additional 5% paid for variable scheduling.
This list will also be utilized to fill any vacancies that may occur during the six month life of the Eligibility List, which may include full-time and/or part-time positions.
Test Retake Policy
Based on the District’s hiring needs, we may administer multiple recruitments for this job classification (or a related job classification that uses the same test(s)) within the next several months. Candidates must wait a period of 90 calendar days between testing appointments before retesting. Candidates who are ineligible to participate in an upcoming test or interview due to the provided retake period will be notified via email, and will have their highest valid score(s) on any non-weighted (pass/fail) test parts applied toward that recruitment.
"The Santa Monica Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants for employment, as well as District employees, shall have full and equal access to employment opportunity. No person shall be subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity of the District. The District's Board Policy 3120 (Equal Employment Opportunity and Nondiscrimination in Employment) may be accessed at: http://bit.ly/smc-hr-bp3120."
Equity Statement
Santa Monica College encourages candidates that are equity-minded to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity, and inclusion. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC, and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it is a reflection of our student population and we strive to hire candidates that share this commitment.
Examples of Duties
Provides a uniformed presence on District properties, including areas such as campus bus stops, buildings, and campus grounds; patrols assigned areas using a motor vehicle, bicycle or on foot.
Provides non-emergency crowd control support at fixed posts on District property for sporting and other special events.
Writes crime or incident reports for lost and found property, minor vandalism, and other incidents that do not require the services of a sworn officer, prosecution, or case filing with a City Attorney or District Attorney’s office.
Assists police officers as needed in responding to emergency calls.
Explains District policies to students, staff, and members of the public regarding smoking, riding bicycles, and other safety issues; seeks voluntary cooperation, but notifies sworn staff of non-compliance and/or habitual violators.
Controls access to buildings, rooms and parking lots/structures; secures District equipment as directed.
Fingerprints new employees and student workers using Live Scan equipment in order to initiate the process for checking conviction records.
Checks security and safety of buildings, identifies and reports hazards and safety violations as needed.
Assists police personnel at crime scenes and command posts as directed by sworn personnel.
Operates a two-way hand-held or vehicle radio.
Assists parking enforcement officers directing traffic as needed enforcing state law and municipal codes regarding parking and by issuing parking citations; impounds vehicles or installs immobilization boots on vehicles and completes impound reports as required.
Performs other related duties as requested or assigned.
Examples of essential duties are descriptive and not restrictive in nature and are generally listed in descending order of importance.
Minimum Qualifications
Education Requirement:
A high school diploma or equivalent.
Experience Requirement
One year of previous work experience performing security responsibilities is desirable.
Education/Experience Equivalency
Experience and/or education of the same kind, level and amount as required in the minimum qualifications may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
Licensure And/or Certification
A valid driver’s license.
Valid basic first aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator (CPR/AED) and pepper spray certifications within six months of hire.
Completion of a training course pursuant to California Senate Bill 390 within one year of hire. Employees who have successfully completed this course within the last five years are exempt from this requirement.
A Community Emergency Response Team Certification (CERT) is desirable.
Special Requirements
Must successfully complete a thorough background investigation in accordance with District Standards.
Meet the District medical standards.
The Campus Police Department is a 24/7 operation. Campus Safety Officers may be assigned to day, swing, or graveyard shifts, weekends and holidays in accordance with the terms of their collective bargaining unit agreement.
Supplemental Information
For additional information about our employment process, please visit our FAQ page and click on "current employees" (for existing, permanent SMC employees) or "job applicants" (for external applicants).
Santa Monica College offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for permanent positions. Permanent full-time positions of 35 hours or more receive fully paid District benefits. Permanent position assignments of 20 to 34 hours per week receive a pro-rated benefits package as outlined in CSEA Chapter 36 Bargaining Agreement.
Temporary positions and permanent position assignments of less than 20 hours per week do not have a benefits package.
For more information visit the following link: click here
01
Your answer to the following question will be verified in later stages of the hiring process through a thorough background investigation, which includes a polygraph examination. Any intentionally inaccurate or misleading responses will result in your disqualification from the selection process. Do you understand these instructions?
02
Do you have a high school diploma or the equivalent (i.e., G.E.D.)?
03
Are you willing and able to work an eight-hour shift outside, in all types of weather conditions?
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Are you willing and able to sit, stand, and/or walk for extended periods of time?
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Are you willing and able to climb up and down up to four flights of stairs while patrolling your assigned area?
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Are you willing and able to perform bicycle patrol for the majority of an eight-hour shift?
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Are you willing and able to lift and/or move equipment weighing up to 30 pounds?
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Are you willing to work night and/or weekend shifts?
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Do you possess a valid Driver's License? You will be required to provide a copy at a later step in this recruitment.
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Santa Monica College is not able to provide sponsorship for employment. If hired for this position can you legally work in the Unites States without sponsorship from Santa Monica College?
11
Do you have a relative, domestic partner or member of your household employed at Santa Monica College? This includes a spouse, domestic partner, or co-habitant; a child, including adopted, in-laws and step- or half-parent; a grandchild, including adopted, in-laws and step- or half-grandparent; a sibling, including in-laws and step- or half-; any other member of the employee’s household whether or not related by blood or marriage; and children and family members of siblings and spouses.
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If you DO HAVE a relative, domestic partner or member of your household employed at Santa Monica College, please provide the employee's name and the department in which they work. If you DO NOT, please type NA.
