Institutional Security Chief - 60004756

Requisition No: 857483 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: Institutional Security Chief - 60004756

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60004756 

Salary:  $60,000 - $70,000 Annually (commensurate with experience) 

Posting Closing Date: 07/31/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

Florida State Hospital (FSH) is a mental health treatment facility owned and operated by the State of Florida and is part of the Department of Children and Families. The department’s mission is to “work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.”

FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

Pending Reclassification to Institutional Security Chief

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Institutional Security Chief within the Security Services Department. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• This position requires lifting, pulling, and squatting. Duties of this position require the incumbent to be knowledgeable of and utilize the principles of Total Quality Management.
• This is advanced professional work supervising and directing employees. The primary duty of the incumbent in this position is to spend the majority of their time communicating with, motivating, training and evaluating employees, planning and directing their work; and having the authority to effectively recommend actions such as: hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, promote, discharge, assign, and reward or discipline direct reports. Evaluates employees against established standards and takes appropriate actions when necessary (i.e. recognition, reward, corrective action, etc.).
• This position is primarily responsible for the managerial and administrative work in developing, implementing and directing the overall Security related services for an expansive Mental Health Institution, which includes (4) Forensic facilities, multiple Civil commitment areas (which also provide care for residents committed to Mental Health care per Fl. Statute 916, as well as a large physical plant area.
• The incumbent of this position is administratively responsible for all employees within the Security Department, which is accomplished by direct supervision of an Operations & Management Consultant I and all Security Shift Supervisors. Entailed with this responsibility is the preparation and review of performance appraisals, leave and attendance approval, task assignment designation, in addition to the direction of all personnel matters such as hiring, promotions, reassignments, demotions, terminations and disciplinary actions.
• The incumbent is responsible for departmental compliance with all hospital and Criminal Justice Standards education classes, as defined by FSHOP 225-1 and Florida Statutes, Chapter 943. This task will be completed by observational measures, documentation review, audits, checklists, protocols, and other supervisory and training tools. The incumbent will routinely conduct meetings of Shift Supervisors, management team members, as well as periodic interviews with other subordinate staff members to ensure ongoing compliance as well as determine the needs and weaknesses of the department.
• As director of the department, this incumbent will be responsible for all aspects of the department budget, including approval of requisitions, recommendations for equipment purchases, staffing and supply needs. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for the preparation of annual OCO Expense and other designated allotment recommendations and purchases.
• The incumbent of this position will routinely and on continuous basis, review, modify or develop operating procedures, guidelines and policies related to the Security activities of the department, as well as perform going inspections of the grounds and existing buildings of the institution for the security related issues.
• The incumbent of this position routinely is responsible for the overall supervision of the investigative unit within the department, including designating assignments, reviewing reports and coordinating requests for assistance from outside agencies. The incumbent will ensure compliance with the Confidentiality and Privacy laws in these, and all matters related to security services. Additionally, the incumbent will serve as liaison with local criminal justice staff.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety:

• Include the supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities, as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of responding to qualifying questions and entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
• Knowledge of basic management principles and practices.
• Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document work flow and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices.
• Ability to organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials.
• Ability to conduct fact-finding research.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years’ hospital security experience.
• One year security management experience.
• Two years’ supervisory experience.
• Associate degree or higher in criminal justice or healthcare related field is preferred.
• Certification as a Correctional Officer in the State of Florida.
• Professional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the preferred college education.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

#SAMH

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.