Manager, Security Operations Center

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Job Description

Summary:

The George Washington University (GW) Division of Safety & Operations and the GW Police Department are seeking an experienced and innovative leader to manage and enhance operations within the Security Operations Center (SOC).

The SOC, located at the Mount Vernon Campus in Washington, DC, serves as GW’s 24/7 central hub for safety communications, emergency response coordination, and situational awareness across all three campuses. Its mission is to provide rapid, coordinated responses to police, medical, and environmental emergencies while maintaining continuous monitoring through advanced technologies, including Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), CCTV, alarm management, access control, and mass notification systems.

The SOC is staffed by a SOC Coordinator and a dedicated team of 9-12 dispatchers on rotating shifts who answer calls from the GW community, dispatch campus police and EMS, and coordinate closely with internal partners and external public safety agencies to ensure seamless communication and support for the entire GW community.

Reporting to the Administrative Captain, the SOC Manager will oversee daily operations, staff supervision, training, compliance, and the strategic development of the center. The SOC Manager generally works during standard business hours but must be available to work in person during evenings, weekends, and holidays as operational needs require. The ideal candidate will bring substantial technical and operational knowledge, strong leadership capabilities, and a vision for integrating technology, training, and proactive risk management to support campus safety.

This is a management position at the university that, in addition to leading a work unit, leads and supervises staff directly, makes hiring recommendations, collaborates with the Special Services Unit (SSU) to implement training, provides mentoring, coaching, counseling, manages performance, and determines future staffing needs.

• Direct and oversee 24/7 SOC operations, ensuring timely and effective response to emergencies and incidents involving police, medical, and environmental hazards.
• Supervise, schedule, and evaluate a team of dispatchers; maintain adequate staffing and ensure compliance with university and regulatory standards.
• Oversee onboarding, training, and certification programs for personnel, including APCO Telecommunicator, CPR/AED, and EMD. The SOC Manager will also serve as the agency’s Assistant Terminal Agency Coordinator (ATAC).
• Maintain and improve the SOC’s use of systems, including Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), alarm management, access control, CCTV, digital Emergency Medical Dispatch, and mass notification platforms.
• Coordinate closely with GWPD, EMS, Emergency Management, Facilities, Student Affairs, and external public safety agencies to facilitate seamless communications and response.
• Develop, update, and enforce SOC standard operating procedures (SOPs) aligned with industry best practices (APCO, NENA, FEMA).
• Lead after‑action reviews, performance evaluations, and quality assurance initiatives.
• Manage SOC‑related technology upgrades and vendor relationships in partnership with IT and the SOC Coordinator.
• Develop long‑term strategies for SOC modernization, resilience planning, and integration of emerging technologies.
• Maintain compliance with local, state, and federal communications regulations and certification.
• Maintain records and databases updated in accordance with university and local laws.
• Ensure that relevant data, practices, policies, and procedures are followed.
• Communicate courteously and professionally and maintain working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
• Resolve outside inquiries, complaints, and requests in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain professional competence and stay abreast of trends and innovations; attend training, conferences and meetings and review relevant literature.
• Manage the workflow for physical safety and security assessment, implementation, and coordination across teams including…