The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) merged on July 1, 2022, to form one agency, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We are seeking a Security Director to join the team at the State Training School (STS) in Eldora. The STS provides a holistic social, behavioral, psychiatric, academic, and vocational program that utilizes counseling, treatment and consequences paired with praisefor young men, ages 12-18 years old, who were adjudicated delinquent.
The primary responsibilities of the Security Director are to oversee the security department and to coordinate all security protocol and efforts facility wide. The Security Director operates at an administrative level assisting in identifying and implementing all policy and procedures regarding security control, accountability, and complete oversight for all security measures. The Security Director serves as the first point of contact for all facility tool/equipment issues, rules, policies, direction, guidance, monitoring, and decision making; as well as for all operational standards facility wide. This includes but is not limited to:
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Assumes responsibility and accountability for all security related circumstances, issues, improvements, tool control and adherence to policy and procedural expectations and implementation.
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Supervising all security staff and assigned personnel including performance evaluations, scheduling, orientation, and training.
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Responds to crisis situations and de-escalate students in times of crisis, using rapport based interactions to teach self-regulation skills to the students.
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Assumes administrative and supervisory responsibilities in the absence of Deputy Superintendent/Superintendent operating as the Duty Superintendent.
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Enforcing the control and accountability of tools and Security Risk Items (SRIs) within the facility by ensuring staff are complying with tool control procedures daily.
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Review and conduct daily, weekly, etc. security checks of all campus locations including living units and other areas students reside regularly; assure checks of support areas and compliance of appropriate tool and security procedures.
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Communicate efficiently and professionally in all situations including work with students and staff personnel; assign work and provide guidance to subordinates.
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Traverse all areas of campus supervising staff and student activities and ensure safety and security is operationally sound campus wide in daily activities and practice.
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Maintain and supervise all campus security in practice, policy writing and revision, exploration of best practices and safest procedures, and organizational and operational structures and standards.
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Reviews all aspects of special incidents (restraints, critical incidents, etc.) to ensure compliance with State Training School, PbS, Federal, and State guidelines.
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Display a high level of initiative, effort, attention to detail, demonstrate critical thinking, decisive judgment, and commitment with minimal supervision.
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Be able to ensure that work rules are being followed and confront employees in a respectful manner when needed.
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Produces appropriate Judgment and Decision Making in Consideration of relative costs and benefits with potential security actions to choose the most appropriate.
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Understanding and Application of current security measures regarding juveniles and knowledge of trends and best practices; educating facility staff of best practices.
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Teach De-escalation and restraint practices utilized; other security related trainings as needed.
The programs available for residents include:
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General education studies
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Special education programs
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Title I
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High School Equivalency Diploma (formerly GED)
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Competency-based Special Education programs
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Counseling
If you enjoy rewarding yet challenging work, helping young men find stability in their lives and security in their future, this is this the right job for you. Your work at the STS has the potential to help these young men and change their future. We also offer a strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development.
HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).
Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.
STS offers a holistic social, behavioral, psychiatric, academic, and vocational program that utilizes evidence-based practices to provide a secure setting, rooted in treatment, for males ages 12 to 18 years old who have been adjudicated delinquent. STS provides individualized treatment plans and offers comprehensive education with the goal of successfully transitioning young men back into the community. If you enjoy rewarding yet challenging work and helping young men find stability in their lives and security in their future, this is this the right job for you. Your work at STS has the potential to help pull these young men together and change their futures. For more STS info: https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/specialty-care-facilities/state-training-school
Benefits of Joining STS
Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.
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Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
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Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation(96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
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Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
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Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
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Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
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Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
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Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.
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Free On-Campus Workout Facilities
For additional information on benefits click here.
Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.
Working at STS comes with a special perk! This location offers access for staff to the impressive on-campus gym during off student hours. This includes 3 full size basketball courts, two fully stocked weight rooms with machine and free weights, showers, and lockers. We also provide a cardio room for staff only featuring exercise mats and advanced treadmills and stationary bikes. Usage of these resources is completely free for all STS staff.
Eldora Highlights
STS is located in Eldora, a quaint community with a population of approximately 2,800 residents, located in north central Iowa. Eldora is an Iowa River Greenbelt Community and the Iowa River Greenbelt Scenic Drive winds through a picturesque landscape of valleys, woods, and streams. With easy access to the Iowa River and Pine Lake, outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing, as well as the many educational opportunities, cultural activities, and entertainment events nearby, including a picturesque 9-hole golf course surrounded by Pine Lake State Park.
Eldora is 45 minutes away from Ames and Cedar Falls, 30 minutes from Marshalltown, and only 20 minutes from Iowa Falls. Des Moines, Iowa’s capital, is just 1 hour and 15 minutes away.
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Ames, Iowa is the home of Iowa State University, featuring one of the nation’s premier Engineering schools and leading Veterinary and Agricultural programs. https://www.iastate.edu/
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Cedar Falls is the home of the University of Northern Iowa, https://uni.edu/
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Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. https://ecc.iavalley.edu
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Des Moines has one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to the Iowa Cubs, Casey’s Center (host site of NCAA Basketball, premier concerts), and Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest skatepark.
The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer
HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).
E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:
1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to three years of full-time work in professional-level work in a treatment or habilitation program for correctional inmates, the delinquent, disadvantaged, mentally or emotionally ill, or intellectually disabled.
2) A total of seven years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
3) All of the following (a, b, and c): a. One year of full-time work experience in full-time professional-level work in a treatment or habilitation program for correctional inmates, the delinquent, disadvantaged, mentally or emotionally ill, or intellectually disabled; and b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in the social/behavioral sciences, health sciences, or administrative sciences equals one year of full-time experience.
4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes four years of fulltime work as a Resident Treatment Supervisor or Youth Services Technician; or three years of full-time work as a Correctional Supervisor.
5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years full-time experience as a Correctional Security Manager, Treatment Program Supervisor, or Youth Counselor; or one year of full-time work as a Youth Counselor Supervisor.
- For purposes of qualifying, “professional-level experience” shall be exemplified by responsibility for assessment and diagnosis of client problems and needs, developing a plan of treatment, evaluating client progress toward meeting treatment goals, and modifying treatment objectives. Work at this level generally requires a prerequisite of four or more years of post-high school educational training in one of the behavioral, social, or health sciences.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)
