Assistant Director, Public Safety Technical Solutions

Put your passion for service to work by guiding transformative public safety initiatives at Virginia Tech. Help us advance public safety by applying effective project management practices that foster a proactive, resilient, and community-centered campus environment.

Job Description

The Public Safety Division has a critical role in supporting the well-being of our community. Comprised of the Police Department, Environmental Health & Safety, the Office of Emergency Management, Hokie Passport Services, and the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, we are committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors that maximizes everyone’s opportunity for success. Through collaboration, dedication, training, and community engagement, we strive to provide a comprehensive and responsive approach in our public safety programs. Our mission of advancing safety, security, health and preparedness is anchored by the Virginia Tech Principles of Community. These fundamental values; mutual respect, civility, and service, are foundational to our programs and are exemplified in our interactions with the campus community.

The Assistant Director of Technical Solutions provides senior-level oversight across four integrated functional areas: instructional design and training, IT project management, process improvement and AI/technology integration, and strategic outreach and community partnerships. This role serves as an operational leader within the Division of Public Safety, translating the division's strategic priorities into coordinated programs, projects, and partnerships that advance campus safety.

The Assistant Director directly supervises a team of two staff positions, each anchoring one of the division's core operational functions. The team structure is designed to align expertise with mission:
• One position anchoring instructional design — responsible for curriculum development, training delivery, and LMS administration
• One position focused on training and community partnerships — delivering training, managing awareness campaigns, external relationships, and collaborative programming

The Assistant Director also provides oversight and strategic integration across all four areas, with process improvement and AI/technology integration functioning as a horizontal priority that cuts across all functions — ensuring the division continuously evolves its tools, workflows, and capabilities to serve the campus community effectively. This position serves as a direct liaison for program coordination with IT teams who are working directly on public safety automation and IT projects that seek efficiencies in business operations via technological enhancement and development, serving as the shared service liaison with BAMS IT and supporting system implementation and vendor management for public safety programming.

The incumbent also performs other duties as requested; takes initiative to support a healthy work environment; strives to fulfill the terms in the Standards of Business Conduct; exemplifies the Virginia Tech Principles of Community; and supports the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

Required Qualifications

Education
• A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, business, information sciences, or related degree with equivalent combination of education and experience equal to a Master’s degree.

Experience
• Project management and solution-oriented scope of work.
• Instructional & Enablement Design - Designing training, learning solutions, or user enablement strategies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Systems Understanding – Knowledge of enterprise IT systems (LMS, ERP, HRIS, CRM), integrations, APIs, and data flows used in project development.
• Project & Program Management – Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, manage timelines and complex implementations.
• Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication – Translating concepts for diverse audiences and aligning multiple department needs through strategic communications.
• Data & Performance Analysis – Using analytics to evaluate system performance, compliance strategies, and adoption metrics.
• Creative solution orientation with the ability to ideate and problem solve, culminating in outreach opportunities in creative channels.
• Change Management – Supporting organizational transitions, system adoption, and user readiness.

Preferred Qualifications

• User Experience & Digital Adoption Tools – Microsoft Suite, Trello, agile planning framework with informed design practices
• Vendor & Platform Management – Selecting and optimizing third-party solutions and