Associate Program Officer Jobs in Somerville, MA

Job Profile Summary
This role focuses on preventing workplace accidents and promotes health and safety awareness and education to individuals within the organization. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Associate Safety related duties: Prevents workplace accidents and promotes health and safety awareness and education for employees. An organizational related support or service (administrative or clerical) role or a role that focuses on support of daily business activities (e.g., technical, clinical, non-clinical) operating in a "hands on" environment. The majority of time is spent in the delivery of support services or activities, typically under supervision. A senior level role that requires broad knowledge of operational procedures and tools obtained through extensive work experience and may require vocational or technical education. Works under limited supervision for routine situations, provides assistance and training to lower level employees, and problems typically are not routine and require analysis to understand.
Job Overview
This position is responsible for leading assigned staff in the performance of all duties and responsibilities related to the day-to-day protection and safety of patients, staff, and visitors, as well as the security of hospital assets and information. Conduct proactive patrols of all hospital buildings and grounds to prevent fire, theft, vandalism, illegal entry, and bodily harm to patients, visitors, and staff. Serve as immediate and first responder to crisis situations daily and document all safety and security incidents in accordance with department policies and procedures. Provide training and guidance to assigned staff. If licensed as a Special State Police Officer, provide enforcement of the Criminal Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Job Description
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Associate degree in Criminal Justice or related area and two (2) years of experience as a public safety officer or related position OR High school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of experience as a public safety officer or related position.
2. Valid state issued driver's license.
3. Possesses IAHSS Basic, Advanced, and Supervisory Healthcare Security Officer Certifications within 6 months of hire. Incumbents as of 9/1/2025 will have 1 year from 9/1/2025 to obtain IAHSS Basic, Advanced, and Supervisory Healthcare Security Officer certifications.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Associate degree in criminal justice or related area.
2. Two (2) years of healthcare security experience.
3. Security or first responder certifications such as de-escalation/crisis response, CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, or Nasal Naloxone Certification, etc.
4. Graduate of an approved law enforcement training program or Police Academy and possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid POST Certification from the Commonwealth of MA.
5. Ability to obtain and maintain a valid MA License to Carry Firearms.
Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
1. Lead a team of officers and staff in both the day-to-day operations of public safety department and emergency situations; providing leadership, guidance, efficient organization, and assignment of duties on shift.
2. Monitor staff activity; coach, counsel and commend employees, as appropriate, on performance matters. Ensure that all staff are performing in accordance with policies and established guidelines. Make recommendations for corrective action, additional training, and commendation to department leadership.
3. Perform public safety and security duties. Conduct internal and external patrols of all facilities and grounds. Respond to and report on both routine and emergency calls for service, building alarms, restraint of violent patients and/or visitors. Monitor assigned area for suspicious activity, and screen vendors and visitors entering the facility.
4. If licensed as a Special State Police Officer, make appropriate arrests, and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including booking, arraignment, and court prosecution of arrestees, securing of evidence, and conducting searches and seizures in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws and applicable court decisions.
5. Identify security vulnerabilities, safety hazards and violations of Hospital policy. Take immediate correction action to mitigate the vulnerability or hazard, if possible, and collaborate with other departments to either mitigate or resolve, if warranted. Report deficiencies to Supervisor, and document via an incident report or work order for required follow up and resolution.
6. Take proper actions during patient crisis interventions to achieve the safest possible outcomes for patients, employees, security officers and others using the least invasive measures possible.
7. Ensure that all employees and other appropriate members of the Hospital community are in possession of a hospital identification badge and that it is clearly visible. Consistently engage all individuals without visible identification in an appropriate and courteous manner.
8. Grant access to locked areas and buildings to authorized staff in possession of a hospital identification badge. Restrict access to those individuals who have no authorized business on campus in accordance with established policies and procedures.
9. Maintain composure under stressful circumstances, using all trained intervention skills including verbal and nonverbal de-escalation strategies and approaches.
10. Provide excellent customer service by assisting and interacting with patients, visitors, and other staff in a manner that conveys the highest level of dignity, respect, courtesy, and professionalism.
11. Participate and coordinate investigations, conduct interviews, review recorded video, prepare case files, catalog and secure evidence as required.
12. Assist with all emergencies and disasters that may affect the Hospital, including: crowd control, evacuations and other responsibilities as directed by supervisors.
13. Identify and resolve problems, issues, concerns, or conflicts requiring resolution in an impartial manner by obtaining all necessary facts to formulate a resolution. Attempt to resolve situations within their immediate control and communicate these situations or those outside of their immediate control/capacity, to supervision and actively participate in the response.
14. Completes an accurate and comprehensive written incident report for any incident occurring upon hospital property; ensures compliance with established procedures.
15. Enlists the support of a supervisor or assistance from fellow officers when warranted.
16. Maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues to effectively contribute to the working group's achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment.
17. Conducts formal training as assigned to current staff and newly hired staff.
18. Complete all training requirements and courses established and/or provided by the department.
Physical Requirements:
1. Frequent standing and walking with the ability to stand and/or walk for eight (8) hours.
2. Climb multiple flights of stairs.
3. Lift fifty (50) pounds alone.
4. Must be able to wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves or eye protection as required.
5. Some exposure to the elements during regular rounds.
6. Ability to work long, irregular, and odd hours required. Position may also require unanticipated overtime and holdovers to maintain minimum staffing levels from time to time.
7. Possibility of injury due to eviction of unauthorized persons, restraint of violent patients, etc.
8. Exposure to various areas containing hazardous material and radioactive substances when performing patrols.
9. Frequent contact with patients, visitors, and employees.
10. Able to work in confined or open environments.
11. Able to work independently or in a team environment.
Skills & Abilities:
1. Proficient in communicating, reading, and writing in English.
2. Basic Computer Skills required.
4. Ability to multi-task and meet established deadlines.
5. Ability to assess potentially dangerous situations quickly, make sound decisions, and take appropriate action based on the information available.
6. Physically able to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined above.
7. Emotional maturity, dependability, punctuality, diplomacy, tact, poise, self- confidence, and positivity (devoid of negative remarks).
8. Must be trustworthy, helpful, friendly, courteous, and disciplined.
9. Ability to become licensed as a Special State Police Officer.
10. Excellent communication, organization, facilitation, and oral presentation skills.
11. Knowledge of current safety & security trends within the healthcare industry.
At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.
The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.
Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth-one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.
Pay Range:
$21.53 - $26.91