Security Officer K-9 Handler

Job Description:

The Security K9 Officer is responsible for the protection and safety of employees, patients, and visitors while on hospital property. A Healthcare Security K9 Officer plays a crucial role in maintaining safety and security within healthcare facilities.

Essential Functions

• Routine Rounds and Response: Performs routine rounds on the interior and exterior of the facility, including parking areas. Responds promptly to dispatch calls, performs scene assessments, gathers relevant information, resolves conflicts, and completes appropriate documentation.
• Patrol and Surveillance: Conducts routine patrols of the healthcare facility with a trained K9 to deter and detect suspicious activities.
• Incident Response: Responds to alarms and security-related incidents, utilizing the K9 for search and detection of illegal substances, explosives, or contraband.
• Search and Rescue: Assists in search and rescue missions within the facility, especially in cases of missing persons or emergency evacuations.
• Public Safety: Ensures the safety of patients, staff, and visitors by monitoring for potential threats and taking appropriate action.
• Training and Care: Trains and cares for the K9, ensuring its health, fitness, and skills are maintained at optimum levels.
• Documentation: Documents and reports all incidents and irregularities to superiors, maintaining accurate records of K9 activities and health and maintaining training logs weekly.
• Customer Assistance: Provides directions and information to patients, visitors, employees, and volunteers while in the facility or on rounds.
• Incident Investigation and Reporting: Investigates incidents and writes detailed reports.
• K9 Program Support: Maintains crowd control with canine, patrols hospital, conducts drug searches, ensures a minimum of 250 hours of annual training for the canine, and is responsible for the total care and maintenance of the canine.
• Specialized Investigations: Conducts detailed investigations of complex cases, including controlled substance/drug irregularities, interviews individuals, and liaises with Internal Audit, police, and DEA as appropriate.
• Training and Professional Standards: Participates in mandatory training and certifications at hire, weekly, and annually. Performs all functions according to established policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, and professional standards. Provides excellent service to all customers of Intermountain Health.
• Obedience Training: Teaching the dog to comply with commands or signals from the handler
• Behavior Modification: Using techniques and strategies to encourage desired behaviors and discourage unwanted ones.
• Canine First Aid: Provides medical care to the K9 in case of injury or illness.
• Positive Reinforcement: Rewards good behavior with treats, praise, or playtime to reinforce learning.

Skills

• Compassion
• Communication
• Safety Security
• Leadership
• Workplace Violence Prevention
• Direct Care
• Team Management
• Oral Communications
• Security Operations
• Integrity
• K9 obedience training
• K9 behavior modification
• K9 handling

Qualifications

• Must have and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
• Current Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) for healthcare providers or willing to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Demonstrated previous experience as a K9 handler or in a similar security role is highly desirable.
• Completion of K9 handler training and certification through National Police Canine Association (NPCA) within 90 days.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills, especially in deescalating strong emotional situations as well as Excellent animal handling skills, strong observational abilities, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills both verbally and in writing.

Housing Requirements:

• Providing a suitable living environment for the K9 is essential for its health, happiness, and performance in its security duties. Home inspections will be conducted to ensure adequate indoor living conditions and outdoor space to provide a safe and controlled environment for the dog to exercise, play, and train.
• A critical aspect of a K9 officer's qualifications includes ensuring appropriate housing, shelter, and space for their canine partner. This not only affects the K9's well-being but also their performance in the field. Providing adequate space allows for bonding and better success with their training, ultimately enhancing their effectiveness in law enforcement duties

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need for employee to see and read information, labels, monitors, identify equipment and supplies, and be able to assess customer needs.
• Frequent interactions with customers require employees to communicate as well as understand spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy.
• Expected to lift and utilize full range of movement to transport, pull, and push equipment. Will also work on hands and knees and bend to set-up, troubleshoot, lift, and carry supplies and equipment. Typically includes items of varying weights, up to and including heavy items.
• For roles requiring driving: Expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting, seeing and reading signs, traffic signals, and other vehicles.

Physical Requirements:

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need for employee to see and read information, labels, monitors, identify equipment and supplies, and be able to assess customer needs.
• Frequent interactions with customers require employees to communicate as well as understand spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy.
• Expected to lift and utilize full range of movement to transport, pull, and push equipment. Will also work on hands and knees and bend to set-up, troubleshoot, lift, and carry supplies and equipment. Typically includes items of varying weights, up to and including heavy items.
• For roles requiring driving: Expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting, seeing and reading signs, traffic signals, and other vehicles.

Location:

Intermountain Health LDS Hospital

Work City:

Salt Lake City

Work State:

Utah

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

The hourly range for this position is listed below. Actual hourly rate dependent upon experience. 

$24.29 - $38.26

We care about your well-being – mind, body, and spirit – which is why we provide our caregivers a generous benefits package that covers a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged.

Learn more about our comprehensive benefits package here.

Intermountain Health is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

At Intermountain Health, we use the artificial intelligence ("AI") platform, HiredScore to improve your job application experience. HiredScore helps match your skills and experiences to the best jobs for you. While HiredScore assists in reviewing applications, all final decisions are made by Intermountain personnel to ensure fairness. We protect your privacy and follow strict data protection rules. Your information is safe and used only for recruitment. Thank you for considering a career with us and experiencing our AI-enhanced recruitment process.

All positions subject to close without notice.