Security & Information Attendant

Are you passionate about community safety and providing excellent customer service? The City is seeking a dedicated and responsible individual to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for staff and visitors. If you’re dependable, observant, and take pride in helping create secure public spaces, we invite you to apply and make a positive impact in our community.

This position provides unarmed safety and security in assigned City-owned properties and surrounding areas including facilities, parks, and parking areas. Monitors and patrols assigned areas to ensure appropriate behavior of facility users and to prevent disruptive behavior, loitering, trespassing, theft and vandalism. Responds to safety or security situations and contacts appropriate staff, law enforcement or other emergency personnel as appropriate. Provides directions, information and assistance to visitors and helps ensure safe access to facilities. Enforces City and departmental regulations as appropriate. Performs occasional custodial tasks to ensure cleanliness and safety for facility users. May provide telephone reception and perform clerical duties as assigned by supervisor.

 

Salary Information and Benefits:

This position will start at Step 1 ($22.98/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $22.98 - $28.07. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures. 

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Fri. 10/31/25 4:30 PM Pacific Time 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Secures buildings, contents and grounds, as appropriate. Conducts frequent patrols to prevent theft, vandalism and inappropriate conduct. Ensures that all areas of facilities are limited to authorized users. Acts immediately to address inappropriate behaviors and evict unauthorized users. Identifies and responds to security and custodial needs. Responds to safety or security situations and contacts appropriate staff, law enforcement or other emergency personnel as appropriate. Reports and records all incidents. Performs opening and closing assignments. Ensures safety of staff as they leave the building. 
2. Responds to safety or emergency situations directly or by contacting appropriate staff, law enforcement or other emergency personnel as necessary. Notifies staff and aids in evacuation during emergencies. Assists staff and visitors as needed during emergency situations.
3. Proactively builds relationships and establishes trust with community members of all ages, cultures and diverse backgrounds. Refers patrons experiencing substance use, mental health episodes, homelessness, and other crises to appropriate personnel for specialized assistance. Treats individuals with respect and dignity.
4. Greets visitors and promotes good public relations by answering directional, informational, or other questions and explaining policies, procedures and regulations. Performs security and welcoming functions for meetings and special events.
5. Explains and, when needed, enforces City and departmental policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Issues warnings or takes corrective action as applicable. Acts proactively to defuse potentially disruptive situations, recognizing, and referring situations best handled by law enforcement. Escorts unauthorized users and disruptive visitors from assigned premises, gaining assistance of law enforcement when necessary.
6. Provides program input to maintain a safe and inviting atmosphere for patrons and staff.  Implements safety procedures and supports safety program and improvements. Attends City and department safety meetings. May train department staff regarding safety procedures and policies. Assists with emergency drills.
7. Writes detailed incident reports and helps to maintain incident database. Reports and records all incidents; identifies damage to the buildings, furnishings, or equipment as well as identifying and reporting safety concerns.
8. Performs litter pick-up and basic custodial duties to ensure cleanliness and safety of facility and assigned area.
9. Assists with department programs such as concerts, art and nature walks, library programs and actitivites. Gathers supplies and equipment for events and activities. Performs set-up and breakdown of equipment. Restocks supplies and displays, as needed. May assemble and relocate shelving, equipment and furniture.

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

1. Removes snow and ice from walkways and outside ramps. 
2. Provides telephone and other clerical assistance as needed. 
3. Assists customers with minor problems.  
4. May assist in training other attendants.
5. Performs other related work within the scope of the classification.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Depending on assignment, work is primarily performed in City facilities, parks or in outdoor parking garages and parking areas. May be exposed to outdoor elements, inclement weather and vehicle exhaust fumes. May be required to wear City-issued uniform and meet grooming standards. Involves a high degree of interaction with the public. May be exposed to hostile, offensive language, or interactions with angry or volatile individuals.

Physical ability to perform essential functions of the job including:
 

• Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, copier and fax machine; 
• Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others; 
• Frequently move between work sites;
• Frequently stand for extended periods of time;
• Frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions;
• Lift and transport objects weighing 30lbs regularly and 50lbs occasionally.

Experience and Training

• One (1) year work experience involving extensive interaction with the public required, including experience dealing with volatile and confrontational situations.
• Experience ensuring adherence to policies and procedures with community members of all ages, cultures and diverse backgrounds preferred.
• Experience responding to, de-escalating and maintaining records of security incidents preferred. 
• Some positions may prefer additional experience or training related to the vacancy.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, child and adult abuse records check and local background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire. 
• Washington State driver’s license and good driving record required at time of hire for some positions.  Must submit a three-year driving record abstract prior to hire.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings, rotating shifts, weekends and occasional holidays.

Selection Process

**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
 
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Application Review Process:

1. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around November 3, 2025. 
2. Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating.  Applicant status will be updated on or around November 10, 2025.  
3. The top eight (8) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of November 17, 2025.  Applicants must have a passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.
4. Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following Experience and Training Rating (40%) and Oral Board Interview (60%).

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in Public Works. This position is represented by a union.  

If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (Download PDF reader) and upload it to your application with your DD214. 

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.