Community Service Officer Therapy Canine presso The University of South Florida Board of Trustees
The University of South Florida Board of Trustees · Saint Petersburg, Stati Uniti d'America · Onsite
- Junior
- Ufficio in Saint Petersburg
The University of South Florida Police Department (USFPD) is a full-service law enforcement agency dedicated to providing a safe environment for and in partnership with the community, while remaining committed to assisting with personal and professional development of department members, and to the principle of being community minded and service driven.
USFPD on the main Tampa campus is organized into various bureaus, divisions, sections, squads, and units. The department is led by a command staff comprised of sworn and non-sworn members of the rank of captain and higher, a communications and records manager, and public information representative; all of whom report to the chief of police through an established chain-of-command. The Operations Bureau is commanded by a captain who oversees the Patrol Division and the Community Service Officer Program. The Patrol Division is further broken down into four squads which provide direct law enforcement services to the community. The Administrative Bureau is commanded by a captain who oversees the Special Operations Division which includes the Canine and Criminal Investigations Sections; both of which are led by sergeants. The Administration Bureau captain also oversees the Support Services Division. The Support Services Division includes the Professional Standards and Information Technology Sections. The accreditation, training and background investigation units fall within the Professional Standards Section which is managed by a sergeant. The Communications & Records Division reports to a non-sworn manager.
In addition to the USFPD on the main Tampa campus, USFPD maintains a police service at the regional university campus located in St. Petersburg. The USFPD on the St. Petersburg campus is led by a Regional Police Chief who reports to the University Chief on the main campus. The Regional Police Chief is responsible for all department functions, with Operations, Communications and Policy/Accreditation reporting directly to them. A captain oversees all patrol operations, including the Community Service Officer and the Therapy/Comfort Canine program on the regional campus.
Responsibilities
Community Service Officers (CSO) are non-sworn employees providing support to the University campus community through various duties including: community outreach, public presentations and therapeutic interactions, as well as other non-law enforcement duties throughout the campus, these goals will be met by interacting with diverse groups of people within the university community. The Community Service Officer (CSO) is vital in providing a communication link between the university community and the USF Police Department and greatly enhances the department's capabilities to serve the University Community.
Community Service Officers assigned as a Comfort/Therapy canine handler serve the campus community through outreach and specific programming, such as community visits, individual assistance, public presentations, and liaisons with campus and community groups. The CSO canine handler shall take the necessary actions to ensure the good health, welfare and service capacity of their assigned canine, both on and of duty. This shall include achieving and maintaining designated canine certifications, achieving on-going training requirements, ensuring proper welfare and medical care, providing daily grooming and hygiene, completing the maintenance of vehicle and equipment, providing direct supervision of the canine, and since the officer will be authorized to maintain the K-9 partner at home, a safe home living environment is a necessity.
In addition to the canine handler duties, the CSO may be called upon to provide community assistance to include, safety escorts (foot or motorized cart), directions to students, staff, faculty and visitors, providing campus information and other assistance as required. Support the university through the completion of tasks, such as, lost/found property, motorist assistance, observing and reporting suspicious activities/persons, assisting with special watches/details, providing transportation support functions and other supportive tasks such as special events and other community service officer duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Must meet the requirements of Chapter 493, Florida Statutes and have a high school diploma and one year of appropriate experience. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at any equivalent rate for the required experience. This position requires a valid Driver's License.
FLSB1310 Equivalency:
4 years of directly relevant experience may be substituted for bachelor's degree. 6 years of directly relevant experience may be substituted for master's degree.
Preferred Qualifications:
Two years relevant experience in a highly interactive role as a service dog handler or trainer.
Special Requirements:
The selected applicant will have excellent driving skills and a good driving record. In addition, this person will have a strong ability to work within a team environment, as well as strong computer and communication skills. The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report's national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state's 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Company
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Compliance and Federal Notices
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.
