Exec. Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police
Job Description
Full Job Description
The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.
At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.
Here is what we offer:
- Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
- Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
- Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
- Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
- Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture
Join Howard University and thrive with us!
https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness
BASIC FUNCTION:
The Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police (Chief of Police) is responsible for providing innovative and progressive police and security services for a University and hospital communities. He or she provides leadership, mentoring, direction and management for the department, including officer recruitment, training and management; patrol operations; event management; investigations; community outreach and policing; crime prevention strategies; crime statistic and federal compliance reporting; environmental health and safety; threat assessment; and crisis and emergency response management. The Chief of Police serves as a strategic advisor on safety, security and crisis management issues and collaborates closely with law enforcement and related local and regional agencies.
SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:
Has overall responsibility for providing direction and guidance for all staff with the university and hospital public safety operations. Plans, assigns, and evaluates the work of subordinates for effective operation and results and is responsible for making recommendations in the areas of compensation, staff selection, disciplinary action, complaints, staff performance appraisal, and similar supervisory duties.
NATURE AND SCOPE:
Internal contacts include cabinet members, deans and directors of the colleges/schools, other administrators, faculty, students and staff of the University enterprise. External contacts include regulatory and law enforcement agencies, community representatives, and vendors.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Strategically aligns best practices to ensure innovative approaches to managing safety and security within an urban campus setting.
- Forecasts threat assessment and prevention to ensure the integration of homeland security and emergency preparedness strategies. Develops and manages an emergency preparedness plan and directs activities in emergency and unusual or controversial situations.
- Designs, develops, implements, and manages services and programs which support and respond to the safety and security needs of the university community.
- Serves as Campus Security Survey Administrator (CSSA) as mandated by Federal law and produces the federally mandated campus security survey.
- Develops and implements department goals, objectives, and policies and procedures and oversees the maintenance of a comprehensive statistical data reporting system to ensure the department's compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; effects changes required for improvement.
- Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the organization's goals and objectives; recruits, employs, trains, supervises, and evaluates unit staff. Oversees the overall operations of campus police.
- Represents the University to various institutional divisions as well as externally to media, government agencies, funding agencies, students, and/or the general public/local community. Ensures that security is provided for high profile visitors, graduation exercises and other special events in accordance with Secret Service and Homeland Security standards.
- Develops and manages annual budgets for the organization and performs periodic cost and productivity analyses. Recommends and participates in the development of University policies and procedures; serves on university planning and policy-making committees. Plans, develops, and implements strategies for generating resources and/or revenues for the organization including development of sources of grant revenues.
- Plans, develops and implements a comprehensive program of crime prevention and education for the campus community including such programs as escort services and preventative programs.
- Interviews and orientates staff reporting to the Campus Police Department. Provides ongoing guidance and support to designated staff and advises staff in the appropriate documentation, management and resolution of security issues in order to promote satisfactory outcomes.
- Plans, develops, implements and evaluates campus electronic access control programs.
- Ensures that the latest technology is used related to computers for data collection and analysis and radio communications.
- Coordinates with University public affairs officials on critical public information requests from media. Performs other related duties as assigned.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- Leading Change and Transformation: Understands need for and initiates and manages needed change through a strategic approach that engages key stakeholders in a shared vision and toward collective outcomes; recognizes, plans for, and takes appropriate steps to address challenges associated with undertaking organizational transformation.
- Developing Others: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations; forward-thinking in approaches to complex and entrenched problems.
- Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of departmental and surrounding teams through collaboration, continuous learning and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others. Ability to motivate and engage employees through effective communication and coaching.
- Conflict Management: Ability to use appropriate interpersonal skills and methods to reduce tension and resolve conflict in difficult and complex situations to achieve resolution or adherence to laws and/or regulations.
- Communication and Customer Service Skills: Communicates clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipates and responds to customer needs in a high-quality and courteous manner.
- Commitment to Equity: Passionate about serving diverse populations at all levels in a professional and culturally aware manner regardless of background or social/economic circumstance.
- Building Trust: Ability to create a work environment that encourages others to practice respect, demonstrate open communication, and promote accountability.
- Organizational Sensitivity: Ability to understand the institution’s mission, the function of the specific work unit and how it works with other work units to serve the campus and surrounding communities.
- Civic Sensitivity: Ability to understand the impact and implications of decisions on the community and others in the industry; knowledge/experience in building positive town-gown relations.
- Adaptive Creativity: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.
- Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem-solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions that are of benefit to diverse interests and populations.
- Safety and Security Management: Knowledge and understanding of applicable and effective policies and procedures to establish and maintain a culture of safety for employees in an academic and/or healthcare environment. Ability to ensure sufficient training of applicable members of the campus community.
- Strategic Planning & Analysis: Ability to use a variety of internal and external information sources to identify issues and trends. Ability to study social, economic, and technical information to identify ways to achieve long-range goals or meet the vision of the organization. Ability to use the results of strategic analysis to establish and commit to a course of action in order to accomplish long-range goals or the vision of the organization.
- Accountability: Ability to be relied upon to ensure that projects within areas of responsibility are completed in a timely manner. Ability to monitor programs and/or activities and take corrective action when necessary.
- Dependability: Does whatever it takes to consistently deliver with high quality under tight deadlines; successfully manages projects through strong organization, balancing of multiple priorities, detailed work plans and specific goals.
- Objectivity: Ability to make decisions without regard to personal prejudices, biases, and experiences.
- Stress Tolerance: Ability to deal with high stress situations calmly and effectively.
- Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of performance and leadership, and is driven by a desire to contribute to the holistic development of all members of the campus community.
- Decision Making: Knowledge of and ability to use effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions and/or reaching conclusions. Ability to take action consistent with available facts, constraints, and anticipated consequences.
- Project Management/Coordination: Ability to provide strategic oversight and management of tasks, workflows and requisite resources as necessary for projects. Ability to detect and monitor environmental risks to ensure quality assurance/control and safety. Ability to implement, monitor and regulate procedures, tasks, or activities to achieve the targeted results.
- Professional / Technical Knowledge: Possession of a high level of professional skill and/or current knowledge in law enforcement to facilitate effective developments and trends that are preventive and responsive to execution of goals and objectives.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Candidates must have experience in an urban environment with at least 15 years of law enforcement experience and at least 10 years in a police management or leadership role. Previous experience in higher education or healthcare is preferred. Certification as a University Police Chief in the District of Columbia (or ability to obtain certification within 6 months) is required. Previous leadership experience working with large groups of law enforcement staff is required. Previous experience working with a local police force is preferable.
Compliance Salary Range Disclosure
Expected Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000
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