Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety & Chief of Police

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety & Chief of Police

University of Colorado Colorado
Springs

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety & Chief of Police – 40199 University Staff

Description
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety & Chief of
Police

Division of Strategic Initiatives and
Operations

Elevate Your Career at UCCS: Innovate, Inspire, and Impact in the
Rockies!

Who We Are

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic
excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of
Police to join our team! UCCS is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an environment that
supports innovation and student success.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than
its scenery-a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much
as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

Salary
Range: $120,766 – $172,523 annually. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and
qualifications. This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Work Location:
On-Site

Benefits at a Glance

At UCCS, our employees are our most valued asset. We’re proud to
offer:

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 vacation days, 10 sick days, paid parental
  leave, 13 recognized holidays, and provisions for bereavement, jury duty, and FAMLI Leave.
• Robust Health Coverage: Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a
  yearly mental health visit. Plus, benefit from affordable dental, vision plans, and competitive prescription drug prices.
• Financial & Retirement Benefits: Take advantage of our health savings, flexible
  spending accounts, and life and disability insurance. Plan for your future with our retirement options.
• Further Your Education: Avail twelve (12) waived credits per academic year for courses at any CU campus.
  We invest in your educational and professional growth.
• Wellness & More: From
  wellness programs aimed at achieving your best self to various additional benefits through CU Advantage, we prioritize well-being and
  holistic development.
• Want to know your total compensation? Use our calculator to get the complete
  picture!

Summary

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police serves as the
senior public safety and law enforcement leader for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs a residential public university serving
approximately 10,319 students, 545 faculty, and 722 staff. This position provides strategic, administrative, operational, and fiscal
leadership for the Department of Public Safety, including police operations, emergency communications, emergency management, environmental
health and safety, fire safety, access control, records, property and evidence, and related administrative services. The role advises campus
leadership on public safety strategy, emergency preparedness, law enforcement operations, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and
community safety. The position works closely with students, faculty, staff, campus leaders, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El
Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Colorado Springs City
Attorney’s Office and other University of Colorado campuses and the University of Colorado System Office to support a safe, prepared, and
service-oriented campus environment.

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of the
position include, but are not limited to:

(35%) Strategic Leadership and Department
Administration

• Serve as the senior executive for campus public safety and provide strategic direction for the Department
  of Public Safety to ensure a safe, secure, and supportive environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the broader campus
  community.
• Lead departmental planning, staffing, policy development, resource allocation, and operational priorities across
  sworn and professional public safety functions.
• Manage departmental budgets and identify grant opportunities, partnerships,
  alternative funding sources, and resource strategies that support operational efficiency while addressing campus safety
  needs.
• Advise the Public Safety supervisory Vice Chancellor and other senior leaders on law enforcement, emergency management,
  safety, security, risk, and crisis-response matters.
• Develop and support a high-trust and high-performing department culture
  grounded in care, accountability,
  professionalism, service, ethical conduct, procedural justice, and continuous improvement
• Provide leadership, supervision,
  coaching, performance management, and professional development for command staff, managers, supervisors, officers, and professional
  staff.

(25%) Police Operations, Investigations, and Campus Safety
Services

• Direct police operations, including patrol, investigations, emergency communications, crime prevention, event
  security, VIP support, traffic and parking enforcement support, and response to calls for service.
• Ensure the department
  maintains appropriate readiness for major incidents, hostile threats, emergencies, campus events, and other situations affecting the safety
  and security of the campus community.
• Oversee records, property, and evidence, incident reporting, case management, access
  control, security support, and related operational systems.
• Ensure law enforcement actions, training, certifications, firearms
  programs, standard operating procedures, and general orders meet legal, professional, university, and Colorado POST
  requirements.
• Review operational data, crime trends, incident reports, community concerns, and emerging safety needs to improve
  services, staffing models, deployment, and response strategies.

(15%)
Emergency Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and Fire Safety

• Provide executive oversight for emergency
  management, emergency preparedness, continuity planning, training, exercises, and all-hazards response coordination for
  UCCS.
• Oversee environmental health and safety, fire safety, hazardous materials coordination, life-safety programs, inspections,
  and related prevention and response functions.
• Coordinate preparedness and response activities with campus departments, senior
  leadership, local emergency responders, and other public safety partners.
• Promote personal, occupational, environmental, and
  community safety through education, prevention, planning, training, and operational readiness.

(15%) Compliance and Policy Oversight

• Ensure compliance with applicable
  federal, state, local, university, and law enforcement requirements, including Clery Act reporting, VAWA-related obligations, Colorado
  Victim Rights Act requirements, and applicable crime reporting standards.
• Oversee the development, review, implementation, and
  maintenance of department policies, procedures, records, training expectations, and accountability practices.
• Support internal
  review processes, complaint response, personnel matters, sensitive investigations, and confidential information management with sound
  judgment and discretion.
• Serve as a Campus Security Authority and ensure accurate, timely, and coordinated public safety
  reporting and communication in partnership with appropriate campus offices.

(10%) Community Engagement and Interagency Collaboration

• Advance a strong and approachable community-policing approach
  that builds trust, transparency, and constructive relationships with students, faculty, staff, families, visitors, and community
  partners
• Collaborate with campus leadership, student-facing units, residential life, facilities, communications, legal counsel,
  institutional equity, student affairs, and other partners to address safety concerns and improve the campus experience
• Maintain
  strong working relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency response agencies, prosecutorial
  offices, and public safety leaders across the University of Colorado system
• Represent UCCS in public safety matters and
  communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders during routine operations, significant events, emergencies, and sensitive
  situations.

Tentative Search Timeline

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by:
  July 9th, 2026
• Potential interview dates: July 13th, 2026 – July 31st,
  2026.
• Potential start date: August 22nd, 2026.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies
with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where
all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected
veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In accordance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, UCCS does not discriminate based on
sex in our employment or compensation practices.

Qualifications

• To be considered for this role, candidates must
  possess a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, police administration, public administration, social science, or a related
  field. Substitution: Year-for-year executive-level law enforcement experience may be considered as a substitution for the
  degree.
• Candidates must have a proven track record of progressively responsible sworn law enforcement leadership at the command
  level or higher, including experience directing police operations, supervising personnel, managing budgets, allocating resources, and
  leading complex public safety initiatives.
• Candidates must possess Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
  certification or be able to obtain Colorado POST certification within 90 days of hire and must maintain certification as a condition of
  employment.
• Candidates must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of
  hire.
• Candidates must be able to serve in an essential/critical capacity, respond to campus emergencies and critical incidents, and
  work outside normal business hours as operational needs require.
• Candidates must live, or be willing to relocate, within a 45-minute
  commute to campus.

The following qualifications are highly desirable:

• Experience leading public safety in a higher
  education, public-sector, or similarly complex multi-stakeholder environment.
• Demonstrated experience with community policing,
  Clery Act compliance, threat assessment, emergency management, First Amendment considerations in a public setting, mental health-related
  response, physical and electronic security systems, public communication, and interagency coordination.
• A master’s degree in
  criminal justice, public administration, business administration, law enforcement, or a related field.
• Completion of an
  executive law enforcement leadership program, such as the FBI National Academy, FBI-LEEDA, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command,
  PERF Senior Management Institute for Police, or a similar command leadership program.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Applications submitted by July 9th, 2026, will receive full consideration.

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