"Assistant Vice President/Chief of Police"

Assistant Vice President/Chief of Police
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

The Twin Cities campus is Minnesota's only land-grant university and one of the most prestigious public research universities in the nation. Founded in 1851 near Saint Anthony Falls on the banks of the Mississippi River, they are one of five universities in the nation with an engineering school, medical school, law school, veterinary medicine school, and agricultural school all on one campus.

The assistant vice president and chief of police (AVP/COP) provides high-quality, comprehensive public safety services for the University of Minnesota. This position reports to the executive vice president for finance and operations, and leads the University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) on the Twin Cities campus and the system-wide Public Safety Emergency Communications Center (PSECC).

The UMPD is a fully sworn and POST-certified, 24/7 police agency. The AVP/COP oversees approximately 80 full-time staff (including 50 full-time police officers), 170 part-time police officers, and approximately 150 student employees and manages a budget of $12.7 million.

The salary range for this position is $207,793 - $243,760.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 10 years of leadership experience within a police department, of which six years must be at an upper management/command level. Demonstrated experience recruiting, retaining, and directing a diverse staff of law enforcement personnel and a proven ability to effectively police a diverse community; experience developing and implementing major initiatives, programs, and projects; and experience with emergency response, threat assessment, and infrastructure security are all required characteristics of the new AVP/COP.

The AVP/COP will have proven strategic management skills with demonstrated experience formulating, leading, and implementing successful strategic initiatives; a management style that entrusts decision-making into the organization with minimal intervention and possesses both the wisdom and the political savvy to determine which initiatives are important enough to champion and which ones to relinquish. Additional skills include: excellent relationship building, collaboration, and communication skills, both written and verbally, with the ability to take a position while taking into account, and being respectful to, multiple, diverse perspectives; experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with diverse populations and functions both within and outside an organization; personal integrity, demonstrated leadership, and a commitment to student success; and will be an excellent and highly respected leader who is customer-oriented, decisive, and results-focused. Detailed knowledge of federal and Minnesota state statutory codes, case law, civil law and procedures, and regulations and standards that govern the operation of Minnesota law enforcement agencies, as well as federal regulations that govern campus safety and demonstrated ability to work closely with local and state police agencies and government entities are necessary as is the ability to maintain a personal fitness level that is demanded of police who must carry out duties in extreme or dangerous environmental conditions.

Preferred qualifications include a relevant master's degree; a demonstrated understanding of the unique nature of policing within a higher education setting; demonstrated expert knowledge, interpretation and application of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act; experience overseeing police operations for large scale special events, dignitary visits, and demonstrations; and an Advanced Law Enforcement Training in leadership from reputable organization such as the FBI Academy.

Application and Nomination
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities has selected Spelman Johnson, a leading executive search firm, to assist with leading this search. Review of applications will begin August 20, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Submit a resume and cover letter via https://spelmanandjohnson.com/position/assistant-vice-president-and-chief-of-police-department-of-public-safety/

Contact Heather Larabee at hjl@spelmanjohnson.com for confidential inquiries. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

To apply, please visit: https://spelmanandjohnson.com/position/assistant-vice-president-and-chief-of-police-department-of-public-safety/