Director of Public Safety Onsite

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan-Flint Department of Public Safety (UM-Flint DPS), a department of the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS), leads all public safety functions on the Flint campus, including police, security, and emergency management, and offers an integrated approach to safety and security, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. DPSS combines Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint operations to provide students, visitors, faculty, and staff with a safe and secure environment. Through our multi-campus partnerships, as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, we use a blended service model to meet the needs of our communities and exceed expectations.

The University of Michigan seeks an experienced, strategic, and community-focused law enforcement leader to serve as Chief of Police for the Flint campus. The Chief of Police is a direct report to the Executive Director of the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) for all law enforcement, public safety, and security-related functions, including policing operations, investigations, emergency preparedness, crime prevention, threat assessment, professional standards, and overall alignment with university-wide safety and security priorities.

The Chief also maintains direct day-to-day reporting to the UM-Flint Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance to support the needs of the Flint campus, including leadership of campus coordination, local operational needs, community engagement, and liaison responsibilities with campus leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

As a member of DPSS and a key leader serving the Flint campus, the Chief provides executive leadership and operational oversight for the UM-Flint Department of Public Safety, ensuring high-quality, community-centered service while advancing consistency, accountability, and collaboration across the University of Michigan public safety enterprise.

The Chief of Police serves as the senior public safety advisor to UM-Flint leadership and works collaboratively with campus partners, local, state and federal agencies, emergency management officials, and community stakeholders to ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming campus environment.

The Chief of Police is designated as a Campus Security Authority under the Jeanne Clery Act and is responsible for supporting compliance with all applicable reporting and notification requirements.

To learn more about the University of Michigan-Flint campus, click here.

Salary Information

Salary starts at $145,000 with the potential for additional consideration commensurate with the candidate's experience, qualifications and expertise directly related to the job responsibilities.

Responsibilities*

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate must demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, effective communication and collaboration, and a commitment to community-oriented policing, professionalism, accountability, and service.

This position requires availability outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency response situations.

Leadership & Operations

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all police and public safety operations.
• Develop and implement department short and long-term goals, policies, and operational plans aligned with University and DPSS priorities and policies.
• Oversee patrol operations, investigations, emergency response, crime prevention, special event planning, and security services.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, deployment, budgeting, equipment, facilities, and operational resources.
• Administer and coordinate the parking program and enforcement, traffic control, vehicle protection and issuing of State traffic citations.
• Promote continuous improvement, operational effectiveness, and service excellence.
• Keep the Chancellor, DPSS Executive Director and Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance apprised of emerging and priority public safety-related conditions, incidents, and resource needs.
• Represent UM-Flint in university-wide public safety planning, enterprise risk discussions, and cross-campus coordination.

Campus Safety & Emergency Preparedness

• Lead campus emergency preparedness, response planning, training exercises, and incident command coordination.
• Coordinate response to critical incidents, emergencies, and business continuity disruptions.
• Oversee public safety planning for major campus events, dignitary visits, protests, demonstrations, athletic or cultural events, and high-attendance programs.
• Lead the Problem-Oriented Public Safety (POPS) program as part of a Community Policing Competitive grant.
• Develop preventive and data-informed safety strategies to reduce crime and mitigate risk.
• Serve as a campus spokesperson during major public safety incidents, when appropriate.

Leadership & Personnel Development

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate sworn and non-sworn personnel.
• Foster a positive, professional, and accountable workplace culture.
• Ensure department personnel receive required and ongoing training in leadership, crisis response, de-escalation, compliance, emergency preparedness, and community policing.

Collaboration & Community Engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with students, faculty, staff, community organizations, and public safety agencies.
• Collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement and emergency management partners.
• Represent the University at campus, regional, and community public safety meetings and initiatives.
• Support community-oriented policing practices that promote trust, transparency, and engagement.

Compliance & Administration

• Ensure compliance with all applicable state, federal and local laws, accreditation standards, University policies, including, but not limited to, Clery Act requirements, Higher Education Opportunity Act, Title IX, Title VI, and FERPA.
• Oversee Clery reporting, emergency notifications, timely warnings, and related documentation within the DPSS structure and standards.
• Lead internal investigations in accordance with DPSS standards, accountability processes, and policy review efforts.
• Participate in labor relations matters and collective bargaining processes, where applicable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to community-oriented policing, procedural justice, and inclusion.
• Ability to lead effectively during crises and high-pressure situations.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and decision-making ability.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Knowledge of law enforcement technology, records systems, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace.
• Significant police operational experience in the areas of patrol response, major investigations, special event planning, and operational plan development.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, emergency management, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience.
• Significant command-level or senior leadership experience in law enforcement and public safety, including patrol operations, major investigations, event and operational planning.
• Experience at the rank of Police Captain, Police Deputy Chief, or equivalent leadership role.
• Completion of an accredited police academy or equivalent law enforcement training.
• MCOLES certification or the ability to obtain certification within a University-established timeframe.
• Demonstrated experience managing personnel, budgets, patrol and investigative operations, policy development, implementing strategic objectives and public safety programs in a
• higher education or complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience of modern policing practices, emergency preparedness, crime prevention, threat assessment, and community policing principles.
• Strong understanding of applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting public safety and higher education, including the Clery Act.
• Valid driver's license and ability to successfully complete required background, psychological, physical, and drug screening processes.
• Experience building effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, community organizations, University leaders, faculty, staff, students, and the public.
• Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, law enforcement reporting systems, and related technology.
• Completion of police staff and command, FBI National Academy, or an equivalent
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and respond to emergencies outside normal business hours as needed.

Why Work at U-M Flint?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future.

Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions after 12 months of eligible service with immediate vesting.
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

Eligibility for benefits based on your job group, your appointment percentage and the length of your appointment. Learn more about employee benefits and eligibility from the UM Human Resources Benefits and Wellness webpage.

UM-Flint offers tuition support for eligible UM-Flint staff members. In addition, UM-Flint offers dependent tuition support (DTS) for qualified dependents of faculty and staff from all UM campuses. Information can be found at: https://www.umflint.edu/hr/benefits/.

Information about our vision, mission and values can be found at: https://www.umflint.edu/chancellor/leadership-mission-vision/

Modes of Work

Onsite

The work requires, or the supervisor approves a fully onsite presence. Onsite is defined as a designated U-M owned or leased work location within or outside of the State of Michigan.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

All members of the Division of Public Safety and Security are considered Campus Security Authorities under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

As such, the Chief of Police is required to ensure appropriate reporting of Clery-reportable offenses and support compliance with Clery Act training, documentation, reporting, timely warning, and emergency notification requirements.

The Chief of Police is required to respond outside normal business hours to emergencies, significant incidents, campus events, weather-related events, public safety threats, or other situations requiring senior public safety leadership.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

This position requires successful completion of an extensive law enforcement background investigation, including a review of employment history, criminal history, driving record, education, certifications, references, psychological evaluation, physical, drug screen and other job-related qualifications.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

This posting will be open until it is filled. However, for best consideration please apply by August 5, 2026.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.