Chief of Campus Police and Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management

Bridgewater College; Bridgewater (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Chief of Police to lead its Campus Police Department. This role demands a dedicated individual with extensive law enforcement experience and a commitment to community safety. The Chief will oversee a full-service department, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and fostering a culture of respect and accountability. This position not only involves law enforcement duties but also requires collaboration with various college departments to enhance campus safety and emergency management. If you are passionate about creating a secure educational environment and possess strong leadership skills, this opportunity is tailored for you.

Benefits

Full benefits package

Paid tuition for eligible dependents

Qualifications

• Must be certified as a law enforcement officer in Virginia.
• 10+ years of law enforcement experience with 5+ years in management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Clery Act and manage department operations.
• Lead emergency management efforts and respond to campus safety issues.

Skills

Law Enforcement

Crisis Management

Community Policing

Emergency Preparedness

Investigative Skills

Leadership

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Virginia Law Enforcement Officer Certification

First Aid, CPR, AED Certifications

Job description

Job Details Job Location: Bridgewater College - Bridgewater, VA Salary Range: Undisclosed Description

CHIEF OF POLICE AND DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Bridgewater College seeks outstanding candidates to serve as the College’s Chief of Police and Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management.

The Chief of Police is responsible for the direction and all components of the Bridgewater College Campus Police Department, a full-service department operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Chief of Police is a sworn, certified police officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is the College’s primary law enforcement executive, maintaining an active role in patrol, criminal investigations, and campus safety and emergency management. The Chief manages a department of nearly ten employees, including sworn officers and certified safety officers. The next Chief of Police will serve as an impeccable role model for the campus community, upholding the highest standards of integrity and lawful conduct, serving as a visible and exemplary leader who fosters a culture of respect and accountability within the department and across the campus community.

The Chief, in the role of Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management, serves as a member of the College’s Emergency Operations Team, which consists of administrators from several College departments. This Team meets together as needed to respond to incidents and advise the College’s senior leadership on appropriate courses of action in the event of threats to the safety of the institution or members of our community, disturbances, severe weather, or other situations that are or could be disruptive to the College.

In addition to typical police department functions, the department is widely viewed as a community resource designed to provide service to the entire campus community, interacting frequently with all departments and offices. The Chief of Police reports directly to the Vice President for Student Life, emphasizing the department's commitment to student well-being and campus community support. The Chief’s position is highly visible within the College community, interacting daily with a diverse population of students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and visitors. There is also frequent interaction with local law enforcement agencies, with which the Campus Police Department maintains an excellent relationship.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure compliance with the Clery Act by assisting with the preparation of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports, ensuring that the Daily Crime Log and Fire Log are maintained and meet Clery standards, providing annual Crime Prevention and Campus Security programming and training, and keeping abreast of all other related laws and regulations.
• Function as a sworn police officer and perform all inherently related duties and trainings.
• Protect life and property and enforce local, state and federal laws, as well as the rules and regulations of the College within the appropriate jurisdictional confines.
• Develop, manage, and maintain all department policies and standard operating procedures and all processes associated with campus security, safety, and law enforcement including criminal investigations.
• Provide progressive leadership and strategic vision for planning, organizing, and administering department operations and activities including establishing and stewarding department goals and objectives consistent with the mission of the College.
• Ensure that Campus Police provide effective community-oriented policing, public safety, emergency response, and parking services, including responding to emergencies, preventing crime, and safeguarding College facilities and assets.
• Manage all personnel matters for the department related to hiring, training, evaluating, and disciplining Campus Police employees.
• Maintain active Virginia Law Enforcement Officer Certification as a certified police officer by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. This requires attending at least 40 hours of re-certification training bi-annually and annual training and qualification with a service weapon.
• Develop and implement department training programs and campus-wide crime prevention programs in accordance with best practices.
• Remain current on best practices in the field of crime prevention, law enforcement, emergency preparedness, and parking services.
• Develop, maintain and implement the College's crisis management/emergency preparedness plans, ensuring that the College is positioned to provide appropriate responses to high-risk incidents or highly sensitive situations, that the plan is updated, following best practices, and that students and College personnel are properly trained to respond to crises.
• Prepare and maintain records, reports, and correspondence in compliance with College business practices and local, state, and federal laws.
• Effectively manage fiscal resources and operating budget.
• Serve as a member of designated College committees, including the College’s Threat Assessment Team.
• Provide 24/7 on-call response and guidance.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be certified by the Virginia State Department for Criminal Justice Services as a law enforcement officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia (or be able to obtain Virginia certification within 12 months of accepting this position).
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in criminal justice, law or a related law enforcement field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience in law enforcement, and a minimum of 5 years of senior management experience in a law enforcement agency. Completion of a law enforcement management program, such as the FBI Academy, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing unique community policing approaches necessary in a residential higher education environment, including extensive knowledge of campus law enforcement management and process, law enforcement training standards, and state and federal laws, including Clery, Title IX, and U.S. Department of Education reporting requirements.
• Experience in leading or being a part of an emergency management team, with skills and experience in threat assessment and management, knowledge of trends, issues, and needs in campus safety and security, experience and training in crisis management planning, and knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Certification through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute is preferred.
• Maintain a valid Virginia State Driver's License with a safe driving record.
• Able to respond to complaints, settle disputes, resolve grievances and conflicts, and/or negotiate with others while performing policing and management duties, always maintaining a calm demeanor.
• Extensive experience as an investigator with the ability to effectively apply interviewing techniques.
• Possess excellent administrative, written, verbal and problem-solving skills.
• Current first aid, CPR, and AED certifications.
• If extended a conditional offer of employment, must submit to and successfully pass a background check, psychological evaluation, and medical examination prior to employment, and will be subject to random, reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug and alcohol screening during employment.

Pay is competitive, and salary is commensurate with experience. This full-time position offers a full benefits package, including paid tuition at the College for eligible dependents.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Bridgewater College was founded in 1880 as a coeducational liberal arts college to serve the local community. Located in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, just minutes outside of Harrisonburg and within driving distance of Charlottesville, Washington D.C., and Richmond, Bridgewater is home to approximately 1,400 full-time students from 26 states and 19 countries. Bridgewater students study across 60 majors and minors, in addition to four graduate programs and 10 pre-professional programs. Bridgewater College is an NCAA DIII school with approximately 40 percent of its students participating in intercollegiate athletics on 23 teams. To learn more about Bridgewater College, visit: bridgewater.edu

APPLY: Complete the online application.

DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Email [e-mail]

COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: Bridgewater College, an equal opportunity provider and employer, is a welcoming and vibrant workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Non-Discrimination Notice: https://www.bridgewater.edu/legal/non-discrimination-notice/

ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT AND ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT: The Bridgewater College Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report summarizes policies on campus security and personal safety, crime prevention, fire safety, and crime reporting, and includes crime and fire statistics for the past three years: https://bridgewater.app.box.com/s/4ma6tlh30y8cat9un192ugo3dm6n29y9

To request a printed copy, please call 540-828-5761.

NOTICE: If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call [phone] to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax at [phone], or email at [e-mail].