Police Chief

Lowellnc; Lowell (NC); On-site; USD 94,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

City of Lowell seeks a Police Chief to plan, direct, and manage the Police Department’s activities in accordance with city policy and state statutes. You will lead operations, set standards, and communicate with city management, elected officials, and the community.

The role includes strategic planning, budgeting, grant applications, and collaboration with other agencies, with a focus on transparency and trust-building through community programs.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances, and policies of the Police Department.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in criminal justice or public administration; supervisory experience in law enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages the Police Department and law enforcement services; clarifies mission and objectives with supervisory staff.
• Directs recruitment, training, and professional development; advises on scheduling and discipline.
• Establishes standards of performance and develops high-performance teams; sets policies and priorities.

Skills

Law enforcement principles

Team building

Policy development

Public presentations

Budget management

Crisis/incident response

Training and coaching

Education

Degree in criminal justice or public administration

Job description

General Statement of Duties

Performs complex administrative, managerial, and specialized law enforcement work in planning, organizing, and directing the activities of the Police Department.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class plans and directs the law enforcement program of the City. The employee is responsible for the protection of life and property through a varied program of enforcement, detection, investigation and prevention of crime and accidents. Work involves a full managerial and supervisory role including the establishment of operations and policy, creating and articulating a community policing philosophy, establishing trust and credibility with the community; evaluation and adherence to prescribed standards, and planning for and implementing special law enforcement activities. Work also includes overseeing the preparation of special State, Federal, and local reports; cooperating with other law enforcement agencies; preparing and managing operating and capital budgets; overseeing the application of technology within the department; and supervising all department personnel. Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and State and Federal statutes. The employee is subject to hazards associated with law enforcement which include working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as noise, proximity to moving mechanical parts, and electrical current. Work is performed under the direct supervision of the City Manager and is evaluated through periodic conferences, observation of results achieved, review of records, reports and files, and acceptance of the community.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Tasks

• Oversees and manages the Police Department and law enforcement services in the City; meets with supervisory staff on a regular basis to clarify mission and objectives, builds a sense of team within the Department, ensures that all are informed, and obtains input on decisions and issues.
• Oversees recruitment, selection, career development and training of personnel for the department; advises directs, and consults with subordinate officers on matters of training, work assignments, scheduling, and discipline; develops teamwork and staff leadership skills.
• Establishes and communicates standards of performance and a philosophy of law enforcement for the department; creates a high-performance work team; provides leadership, motivation, conflict resolution, performance coaching and evaluation programs for staff; establishes policies and procedures; sets priorities.
• Performs all administrative functions to include strategically planning, establishing departmental goals and objectives for both the long and short term, administering the budget, purchasing, and supervising the care of vehicles, technology and equipment.
• Prepares and presents written reports and documents to staff, City management and elected officials; supervises the preparation of periodic reports of crime and accident activity and police department activities; analyzes data for trends.
• Prepares and recommends annual budget in consultation with the City Manager; supervises and participates in the application for grants.
• Establishes credibility and trust with the community through various community education and outreach programs; investigates inquiries or complaints concerning police activities and services.
• Supervises and participates in the functions of the department including patrol, investigations, records, School Resources program, and related activities; supervises internal personnel investigations.
• Works with the public and staff on difficult or unusual crime situations; and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in crime prevention, detection, and investigative activities.
• Represents the Police Department and the City in presentations to civic and volunteer organizations; drafts press releases and conducts media briefings.

Additional Job Duties

• Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances, and policies of the Police Department.
• Thorough knowledge of the physical, economic, and social characteristics of the City.
• Considerable knowledge of the City's personnel, purchasing and budgeting policies and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of the application of information technology to Police work.
• Considerable knowledge and skill in team building, counseling, coaching, motivation, communication, and performance evaluation with subordinates.
• Skill in collaborative conflict resolution.
• Skill in the use of firearms and other police equipment, and in self-defense tactics.
• Skill and ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the police operation and to institute improvements, including all administrative and supervisory functions.
• Ability to provide vision and clarify mission and to lead and inspire confidence among subordinate officers to develop a high-performance team.
• Ability to plan and direct special programs and events related to law enforcement.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports and make effective public presentations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City officials, elected officials, law enforcement agencies, employees and the general public.
• Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and performing repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform light work and exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, operate a computer terminal, and perform extensive reading.

Desirable Education and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in criminal justice or public administration, supplemented by advanced courses in police administration and considerable supervisory experience of a progressively responsible nature in law enforcement work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirement

• Possession of valid North Carolina driver's license; possession of at least a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate issued by the State of North Carolina; prefer Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate and completion of FBI National Academy or NCSU AOMP.

Job Open Date

August 21, 2026

Job Close Date

September 21, 2026

The full salary range is $94,089 to $138,894, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The City of Lowell offers a comprehensive benefits program. The City of Lowell is an Equal Opportunity Employer.