Chief/Director – Consortium Public Safety Programs in Washington, District of Columbia at Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metro

Job Title: Chief/Director – Consortium Public Safety Programs

Job Summary:

The Chief/Director for Public Safety Programs provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Consortium Campus Public Safety Institute (CPSI) and public safety initiatives across member institutions. Reporting to the President of the Consortium, this role collaborates closely with campus police chiefs, Emergency Managers, public safety officials, and other institutional partners to plan, implement, manage, and evaluate police training and professional development programs and to sustain and expand the Consortium’s leadership in public safety.

For CPSI, the Chief/Director is responsible for assessing training needs, advancing modern policing practices, and fostering a culture of continuous learning across all levels of campus public safety personnel. This position plays a critical role in enhancing the safety and security of university communities by delivering innovative, research-based training grounded in 21st-century policing principles and community engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Development:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive vision for CPSI training and public safety initiatives aligned with Consortium goals.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and member institutions on public safety training and development strategies.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development across campus public safety organizations.

2. Training & Curriculum Management:

• Assess campus police and security training needs and implement program improvements.
• Develop and deliver training grounded in 21st-century policing concepts, including the Guardian Mindset and community engagement.
• Ensure training programs incorporate research-based, data-driven, and peer-reviewed practices.
• Stay current on emerging trends, legal updates, and best practices in law enforcement and security training.

3. CPSI Academy Oversight:

• Oversee the CPSI Academy and all instructional programming in collaboration with member campus police chiefs.
• Recruit, select, and supervise instructors and manage contractual training personnel.
• Conduct site visits to observe training, validate performance, and ensure program quality and consistency. The chief/director is typically on site for most of the Institute training.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration:

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Consortium member institutions and campus police leadership.
• Serve as the primary liaison for the Consortium to the Police Chiefs and Emergency Managers committees. Partner with the leadership of those committees to schedule meetings and provide agendas in a timely manner.
• Conduct ongoing needs assessments with CPSI police chiefs to ensure high-quality, relevant training offerings.
• Establish relationships with regional public safety leaders to promote collaboration and innovation.

5. Operational & Budget Management:

• Develop and manage training budgets and resources effectively.
• Oversee contracts and external partnerships supporting training initiatives.
• Ensure efficient execution and continuous improvement of training operations.
• Plan for and initiate sufficient growth to enhance the quality of the Institute and Consortium public safety initiatives through participant and program expansion and/or grant and alternative funding development.

6. Training Environment & Instructional Excellence:

• Foster a learning environment grounded in adult learning principles to maximize comprehension and retention.
• Ensure high standards of instructional delivery and program effectiveness.
• Promote inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive training practices.
• Develop models of continuous training and career development, including connecting to relevant degree programs at Consortium member institutions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree in public safety, public administration, law enforcement, criminology, police science, or a related field from an accredited institution preferred.
• Demonstrated progressive leadership experience in law enforcement, security operations, or public safety training.
• Significant supervisory and management experience, including oversight of training programs or personnel.
• Successful experience designing and delivering training in law enforcement or security environments.
• Strong understanding of campus environments and the diverse communities they serve.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships.

Preferred:

• Experience working with or within higher education campus public safety organizations.
• Familiarity with regional and national public safety training standards and organizations.
• Experience implementing data-driven and evidence-based training programs.
• Understanding of and experience with emergency management services.
• Success in developing services in public safety for member institutions, especially law enforcement and emergency management
• Track record of developing funding resources through partnership and philanthropy.

Work Schedule & Benefits:

• Full-time position with flexible hours and options for frequent remote work
• Regular travel within the Washington metropolitan area for site visits and collaboration with member institutions.
• Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required to support training programs.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including: Health insurance (medical, dental, vision), Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays), Retirement plan with company match, Life AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, Legal resources

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area is a nonprofit association created by higher education institutions to foster collaboration across the National Capital Region. Over the past sixty years, it evolved into a powerful, unifying voice for its members and a force for economic and workforce development with leading programs for increasing public safety and student success. Recent initiatives include collaborative development of workforce housing, decreasing student hunger, and pioneering new models for student health and well-being.