Chief of Police - Raleigh-Durham International Airport Authority (RDU)

The Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) Authority Law Enforcement Department seeks an experienced and transformational leader with a customer service mindset to serve as its next Chief of Police .

Desired attributes include:

• The next Chief of Police will demonstrate passion and energy for achieving Authority goals while strategically and diplomatically leading the department through change in conformance with the Core Values of the organization.

• Effective in crisis management, the Chief of Police must have strong communication skills with experience in patrol, community policing, and investigative functions of a typical law enforcement agency similar in size to RDU.

• The ideal leader will have a keen understanding of the culture of an airport law enforcement department, including the high level of federal regulations, and be committed to a level of quality customer service that the department is known for.

• A transparent and adaptable leader, the Chief of Police will value diversity, equity, and inclusion and balance building camaraderie within the department while ensuring frequent engagement and collaboration with departmental personnel and stakeholders, including federal, state, and local agencies and Airport Authority leaders.

About the Community:

The Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located at the western edge of Wake County, midway between the cities of Durham and Raleigh in North Carolina. Wake County is home to 11 municipalities, including the capital city of Raleigh. Accessed by I-40 and four major U.S. highways, Wake County has a population over 1 million and is a thriving, growing community with endless opportunities. Consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work in America, Wake County offers 11 principal colleges and universities, including NC State University. Wake County is also the center of state government, with the Capitol Building, legislature, and many government offices located in the City of Raleigh. Known as the City of Oaks, Raleigh ranked #2 for Safety, #4 for Economic Well-being, and #6 for Quality of Education and Health among all State Capitals in early 2022. Raleigh boasts more than 9,000 acres of parkland and almost 1,300 acres of water, offering year-round recreational activities. The NHL Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Mudcats Low-A Baseball, and NC FC Men’s and NC Courage Women’s pro soccer teams attract visitors year-round and serve as an entertainment hub for community members. From the NC Opera, NC Symphony and the Carolina Ballet to three major state museums, Raleigh’s culture is rooted in art, history and natural sciences.

About the Organization:

The Raleigh-Durham International Airport is governed by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, an eight-member board. The Airport Authority was established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1939. The cities of Durham and Raleigh, along with Durham and Wake counties, each appoint two members to the board. The Airport Authority is a local government responsible for the development, operation, and maintenance of RDU. The Authority is committed to delivering a world-class airport experience through excellent airport services, facilities, and unparalleled customer service.

About the Department and Position:

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Law Enforcement Department (RDULE) is a fully accredited North Carolina law enforcement agency. RDULE is responsible for ensuring visitors to Raleigh-Durham International Airport have a safe travel experience. The agency’s jurisdiction extends beyond the airport’s terminals and includes all of the Authority’s 5,000 acres of property including sections of major roadways around the airport.

The RDU Law Enforcement Department, located in the Airport Operations Center building, includes a staff of 89+ full and part-time officers and support employees that perform a range of functions including foot and vehicle patrols, investigations, lost-and-found, special operations, traffic duties, community policing and more. RDULE is headquartered in the Airport Operations Center with remote offices in each terminal. The department also includes training facilities located on airport grounds. The Chief of Police reports to civilians on the executive leadership team.

The next Chief of Police will lead a cohesive department that collaborates well with airport stakeholders in providing excellent customer service to travelers. The staff and officers of RDULE are well respected by airport employees and known for their swift response to issues reported from the operations center. Law Enforcement personnel are highly skilled and successful in adaptability and de-escalation tactics. The Chief of Police will be an adaptable, servant leader who will work diligently to build and maintain relationships. Overseeing a budget of approximately $13.9 million, the Chief of Police must embrace the Authority’s Core Values of Learning, Integrity, Team, Excellence, and Respect to be successful.

Key Position Priorities include but are not limited to:

• Recruit, develop and retain a diverse department of qualified law enforcement professionals - leveraging internal talent and closing gaps through engaging employees in continuous training and development.

• Strategically plan for the growth of the department to support the airport’s growth as outlined in the Authority’s Vision 2040, while balancing the present-day demands of police personnel.

Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or another relevant field. A master’s degree and executive law enforcement training are preferred.

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience across functional areas such as patrol, internal affairs, administration, investigations, community policing, etc.

• Six to seven years of professional management or related experience in law enforcement administration, including three to four years of related tactical and administrative supervisory experience.

• Three or more years of experience working in an airport environment is required.

• Must possess applicable certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Commission or obtain such certification within six months of hire.

• Must have a valid NC driver’s license or the ability to obtain a valid NC driver’s license within 60 days of relocating to NC.

  • Please note: North Carolina law does not recognize or have a reciprocal relationship with Federal law enforcement certification but recognizes and gives partial credit for military police (MP) training, receipt of an MP occupational specialty classification and performance of MP duties.

• Must have a valid NC driver’s license or the ability to obtain a valid NC driver’s license within 60 days of relocating to NC. Experience working in an airport environment preferred.

Transfers:

In-state candidates may transfer their law enforcement officer certification to another agency in NC provided he/she has less than a three-year break in service at time of appointment. In-state candidates with less than a three-year break in NC service may receive partial credit toward basic law enforcement training. Out-of-state candidates who are serving or have served as a local or state law enforcement officer must have successfully completed a basic law enforcement training course accredited by the state from which they are transferring and cannot have a break in full-time service exceeding three years at the time of appointment. Individuals with Federal law enforcement officer certification who have not had a break in service exceeding three years at the time of appointment may receive partial credit toward NC basic law enforcement training. NC does recognize and give partial credit for military police (MP) training if the candidate has completed a formal military basic training program and been awarded a military police occupational specialty rating and has served as a military police officer for not less than two of the five years preceding the date of appointment.

The Successful Candidate is:

• an individual with impeccable integrity and a proven record of consistency in managing both internal and external relationships in order to develop trust and to create opportunities for collaborative problem solving, strong stakeholder relationships and partnerships;

• experienced working in an airport environment and has expert skills in navigating the complexities of varying roles (e.g., need for building relationships, advocating for personnel, clear communication, ensuring mutual trust);

• goal-oriented, possessing high standards of self and others, thriving in a culture of high-performance expectations and personal accountability;

• models courteous engagement and outstanding customer service with travelers while ensuring clear and firm adherence to safety principles and laws;

• experienced across functional areas such as accreditation, patrol, support investigations, K-9, or other specialized units;

• appreciative of the significance of diversity within all aspects of the department and organization, and has developed innovative solutions to attracting, retaining, and promoting diversity;

• consistently updating personal knowledge regarding public policy, public perception, and law enforcement trends and ensuring that knowledge is shared with stakeholders;

• skilled in budget development and management, policy development and application, progressive policing strategies and maintenance of effective service levels despite resource constraints;

• an outstanding communicator who speaks and writes clearly, assertively, and transparently with internal and external stakeholders;

• has a track record of public safety success that comes from a balance of engagement and enforcement; and;

• knowledgeable regarding the use of technology, data-driven approaches to predict and prevent crime, and community-oriented policing.

Salary and Benefits

Salary and Benefits: Salaries are determined through a compensation calculation that evaluates experience and credentials for all positions. The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority provides an excellent benefits package, including an Employee Incentive Program and participation in the North Carolina LGERS pension program. The hiring range is estimated between $131,000 to $190,000 but is ultimately determined based on the aforementioned calculation. The RDU International Airport provides an excellent benefits package.

The RDU International Airport is an Equal Opportunity Employer.