Chief of Police

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence.

Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.

Before submitting your application, please ensure your resume is ready for upload in either .doc or .pdf format. Application must be completed in full.

Position Summary:

This is a full-time position within the Port of Houston Authority Police Department which provides strategic oversight and execution relating to planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating both the administrative and operational efforts of the Police department to ensure adequate protection of life and property within the jurisdiction of Port Houston. Provides expert professional assistance to Porth Houston senior management staff in areas of law enforcement expertise. Acts as a liaison with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on matters pertaining to Law Enforcement at the Port of Houston Authority.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

• Plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate Police department operations through subordinate levels of supervision.
• Direct department activities, with full accountability for its patrol operations, dispatch, and administrative functions, through subordinate Deputy Chiefs of Patrol Operations and/or Administrative Support Services.
• Define expectations and assignments to all subordinates (sworn officers and civilians); provide clear orders and instructions, maintain "approachability" and listen to others; show concern for others, exhibits flexibility, decisiveness and calm demeanor in situations and contingencies; follows orders from higher ranking chain of command, motivates others and otherwise provides top-level departmental leadership.
• Develop and maintain written directives and procedures for the department mandated by law; implement procedures and directives from Port Houston management and Commissioners.
• Plan and implement law enforcement program for the Port Houston to better carry out the policies and goals of Port Houston management and Commissioners; review department performance and effectiveness; formulate programs or written directives to alleviate deficiencies.
• Establish, monitor, and report departmental performance metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), and operational benchmarks to ensure accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Utilize data-drive decision-making processes to evaluate staffing, deployment, trends, response effectiveness, training outcomes, and resource allocation.
• Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan for the Police Department that aligns with organizational goals, emerging risks, regulatory requirements, and future operational needs and continue to keep updated.
• Ensure personnel are assigned to shifts or working units which provide optimum effectiveness in terms of current situations and circumstances governing deployment.
• Advise the Chief of Port Security & Emergency Operations (PSEO) and other senior staff on operational and administrative issues which cross organizational bounds.
• Initiate and prescribe work methods and procedures to be followed by employees; review work conditions and take necessary steps to improve police operations.
• Collaborate and support other PSEO departments in their missions.
• Promote enterprise-wide collaboration and actively participate in cross-functional initiatives that support organizational objectives, operational resilience, and risk reduction.
• Foster effective working relationships across departments to improve communication, problem solving, and organizational performance.
• Meet with elected or appointed officials, other law enforcement officials, community and business representatives and the public on all aspects of the department's activities.
• Direct and coordinate law enforcement response in emergency situations of broad significance to Port Houston and/or affecting critical Port Houston components.
• Provide the strategic direction of the Port of Houston Authority Police Department and any logistical matters that involve the acquisition of equipment and materials needed for the department.
• Oversee the organizing and training, assignment, and development of subordinate police officers.
• Hire, supervise, report, evaluate, and discipline department personnel; initiate or review disciplinary decisions against department employees within the scope of departmental written directives and/or Port Houston employee handbook policies and practices.
• Develop and maintain succession planning, leadership development, mentoring, and employee engagement programs to ensure long-term organizational effectiveness and continuity of leadership.
• Promote a culture of professionalism, accountability, integrity, employee wellness, and continuous improvement throughout the department.
• Ensure fair, consistent, and transparent application of disciplinary processes and performance management practices.
• Monitor changes in laws, court decisions, regulations and technology that may affect departmental operations and regularly meet with in-house legal counsel on potential changes and updates needed to written directives.
• Direct internal accountability systems, administrative investigations, and professional standards process to ensure compliance with departmental policies and ethical standards;
• Complete investigation reports, special studies, other projects as may be assigned by higher authority.
• Supervise, coordinate, prepare, implement and be accountable for an annual budget for the police department; Develop long range financial forecasts, capital improvement plans, staffing projections, and technology investment strategies to support operational needs.
• Identify and pursue grant funding opportunities and work with internal grant team to enhance departmental capabilities.
• Appoint individuals to the Training Advisory Board, Field Training Officers, Mentor Program, and other committees/boards as needed.
• Attend or designate personnel to attend conferences and meetings to keep abreast of current trends in the files; represent Port Houston in a variety of local, county, state, and other meetings.
• Perform all regular Patrol Officer or Administrative Officer duties, as needed;
• Act in accordance with Port Houston core values (respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you).
• Perform other duties as required.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Law Enforcement, or related major from a public or accredited private academic institution preferred.
• Master's degree preferred
• Graduate from a national law enforcement management training program, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy or Law Enforcement Institute of Texas (LEMIT) is required.
• 15+ years of related law enforcement experience required.
• 10+ years of progressive management and administrative leadership roles in comparable or larger sized departments
• TCOLE Master Peace Officer certification required
• TCOLE Instructors license preferred
• TCOLE Firearms Instructor license preferred
• Incident Command Systems (ICS) 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 required

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Behaviors:

• Knowledge of the Port Houston management functions, policies and procedures, and knowledge of supervisory principles, altogether to direct a police department and supervise subordinates
• Knowledge of the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement (TCOLE) rules and regulations
• Knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS) as it relates to law enforcement response to various situations to help incorporate other responders such as Port Houston Fire Department, Local and County law enforcement and partner Federal agencies (e.g., Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)) into a cohesive incident management team
• Knowledge of the Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and the Port Houston Facility Security Plans (FSP's)
• Knowledge of Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Port Houston Employee Handbook and Police Department written directives
• Knowledge of Criminal investigations, art of interviewing and interrogation, crime prevention, and patrol techniques
• Knowledge of and skill in the use of force, weapons, equipment and related field law enforcement techniques and equipment to direct, and be able to apply, appropriate level/type of force
• Knowledge of budgeting and purchasing equipment
• Knowledge of strategic planning, organizational development, and performance management principles
• Knowledge or employee engagement succession planning, leadership development, and workforce management practices
• Knowledge of emerging law enforcement technologies, digital evidence systems, records management systems, and data analytics.
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Strategic thinking and long-range planning skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to review and determine appropriate response levels of subordinates' actions resulting in the use of force
• Ability to interview and interrogate
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to maintain Departmental Firearms proficiency
• A current, valid Texas driver's license is required
• A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) must be obtained within 30 days of appointment, and be maintained for the duration of employment
• Considered essential employees and may be required to work on holidays, evenings, nights, and be immediately recalled for emergencies at any time. They must remain available and "on call" 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, dependent on emergencies.

Key Competencies Required:

• Ethics and Integrity
• Executive Leadership Presence
• Strategic Thinking and Planning
• Organizational Development
• Performance Management and Accountability
• Change Leadership
• Financial and Business Acumen
• Communication and Executive Presence
• Relationship Building and Collaboration
• Crisis Leadership
• Political and Organizational Awareness
• Management Focus
• Models Role Behavior
• Strategic Decision Making
• Technical and Professional Expertise

This work site location of this job is:
Port Coordination Center

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to open office environment noise level may occasionally be high. To apply, please go to porthouston.com/careers. Only applications submitted through the Port Houston Careers website will be acknowledged. Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

We appreciate your interest in Port Houston. Port Houston is an equal employment opportunity employer. Port Houston's policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Port Houston also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Application must be completed in full.