Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety & Chief of Police

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police to join our team! UCCS is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an environment that supports innovation and student success.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than its scenery—a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

Salary Range: $120,766 - $172,523 annually. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and qualifications. This position is Non-Exempt/Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Work Location: On-Site

Description of Job

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police serves as the senior public safety and law enforcement leader for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs a residential public university serving approximately 10,319 students, 545 faculty, and 722 staff. This position provides strategic, administrative, operational, and fiscal leadership for the Department of Public Safety, including police operations, emergency communications, emergency management, environmental health and safety, fire safety, access control, records, property and evidence, and related administrative services. The role advises campus leadership on public safety strategy, emergency preparedness, law enforcement operations, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and community safety. The position works closely with students, faculty, staff, campus leaders, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office, Colorado Springs City Attorney's Office and other University of Colorado campuses and the University of Colorado System Office to support a safe, prepared, and service-oriented campus environment.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the senior executive for campus public safety and provide strategic direction for the Department of Public Safety to ensure a safe, secure, and supportive environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the broader campus community.
• Lead departmental planning, staffing, policy development, resource allocation, and operational priorities across sworn and professional public safety functions.
• Manage departmental budgets and identify grant opportunities, partnerships, alternative funding sources, and resource strategies that support operational efficiency while addressing campus safety needs.
• Advise the Public Safety supervisory Vice Chancellor and other senior leaders on law enforcement, emergency management, safety, security, risk, and crisis-response matters.
• Develop and support a high-trust and high-performing department culture grounded in care, accountability, professionalism, service, ethical conduct, procedural justice, and continuous improvement
• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, performance management, and professional development for command staff, managers, supervisors, officers, and professional staff.

• Direct police operations, including patrol, investigations, emergency communications, crime prevention, event security, VIP support, traffic and parking enforcement support, and response to calls for service.
• Ensure the department maintains appropriate readiness for major incidents, hostile threats, emergencies, campus events, and other situations affecting the safety and security of the campus community.
• Oversee records, property, and evidence, incident reporting, case management, access control, security support, and related operational systems.
• Ensure law enforcement actions, training, certifications, firearms programs, standard operating procedures, and general orders meet legal, professional, university, and Colorado POST requirements.
• Review operational data, crime trends, incident reports, community concerns, and emerging safety needs to improve services, staffing models, deployment, and response strategies.

• Provide executive oversight for emergency management, emergency preparedness, continuity planning, training, exercises, and all-hazards response coordination for UCCS.
• Oversee environmental health and safety, fire safety, hazardous materials coordination, life-safety programs, inspections, and related prevention and response functions.
• Coordinate preparedness and response activities with campus departments, senior leadership, local emergency responders, and other public safety partners.
• Promote personal, occupational, environmental, and community safety through education, prevention, planning, training, and operational readiness.

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, university, and law enforcement requirements, including Clery Act reporting, VAWA-related obligations, Colorado Victim Rights Act requirements, and applicable crime reporting standards.
• Oversee the development, review, implementation, and maintenance of department policies, procedures, records, training expectations, and accountability practices.
• Support internal review processes, complaint response, personnel matters, sensitive investigations, and confidential information management with sound judgment and discretion.
• Serve as a Campus Security Authority and ensure accurate, timely, and coordinated public safety reporting and communication in partnership with appropriate campus offices.

• Advance a strong and approachable community-policing approach that builds trust, transparency, and constructive relationships with students, faculty, staff, families, visitors, and community partners
• Collaborate with campus leadership, student-facing units, residential life, facilities, communications, legal counsel, institutional equity, student affairs, and other partners to address safety concerns and improve the campus experience
• Maintain strong working relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency response agencies, prosecutorial offices, and public safety leaders across the University of Colorado system
• Represent UCCS in public safety matters and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders during routine operations, significant events, emergencies, and sensitive situations.

Tentative Search Timeline

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by: July 9th, 2026
• Potential interview dates: July 13th, 2026 - July 31st, 2026.
• Potential start date: August 22nd, 2026.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Qualifications To be considered for this role, candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, police administration, public administration, social science, or a related field. Substitution: Year-for-year executive-level law enforcement experience may be considered as a substitution for the degree. Candidates must have a proven track record of progressively responsible sworn law enforcement leadership at the command level or higher, including experience directing police operations, supervising personnel, managing budgets, allocating resources, and leading complex public safety initiatives. Candidates must possess Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification or be able to obtain Colorado POST certification within 90 days of hire and must maintain certification as a condition of employment. Candidates must possess a valid Colorado driver's license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of hire. Candidates must be able to serve in an essential/critical capacity, respond to campus emergencies and critical incidents, and work outside normal business hours as operational needs require. Candidates must live, or be willing to relocate, within a 45-minute commute to campus. The following qualifications are highly desirable: Experience leading public safety in a higher education, public-sector, or similarly complex multi-stakeholder environment. Demonstrated experience with community policing, Clery Act compliance, threat assessment, emergency management, First Amendment considerations in a public setting, mental health-related response, physical and electronic security systems, public communication, and interagency coordination. A master's degree in criminal justice, public administration, business administration, law enforcement, or a related field. Completion of an executive law enforcement leadership program, such as the FBI National Academy, FBI-LEEDA, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, PERF Senior Management Institute for Police, or a similar command leadership program.

Supplemental Information

Special Instructions to Applicants : Applications submitted by July 9th, 2026, will receive full consideration. Applications submitted through email or surface mail will not be considered. Please apply at

Benefits at a Glance

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 vacation days, 10 sick days, paid parental leave, 13 recognized holidays, and provisions for bereavement, jury duty, and FAMLI Leave.
• Robust Health Coverage: Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a yearly mental