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Chief of Police

Staff Exempt Boston, Massachusetts

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Description

The Chief of Police serves as the chief law enforcement executive for Suffolk University, responsible for ensuring a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This position provides strategic leadership, policy direction, and operational oversight for campus police and public safety operations .

The Chief of Police reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and works collaboratively with University leadership and external agencies , including Boston Police Department, to uphold the highest standards of safety, ethics, and professionalism , positioning the department as a responsive police department that is recognized as committed to the safety and care of the members of our vibrant and diverse university community.

Suffolk University is a dispersed, urban campus in the heart of downtown Boston , requiring an approach to policing and public safety that engages the campus community as well as the greater Boston community to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, staff, faculty in a co mplex environment where the university campus and the city blend together.

Suffolk University implemented the arming of sworn police officers, and the next Chief must continue the U niversity’s efforts to address any and all community concerns with empathy, transparency, and a commitment to inclusive decision-making. The Chief will serve as both a law enforcement leader and a community partner—someone who actively listens, engages in meaningful dialogue, and leads with strong ethics and integrity.

The Chief will be expected to lead with vision and compassion—fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and support. Ensuring officer wellness, promoting inclusive leadership development, and creating advancement pathways will be central to the role.

Key Responsibilities

+ Provide strategic leadership, planning, and direction for all law enforcement and public safety operations on a university campus in an urban environment.

+ Utilize best community policing practices to develop a kind and compassionate community policing philosophy and implement and maintain a progressive policing philosophy that ensures officers are visible, accessible, and engaged with the student body, staff, faculty, visitors, and community in a complex university environment .

+ Model and promote the University’s deep commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and community and human relations, and keep these concepts as top priorities at all times .

+ Cultivate a culture of respect, accountability, and professionalism within the department by modeling positive behavior, reinforcing community policing principles, and fostering trusting relationships with students, staff, and faculty.

+ Commit to a comprehensive culture of collaboration and partnering both within the University and externally for maximum effectiveness, build relationships as a foundation of the campus culture, and foster strong collaborations in all endeavors to assess real needs, design student-centered programs, provide high-end customer service at all times, and ensure the overall success of the university ’s public safety efforts.

+ Develop and implement departmental policies, procedures, and long-term strategies that support the University’s mission, goals, and community values.

+ Oversee investigations, patrol operations, emergency response, and special events to ensure the safety of the campus community.

+ Partner with Student Affairs and other University departments to establish best practices for responding to student issues, including mental health crisis, and ensure that student issue protocols for the department are clear and routinely followed.

+ Manage departmental budgets, staffing, equipment procurement, and resource allocation to achieve operational efficiency.

+ Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and respect through effective supervision and professional development.

+ Serve on University crisis, incident and emergency response committees as appropriate.

+ Serve as the University’s primary liaison with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as community partners.

+ Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including the Clery Act, Title IX, and other federal and state mandates.

+ Promote community-oriented policing principles that encourage engagement, trust, and collaboration across diverse campus populations.

+ Prepare and present reports, briefings, and policy recommendations to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees . Advise university leadership regarding university-wide strategies to prevent crime and enhance the safety, security, and well-being of the university community

+ Clery Act Compliance Program - Oversee the university’s compliance efforts concerning the Clery Act.

Qualifications and Skills

+ Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).

+ Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including five (5) years in a senior management or command role.

+ Certification as a law enforcement officer under state standards.

+ Proven ability to manage complex operational and administrative functions.

+ Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to manage complex organizations.

+ Experience in higher education or a similar environment is highly desirable.

+ Proven record of implementing community policing, emergency management, and policy development initiatives. A proven record of building trust across diverse populations, especially students, staff, and faculty.

Commitment to visibility and accessibility in everyday campus life, not just in times of crisis.

Salary Range:$149,000.00-$202,000.00

Salary Transparency

Suffolk University provides salary ranges as a good faith estimate of what it reasonably expects to pay for a role at the time the position is posted. The actual salary offered to the selected candidate will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to, the position’s scope and responsibilities, the candidate’s experience, education, training, and applicable legal requirements. The listed pay range reflects base salary only and does not include additional benefits or compensation.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Suffolk University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, genetic information, or status as a veteran in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs, activities, or employment.

As an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, the University is dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff that reflect the broad range of human experience who contribute to the robust exchange of ideas on campus, and who are committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment. We strongly encourage applications from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented because of race/color, gender, religious creed, disability, national origin, veteran status or LGBTQ status. Suffolk University is especially interested in candidates who, through their training, service and experience, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the University community.