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City of Vancouver Police Chief Job Posting

The Position

The City of Vancouver is recruiting for its next Police Chief. We are looking for an exceptional leader who fosters a culture of professionalism, integrity, innovation, transparency and inclusiveness in the Vancouver Police Department.

The next Police Chief will guide the department in alignment with the City’s strategic vision. They will effectively champion the department while embracing new challenges and collaborate with other City departments and agencies to advance public safety goals and initiatives that reflect the policy expectations of the City Council and the direction of the City Manager.

Additionally, they will ensure that strategic perspectives are translated to day-to-day actions; model leadership behaviors and instill confidence in stakeholders and employees regarding the direction of the department; and ensure the department is prepared to meet the needs of the community now and into the future.

The Organization

The City of Vancouver is managed by a Council/Manager form of government. The Council has seven members, including a Mayor, elected by the City at large. The Mayor and Councilmembers each serve four-year terms and set policy that is implemented by the City Manager. Vancouver is the largest city in southwest Washington and the second largest in the greater metropolitan area.

Vancouver is also in a period of significant growth and urbanization and has added more than 30,000 residents in the last 10 years. The current development pipeline could add as many as 30,000 more residents in the next 6-10 years. There are multiple urban center developments planned or underway across the City, such as the award-winning The Waterfront Vancouver, a 32-acre, high density, mixed use urban development anchored by the signature 7.3-acre Vancouver Waterfront Park; the 63 acre City-led Heights District redevelopment project, the 172 acre mixed use Vancouver Innovation Center, and the 200+ acre Riverview Gateway District, which includes the HQ redevelopment and Columbia Palisades mixed use centers.

Police Chief Responsibilities

Duties of the Police Chief position include:

  • Effectively leading a dynamic department of law enforcement professionals; guiding the department in its use of strategic thinking and planning; and assuring aligned, consistent and reliable execution of vision from the office of the chief through the chain of command.
  • Evaluating the department and ensuring it is positioned to respond to and handle a wide range of law enforcement responsibilities such as patrol, investigations, security, and other emergency situations, and adapting services and service delivery to meet the needs of an evolving community.
  • Identifying and building a strong leadership team that mentors, supports and recognizes the talents and contributions of officers and supervisors.
  • Establishing clear direction for command staff team as well as the whole department, leveraging the most effective aspects of the department while identifying opportunities for improvements and best practices.
  • Prioritizing, promoting and ensuring buy-in for the City’s core values of Livability, Sustainability and Resiliency, Innovation, Equity and Inclusion, and Trust and Relationships, and continuing progress on the Strategic Plan goal of increasing the representation of commissioned female recruits to 30% by 2030.
  • Using data to inform decisions, identify trends and relay information objectively.
  • Identifying and recommending to the City Manager priorities for the department’s budget and effectively managing its resources; where appropriate, identifying and pursuing additional resources in support department and City priorities.
  • Participating as a member of the Management Leadership Team, and advising the City Manager on issues of city-wide importance.
  • Collaborating with other city departments and mutual aid agencies to address and solve issues affecting the community.
  • Working effectively with the Police Chief's Diversity Advisory Team (CDAT) and continuing the strong connection between Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver’s ethnically and religiously diverse local community.
  • Serving as the primary point of contact within the law enforcement community in the region.
  • Understanding and applying HR policies and procedures to evaluate and effectively address the disciplinary and grievance process, as well as labor relations.

The Ideal Candidate

The City is seeking an open, transparent and effective law enforcement leader. The ideal candidate will be a champion of integrity and ethics for the Department, promoting openness and active community engagement at all levels of the organization. The ability to lead by example and instill a high degree of accountability while treating employees and community members with dignity and respect will be essential to success.

The new Police Chief will be a relationship builder who can develop trust throughout the Department, with City staff, and in the Vancouver community. They will be committed to equity and inclusion, will demonstrate respect and sensitivity toward the swiftly increasing diversity of the greater community, and will understand how to best protect and learn from that community.

Candidates who understand the culture of the City of Vancouver and the region, have experience in community-based crime reduction, understand the goals of the City Council and who have a progressive mindset for the changes occurring in the profession are best-positioned to be successful in this role.

Additionally, we are seeking candidates with excellent oral and written communication skills and a collaborative, problem-solving approach. As a highly visible representative of the City, the incoming Police Chief should expect to interact with community members and local and regional elected officials on a regular basis. This position will require a service-minded individual with the ability to connect with people at all levels and with political acumen.

The next Police Chief will have the capacity to understand and value the needs of the community, and to lead the department in compassionately meeting those needs. They will have the conviction and courage to proactively address challenges and make difficult decisions, while also standing up for what is in the best interest of the Department and the Vancouver community. They will create opportunities for sworn and professional staff to grow through career development and training and should have an understanding of and ideas regarding police recruitment and retention. Experience in the areas of Restorative Justice, 21st Century Policing, and Community Policing will be vital to the Chief’s success.

Ideal candidates will exhibit humility, listen to understand community needs and accept constructive feedback. They will possess labor negotiations experience, and a track record of working successfully with labor groups. Candidates must also possess the mental and physical stamina to effectively lead and perform at a high level for sustained periods, recover quickly after experiencing setbacks and model positive emotional and physical self-care.

The ideal candidate will serve as a resource to colleagues from other City departments across the region and will view other internal departments as a mutually supportive resource. Experience in the development of body worn camera and vehicle camera programs will benefit applicants as the Department will be beginning those programs in the near future. Applicants that have experience of reform in their current agencies, and can articulate that reform during this process, are being sought.

Candidates must have thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of law enforcement administration, organization, and operation; thorough knowledge of pertinent local, State, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations; knowledge and understanding of all aspects of a sworn law enforcement; and they must contribute effectively to the accomplishments of City goals, objectives, and activities.

Qualifications

Competitive candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology, business, or other related fields, or have an equivalent combination of education/training and experience to be successful in the position. Candidates must have Washington State certification as a Police Officer or be able to obtain such certification within one year of hire. A relevant master’s degree is preferred.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated progressive supervisory/management experience with a broad range of operational experience including at least five (5) years of executive leadership experience (i.e., experience at the rank of Captain/Commander or higher) in law enforcement in a similar sized organization; experience as a Police Chief in a similar sized jurisdiction is preferred.

Experience working within a strong union environment; managing/monitoring various management functions such as HR, legal, discipline, hiring, budget, and working within a City Manager/Council form of government is essential for the successful candidate. Attendance Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI National Academy or similar executive leadership training program is preferred.

The Compensation

The 2024 salary range for the Police Chief is $189,341-$256,176, and starting salary will be dependent upon qualifications and experience. The City also offers an attractive benefits package that includes:

  • Medical, Vision, Prescription, and Dental Insurance.
  • Personal Time Off and Paid Holidays.
  • Washington State LEOFF Retirement System (stable and well-funded).
  • Deferred Compensation (457 Plan) and 401 Plan with 1% City match.
  • Other benefits such as life and disability insurance.