Job no: 498152
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Denver, CO
Categories: Campus Safety
The University of Denver (DU) seeks an experienced, collaborative, and community-oriented Campus Safety leader to serve as its next Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Campus Safety. The expected start date is late fall 2025.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

A bachelor’s degree; a minimum of five years of progressively increasing responsibility in managing a multi-department operation, including management of personnel and budgets; and demonstrated knowledge of relevant laws and current issues of public safety and private security functions are required.
Experience in a higher education environment is strongly preferred.

In addition to the above qualifications, the chief must meet the following requirements:

• Possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver’s license, or obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license within the required first six months, and be insurable under university guidelines.
• Complete and maintain certification in Basic First Aid/CPR/AED, defensive driving, and PPCT (Pressure Point and Control Tactics).
• Pass a physical, drug screen, and human performance evaluation administered by a university-approved physician.
• Maintain physical fitness standards to ensure the ability to perform the duties of the role.
• Possess or obtain a City and County of Denver security guard license.
• Pass all psychological evaluations and training required to credibly lead and implement an access to arms program.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

Reporting to the chief risk and compliance officer, the associate vice chancellor and chief of campus safety (chief) directs the work of the department of campus safety (DCS). The department comprises 40 unsworn and unarmed team members who provide services in campus security, fire and life safety, emergency preparedness, electronic security systems, patrol operations, investigations, community outreach/crime prevention, recruitment efforts, accreditation and compliance, and communications. The chief leads the university’s incident management team, acting as the incident commander, and serves as the university’s primary liaison with the City of Denver police, fire, emergency medical services, and emergency preparedness departments, as well as with other external law enforcement, government, and public safety entities.
Key duties of the chief of campus safety include the following:

Leadership and Vision

• Serves as the university’s chief safety officer, responsible for protecting life and property, preserving peace, maintaining order, and directing the enforcement of all federal, state, and local laws within the jurisdiction of the university and university regulations.
• Establishes a vision and clearly defines the department’s mission and goals based on current needs and future expectations, and in alignment with the overall mission and goals of the university.
• Establishes the tone and expectations of the department through leading by example.
• Plans, organizes, and directs DCS’s operations, activities, programs, and functions, and consistently promotes its mission.
• Formulates and updates the department’s ongoing overall strategies on an as-needed basis.
• Establishes goals for implementing department values, philosophies, and principles that improve quality of life in the community and the workplace.
• Ensures a structure and systems that address departmental as well as internal and external community needs.

Collaboration and Community Engagement

• Through collaboration and partnership with the university community, develops and implements a community caretaking philosophy that supports campus safety and a shared sense of security and well-being.
• Collaborates with senior leadership, student affairs, student organizations, faculty, staff, and other key stakeholders to ensure DCS’s work reflects DU’s goal of building an inclusive and caring community.
• Develops and executes emergency management plans, coordinates with university stakeholders, and provides guidance and direction in emergency preparedness planning and implementation.
• Promotes public cooperation and goodwill with all members of the university and surrounding communities
• Coordinates the department’s activities with other agencies concerned with law enforcement (e.g., Denver Police Department) and public safety (e.g., City of Denver and Denver Fire Department).
• Demonstrates knowledge and practice of contemporary community-oriented campus safety initiatives.

Administration and Compliance

• Ensures departmental compliance and maintains sufficient knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, case law, and regulations relating to campus safety and law enforcement methods and practices, including rules of criminal procedure, laws governing search and seizure, and rules of evidence.
• Leads and manages all aspects of compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and all associated regulations.
• Leads and manages all aspects of the departmental accreditation process.
• Provides the most effective and efficient utilization of the department’s human, fiscal, and property resources.
• Formulates the annual departmental budget with the chief risk and compliance officer and has authority over all budget expenditures.
• Directs the preparation of internal reports to outside agencies in conformance with federal and state laws, university regulations, or departmental policy.
• Recommends and implements policy established by the university regarding public safety, law enforcement, traffic and parking, and emergency preparedness.
• Maintains a transparency dashboard for campus safety with key performance indicators.

Staff Management and Development

• Organizes, equips, and trains DCS staff and the command leadership team to provide the campus community with state-of-the-art and responsive security services.
• Establishes mechanisms that recruit the most competent personnel to join the department team; increases the competence of all employees; develops and promotes personnel to higher levels of responsibility; and recognizes employee and team contributions to the department’s success.
• Holds employees accountable to standards of conduct and performance that have foundations in sustained professional excellence.
• Defines management objectives, responsibilities, authority, and performance measures while utilizing feedback to enhance results.

Operations

• Provides the delivery of campus safety services to the university community, designed to promote a safe and secure environment for all constituents.
• Establishes department goals and campus priorities and ensures consistency for operational support functions.
• Manages video systems and electronic access controls across campus to ensure equipment functions properly and is appropriately developed and maintained.
• Ensures proper planning and execution of safety and security plans for major events.
• Oversees investigations conducted by DCS personnel.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE ROLE

The associate vice chancellor and chief campus safety officer will be expected to manage complex situations and staffing; role model a sincere and community-oriented commitment to equity and belonging in the context of campus safety; possess a sophisticated understanding of current and emerging trends in campus security practices and reform; and contribute at a strategic leadership level at a vibrant research institution.
Further, there is strong interest within the DU community for DCS to lead the university’s efforts in community caretaking, which is built on two key principles: (1) minimizing criminal opportunities and (2) encouraging shared responsibility for safety and well-being. Campus stakeholders are unified in their commitment to identifying a talented and collegial individual who is interested in developing and implementing a community caretaking model within the department that is aligned with the university’s mission and priorities.

It is within this context that the next chief will lead the following strategic priorities to advance a nationally recognized, accredited safety program:

• Build Trust and Collaborative RelationshipsThe next chief will exemplify a culture of engaged collaboration and partnership, with the ability to communicate clearly and transparently across campus for solutions to create a fair, equitable, and inclusive 21st-century approach to safety and security. It will be crucial that the new chief quickly reach out to all campus community members to build solid and mutually beneficial relationships that engender confidence and engage the community to recover from constituency discontent related to the recent encampment activities and political unrest.
• Define and Develop Community CaretakingThe chief will lead efforts to deepen campus understanding of community caretaking by understanding the unique dynamics of a university campus and its community members; empowering the leadership team to use its experience, skills, and training; supporting safety officers; and providing input and expertise to guide the Campus Safety Advisory Council.
• Enhance Mental Health ResponseWith many safety-related incidents involving mental health, the chief will strengthen DCS’s coordination with student affairs, residential housing, and health and counseling services, ensuring the department continues evolving its response strategies and developing innovative, compassionate approaches.
• Reinforce a Departmental Culture of Collaboration and CohesionUpon arrival, the chief should quickly prioritize getting to know the departmental staff as individuals and as members of distinct units, learn their specific needs and career goals, and ascertain and understand their various responsibilities and roles. Based on this understanding, the chief will provide role clarity and team development for the command leadership team to effectively delegate responsibility and authority for patrol, community caretaking, emergency preparedness, officer training, behavioral intervention, and event management. Further, the chief will cultivate a departmental culture of trust, readiness, and service to a community whose psychological safety needs can be stirred by internal and external forces.
• Strengthen Preparedness and ImplementationWhile prevention remains the focus, the department must be ready for a range of incidents common to urban and educational settings. Following the 2024 approval of the access to arms program, the chief will oversee its phased implementation with strategic care and accountability.