Title: Chief of Campus Safety and Police
Position Type: Staff Full-Time
Days Per Week: Monday - Friday
Hours Per Week: 40
VP Area: Finance and Administration
Department: Campus Safety & Police
Location: Elon Main Campus
Position Summary
To apply please visit: https://spelmanandjohnson.com/position/chief-of-police/
Reporting to the vice president for finance and administration, the chief of campus safety and police provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the university’s comprehensive public safety and police functions. The chief directs and supervises all 24/7 operations, ensuring a safe, secure, and service-oriented environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
A central focus of the role is advancing a community policing philosophy through visible engagement and strong partnerships with all students, faculty, staff, campus stakeholders, and local law enforcement agencies. The chief also provides leadership for campus security infrastructure, including surveillance, access control, and related technologies, ensuring alignment with evolving safety needs.
This position oversees all aspects of departmental operations, including patrol, investigations, communications, parking enforcement, and event security. The chief is responsible for developing and implementing policies, procedures, and strategic plans aligned with institutional priorities and accreditation standards. This role also leads the recruitment, development, and evaluation of personnel, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The chief leads a staff of 42, including North Carolina state-certified sworn officers, non-sworn community service officers, dispatch, and administrative personnel, and manages a budget exceeding $4 million. The department operates as a North Carolina-certified law enforcement agency under G.S. 74G and maintains accreditation through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Additionally, this position ensures compliance with all applicable regulations, including oversight of Clery Act requirements, crime statistics reporting, and records management.
The chief collaborates with the dean of the Elon University School of Law and contracted security providers to ensure safety at the Greensboro campus and to oversee security operations in Charlotte. In partnership with institutional leadership, the chief also supports planning related to the merger with Queens University of Charlotte.
Benefits of Working at Elon
As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.
Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.
Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:
28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.
Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses
Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.
Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.
Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.
Free use of campus fitness facilities.
Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.
Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.
Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.
Minimum Required Education and Experience
The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and more than ten years of professional experience in a related field; experience in the field of public safety, law enforcement, or community engagement; experience supporting high-impact, experiential, or project-based learning; and at least five years of senior management experience (lieutenant and above) in a law enforcement setting.
Preferred Education and Experience
Master’s degree; experience in providing police services in a higher education environment, particularly within a residential community; experience with incident and threat assessment techniques as well as knowledge of the Clery Act; and be a graduate from an advanced police command training such as the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Southern Police Institute, or possess related training obtained at a state level.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for a student-centered, service-oriented environment, and fully comprehend the department’s integral role within the campus community.
- Exhibit a high level of cultural competence by engaging with awareness, empathy, and inclusivity to build trust across a diverse campus community and ensure equitable, responsive safety practices.
- Model an inclusive leadership style that is confident, approachable, motivational, and transparent, while remaining firm and clear inspiring respect, trust, compassion, and a strong work ethic in others.
- Embrace a collaborative, strategic leadership style that engages stakeholders, builds consensus, and fosters cross-functional partnerships that advance institutional goals and strengthen departmental effectiveness.
- Possess a record that demonstrates the ability to establish and sustain meaningful, impactful relationships with a broad range of campus constituents, including students, faculty, staff, parents, and local law enforcement and public safety partners.
- Demonstrate experience coordinating comprehensive emergency management efforts, including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, ensuring effective planning, training, and collaboration across the institution and with external agencies.
Required Other Training, Certifications, or Licensing
The new chief must possess applicable certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Commission or be eligible to obtain such certification within one year.
Please note that North Carolina law does not recognize or have a reciprocal relationship with federal law enforcement certification, but recognizes and gives partial credit for military police (MP) training, receipt of an MP occupational specialty classification, and performance of MP duties
Special Instructions to Applicants: Review of applications will begin April 29, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.
To apply please visit: https://spelmanandjohnson.com/position/chief-of-police/