Chief of Police

Position Number: 40032179

Payroll Title: POLICE CHF MGR 4 (005645)

Job Code: 005645

Job Open Date: August 21, 2025

Application Review Begins: September 15, 2025

Department Code (Name): POLI (POLICE DEPT)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): MSP

Salary Grade: Grade 30

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $190,300-$336,000.year. The full salary range for this position is $190,300 - $390,900/year.

Work Location: Public Safety Building, PUBL-1209

Working Days and Hours: Mon-Fri; 8-5pm; May also work weekends and evenings

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Special Instructions:

The University of California, Santa Barbara has retained Bob Murray & Associates to assist in this search. If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please apply online at, Job #79163. Please contact Jon Lewis at (714) 925-5986 should you have any questions. Application review begins: September 15, 2025.

About the UC Santa Barbara Police Department

The UC Santa Barbara Police Department is an internationally accredited agency with the following vision, mission, and values:

Vision. We strive for excellence, and to be an industry leader and a trusted partner in providing law enforcement and public safety services to our diverse community.

Mission. To serve and protect our community with professionalism, accountability, and respect.

Values. Integrity, Compassion, Courage, Service, Dedication, Community, and Safety.

More information on the departments can be found at:

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards.

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Reporting directly to both the Chancellor and Administrative Services Vice Chancellor, the incumbent is a member of the management team. The Chief will manage and oversee 45 full-time equivalent sworn officers and 20 full-time civilian career staff, as well as 80-120 part-time students who serve as Student Safety Partners (SSPs). The Chief will also manage an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million. Three lieutenants report directly to the Chief of Police .

The new Chief will lead the management of UC Santa Barbara's Police Department in a way that promotes and supports the department's mission and core values. The Police Chief will be a key steward in the allocation of resources, working collaboratively with colleagues to effectively manage competing, and often changing, operational priorities in a way that is consistent with UC Santa Barbara's academic mission, commitment to inclusion and access, and its aspirations. All of this will require an imaginative, innovative leader who recognizes the challenges ahead for a large public research university.

To be successful, the Police Chief will forge and cultivate relationships with the community and external stakeholders. UC Santa Barbara is a crucial part of the Santa Barbara community. The University serves as the largest employer in the area, and thousands of students, faculty, and staff are dispersed throughout the surrounding area. The new Chief of Police will play a critical role in maintaining the necessary relationships and partnerships that allow the University to thrive in the community. Along with the Chancellor and other members of the University team, the Chief will represent UC Santa Barbara in town and gown relationships and ensure the community is well heard and involved in the University's progression. With the anticipated growth of the campus, and the rise in the number of students in the area, these ongoing communications and collaborations are important components of the Police Chief's role.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a sworn officer and able to meet California POST certification within a year of appointment.
• A bachelor's degree or combination of education and experience is required, with at least ten years of increasingly responsible law enforcement experience and at least four years of management and administrative responsibility.
• The successful candidate must be familiar with special and ongoing joint law enforcement operations involving university police and allied agencies, and must have strong leadership skills and effective written and oral communication skills.
• An understanding of and commitment to the mission of UC Santa Barbara.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and well-being of all employees and students.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, either directly or through the application of persuasive influence.
• Demonstrated record of accomplishment in leading a public safety department within a complex higher education, municipal or government organization. Important partner units include, but are not limited to, Finance and Resource Management, Institutional Advancement, Student Affairs, the Academic Departments and Organized Research Units, and the Academic Senate.
• Demonstrated organizational, administrative and project management skills to include the ability to diagnose critical areas for attention and translate strategies into action.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse group of constituencies on all levels within the organization including city, county, state, federal agencies and community groups.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated oral, written, and communication skills. Demonstrated problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing a culture of inclusion and mutual respect.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of excellence in customer service.
• Management experience in an academic environment, including exposure to, and knowledge of, relevant issues related to higher education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Policing at an institution of higher education involving shared governance between campus constituents is desirable.
• Graduate degree and/or advanced training such as the FBI National Academy are also desirable

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Must be at least 21 years of age at time of hire.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship.
• Must pass background investigation to ensure applicant is of good moral character [GC 1031(d)] and free of any physical, emotional, or mental conditions that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer [GC*1031(f)] so that nothing in his/her background is inconsistent with performing peace officer duties. The background investigation is also conducted to ensure that the applicant meets the minimum selection requirements of Commission Regulation 1953 and Government Code Section 1031.
• Final candidate must pass an extensive background check including criminal history including felony convictions or certain misdemeanor convictions that are disqualifying pre CA GC sections 1029, 1030, 1031 (c), California Penal Code section 29805, and 18 UCS 922 (d) (9); employment history, education verification, credit check and identity/fingerprint check.
• Must pass comprehensive medical and psychological pre-placement examinations as established by the University, state, and federal law for Police Officers and in compliance with California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) standards including physical ability testing, drug screening, medical screening, psychological testing, treadmill stress test, and may be subject to a deception detection examination such as a polygraph or voice stress test, and/or a pre-offer personality test.
• Must possess a current California POST Basic Certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training OR possess a POST Academy Certificate.
• Work a varied schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays; also, in periods of disaster and civil disorder.
• Work outside in all weather conditions.
• Must have vision of 20/100 correctable to 20/30, with normal color vision. Body weight must be proportional to height.
• Must wear uniform and equipment including but not limited to: utility belt, hand gun, ammunition, baton, flashlight, and handcuffs and wear Kevlar vest at all times.
• Perform duties while sitting, standing, walking or running intermittently throughout shift; climb fences, stairs, barricades, ladders or traverse uneven terrain; repeatedly kneel, bend, or stoop; intermittently push, pull, and use force to move objects; constantly reach, handle, or grasp various objects.
• Mandated reporting requirements of Child Abuse.
• Mandated reporting requirement of Dependent Adult Abuse.
• UCSB Campus Security Authority under Clery Act.
• Maintain a valid CA driver's license, a satisfactory DMV record and enrollment in the
• Form 700 State of Economic Interests Filer

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct: