Description

Kansas State University seeks a Director of Public Safety – Chief of Police
Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/K-State_Dir_Pub_Safety_Profile.pdf
Location: Manhattan, Kansas 

The Position:
Reporting to the Chief Risk and Safety Officer and working closely with the other units within the Division of Risk and Safety, the Chief of Police is responsible for providing strategic oversight of all campus police services to ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. All officers are commissioned and state-certified by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission, possess full powers of arrest, and continuously receive training after certification to increase their expertise and professionalism.

The Chief of Police will promote and support the Department’s commitment to the philosophy and practice of community policing and strive to maintain positive campus partnerships to enhance the experience of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. 

Through oversight of a team of 35 officers and staff roles, the Chief is responsible for ensuring that police operations, investigations, emergency and critical incident response, crime prevention, and community-oriented policing are successfully managed and maintained across the university ecosystem. The Chief promotes a safe and secure educational and work environment for the campus community, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and enforcement of university policies and local, state, and federal laws.  

The Chief also collaborates closely with university leadership and internal and external public-safety partners to reduce risk, enhance preparedness, support the university’s mission, and maintain public trust through ethical, transparent, and accountable policing. 

Responsibilities:
Core Command & Operations:

• Provides executive leadership and oversight of all sworn and civilian police operations, ensuring effective patrol deployment, visibility, and rapid response to incidents affecting campus safety.
• Exercises command authority during major incidents, critical events, and emergencies, including coordination with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and executive leadership.
• Directs criminal investigations, ensuring professional standards for evidence handling, case management, victim services, and coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Provides strategic leadership during investigations of major crimes, serious accidents, and critical incidents, ensuring thorough analysis, accountability, and resolution. 

Campus Safety & Risk Reduction:

• Designs, implements, and evaluates crime-prevention, threat-mitigation, and violence-prevention initiatives aligned with higher-education best practices.
• Promotes and sustains community-oriented and problem-oriented policing strategies that strengthen trust with students, faculty, staff, and visitors. 

Strategic & Multi-Campus Operations:

• Provides police services and operational oversight for K-State Salina and consults on security-related matters with K-State Olathe, ensuring consistency in standards, policies, and response capability.
• Oversees public safety planning and operational support for major events, dignitary visits, demonstrations, and K-State Athletics events, balancing safety, civil liberties, and institutional mission. 

Leadership, Resources & Accountability:

• Develops and manages the department’s strategic plan, aligning policing priorities with university goals, risk posture, and community expectations.
• Leads strategic budget planning, fiscal oversight, staffing models, and resource allocation to ensure operational sustainability and effectiveness.
• Establishes performance metrics and uses data-driven policing practices to evaluate outcomes, staffing efficiency, and service delivery.
• Oversees records management, reporting, and confidentiality in compliance with applicable laws and university policies.
• Ensures departmental compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, accreditation standards, and professional policing best practices.
• Oversees property, evidence, and fleet management functions to ensure accountability, integrity, and operational readiness.
• Establishes and enforces department policies, procedures, and internal controls consistent with contemporary law-enforcement standards.
• Oversees technology and systems supporting policing operations in collaboration with university partners.
• Serves on university administrative committees and advisory groups related to safety, risk management, emergency preparedness, and compliance.
• Represents the university in state, local, regional, and national law-enforcement associations, task forces, and interagency working groups.
• Maintains effective working relationships with the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) University Police Departments on system-wide safety and policing issues.
• Collaborates with local, state, and federal law-enforcement agencies, fire services, emergency management, and environmental health & safety partners to enhance coordinated response and preparedness. 

Qualifications:
Required:

• A bachelor's degree.
• Seven years of relevant experience in law enforcement operations, criminal justice administration, or public safety leadership. Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring authority.
• Demonstrated experience supervising individuals, processes, and budgets.  

Competitive Candidates Will Possess Some or All of These Qualifications:

• Advanced education, to include a master’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, leadership, or related fields.
• Specialized certifications or licensure, industry-specific expertise, etc.
• Experience in campus law enforcement or in a complex public-sector environment.
• A record of progressively responsible, full-time sworn law-enforcement experience.
• Experience in a supervisory or command-level role (e.g., Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Deputy Chief, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience overseeing patrol operations, investigations, personnel management, budgeting, and policy development. 

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications:

• The successful candidate must fulfill statutory and licensing requirements to serve as a law-enforcement officer in the State of Kansas and as needed, obtain reciprocal certifications as required by the KSU Police Department, within six months of employment.
• Valid Kansas driver’s license (or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe). 

About Kansas State University:
Founded in 1863 as the nation’s first operational land-grant university, Kansas State University (K-State) is a Tier 1 research university with more than 20,200 students, 1,300 faculty members, 3,000 staff members and three physical campuses: the main campus in Manhattan; the K-State Salina campus, home to aviation and technology programs; and K-State Olathe, which serves the industry and workforce needs of Greater Kansas City. 

K-State has nine colleges, a Graduate School, and K-State Online, which offer more than 400 degrees and options, from bachelor’s to doctoral degrees. K-State Research and Extension also serves the citizenry with a presence in every county throughout Kansas and supports research in more than 20 K-State departments.  

With an annual budget of more than $900 million, K-State is known for the passion and pride of its alumni. With more than 200,000 living graduates, the K-State Alumni Association has been No.1 in the Big 12 Conference for more than 25 years, based on the percentage of graduates who are members, and No. 4 among Power Five conferences. Private giving to the university is around $200 million per year, and the KSU Foundation has an investment pool and endowment of $1 billion. The university and foundation recently completed a major fundraising campaign that raised $1.6 billion. The Princeton Review recognizes the university as one of the nation’s best colleges. K-State also has been designated as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and is recognized as a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. Commonly referred to as K-State, the university is proud of its welcoming environment. Click here to learn more about K-State. 

University Mission, Vision and Values
The mission of Kansas State University is to foster excellent teaching, research and service that develop the highly skilled and educated citizenry necessary to advancing the well-being of Kansas, the nation and the international community. 

The vision of K-State is to lead the nation as a next generation land-grant university – setting the standard for inspiring learning, creativity, discovery and engagement that positively impacts society and transforms lives in Kansas and around the world. The university’s values and principles of community guide how the community lives out its mission at K-State. For more information about K-State, please visit the university profile. 

Why Consider the Opportunity:

• Dynamic University. Kansas State University’s ambitious Next-Gen Strategic Plan is designed to elevate the university’s key differentiators while embracing transformation not just as an idea but as an imperative. The Next-Gen plan outlines the institution’s approach to serving new kinds of learners, solving grand challenges, and contributing to economic prosperity for the state.
• Community Involvement. KSU’s Police Department actively collaborates with groups across campus, fostering positive relationships and elevating team-building events and activities in a way that promotes a positive and supportive work culture.
• Strong Benefits. Being part of the K-State family comes with access to a variety of benefits that make life a little easier. The university centers its employees as its greatest asset and takes pride in ensuring a positive, responsive environment that prioritizes their needs. In addition to multiple options for medical plans, this position is eligible for a retirement plan that offers an 8.5% employer contribution. Click here to learn more.
• Competitive Compensation Package. The university recognizes the importance of public safety in ensuring the well-being of the entire campus community and provides a competitive compensation package for this critical leadership role.
• Location. Manhattan (known as the “Little Apple”) is a great place to live and work. The city boasts a low cost of living with a full selection of housing options. The area offers an array of outdoor recreational opportunities, an eclectic downtown area, including the oldest shopping district in the state (Aggieville), and a strong public school system.  

To Apply:
A confidential review of applications will begin immediately. Applications received by June 5th will be given priority consideration. Please apply online by submitting 1) a PDF version of your resume; 2) a cover letter that addresses your reasons for interest and related qualifications and experience.  

To apply online: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su508  

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Caitlin Hummel
585-880-7550
chummel@summitsearchsolutions.com 

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.  

Background Screening Statement: Upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment, a candidate may be subject to a background check per K-State’s background check policy.