Director, Policing Leadership Academy
The University of Chicago

Department

UL Crime Ed Lab Administration

About the Department

In cities across the country, people face high rates of gun violence, under-resourced schools, and social harms associated with the criminal justice system -- all of which disproportionately impact people of color. These inequalities have profound consequences on public safety and opportunity. As a society we have failed to address these challenges, in part, because of our lack of understanding of the most effective and cost-effective solutions that can have a real impact on people's lives. We believe that rigorous research can help.

Our team works in close partnership with cities and communities to create impact at scale for residents of America's cities, especially for those facing the most severe implications of inequality and racism. We conduct research to meet the highest standards of quality and rigor, and we share our results broadly to generate measurable social good in communities.
Our mission is to combine world-class data science and research, in partnership with government agencies, to substantially improve the effectiveness of the public sector and achieve impact at scale.

The Role
The Policing Leadership Academy (PLA) at the Community Safety Leadership Academy (CSLA) will focus on teaching police leaders how to professionalize their departments with better training, management systems, accountability, and data-driven decision making. With a goal to be the most impactful and robustly evaluated public safety training ever offered in the United States, this effort brings together data and behavioral science insights of top academics at one of the world's leading research institutions and the nation's leading Community Violence Intervention (CVI) and policing practitioners. Housed at the University of Chicago, the CSLA will include both the Policing Leadership Academy and the CVI Leadership Academy, and will offer multidisciplinary and complementary curricula that span six months. The six-month training program will be held at the University but is open to police leaders from across the country. A group of academy participants will also spend six months as fellows in a police department other than their own after finishing training.
The University of Chicago Crime Lab is seeking a full time Director to join the nationally and internationally renown subject matter experts already engaged with the PLA to be responsible for the day to day management, operations and strategic leadership of the PLA.

Job Summary

The job manages multiple related teams of managers and professional staff responsible for the administration of academic, research, clinical or administrative programs of the University.

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages an innovative, research based, national educational endeavor which reflects innovative thinking and results in capacity enhancement and improvement in policing.
• Serves as a principal advisor to the Executive Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Crime Lab senior staff on all phases of business management involved in operating the PLA.
• Assists in efforts to engage federal policymakers in the PLA
• Grows the PLA from two full-time staff member to four full-time staff members, and four part- time consultants to six part-time consultants in the first 12 months.
• Retains the necessary 30-40 instructors for each PLA cohort of 35 students.
• Manages an approximately 10 million dollars operational and research annual budget.
• With PLA senior leadership, develops and executes a strategic vision for the PLA's management, operational, and administrative functions while ensuring compliance with all applicable state, local and federal laws and University policies. Establishes clear metrics and benchmarks for measuring the successful implementation of short-term and long-term goals associated with this strategic vision.
• Supervises the development and execution of PLA mission with a focus on the delivery of training, development of management processes, increased efficiency, strengthened performance, and student/client satisfaction. As cohort numbers grow, from one cohort in Year 1 to two to three cohorts in Years 2-5, continue to balance mission priorities.
• Creates a strategic vision for and facilitate a growing alumni network starting in Year 2.
• Responsible for directing and supervising the financial management, workforce planning, management analysis, information technology management, general administrative management, and adherence to professional ethics of the PLA.
• Responsible for the PLA client success strategy and pedagogy. Works with PLA staff to direct resources where appropriate process and system changes are needed to continuously improve the stakeholder experience.
• Conducts programmatic reviews, evaluations, or reviews of PLA's internal and external activities. Reviews work products, assessing organizational efficiency and effectiveness, and implementing procedures to improve organizational performance. Produces policy needs- assessments through collaboration with directors, instructors and senior leadership of the Policing Leadership Academy and the University of Chicago Urban Crime Lab.
• Ensures awareness of and sensitivity to communication with a diverse workforce.
• Works collaboratively with PLA directors in identifying instructors, subject matter and learning opportunities for the CSLA Police Leadership Academy.
• Analyzes, plans, organizes, directs, and adjusts the functions of the PLA, as needed; and supervise, mentor, motivate, and appraise a diverse staff of an organization through subordinate supervisors to meet the CLSA requirements objectives timely and within budget.
• Ensures transparency and openness in external and internal communications regarding the activities of the PLA.
• Engages with the Policing Leadership Academy Advisory Committee members and ensures they are apprised of the progress and activities of the PLA. Develops collaborative mechanisms for the PLA to receive the Advisory Committee's contributions regarding the PLA's program content, policies, public relations, and other areas were committee members expertise may be needed.
• In establishing and acting on the strategic direction of the PLA, embraces research, fieldwork, and teaching; supports a culture of innovation, openness, and intellectual curiosity.
• Promotes the University's mission of inclusion and diversity.
• Focuses on short term and long term PLSA organizational development, team building, and coalition leadership.
• When seeking new partnerships, prioritizes the advancement of education, public safety, justice, equity and practice.
• Coordinates PLA initiatives with representatives of foreign, state and municipal governments, as well as with other Federal agencies, industry, academic and private organizations with a shared mission and vision as the PLA.
• Identifies and executes on government funding opportunities to ensure the sustainability of the Policing Leadership Academy (PLA) at the Community Safety Leadership Academies (CSLA).
• Represents the PLA in formal and informal interactions with high-level internal and external stakeholders.
• Serves as Liaison to Federal agencies including but not limited to: Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Department of State.
• Serves as Liaison to all major organizations with a public safety focus including but not limited to: Major Cities Chiefs, Major County Sheriffs, National Governors Association, National Association of Counties, International Association of County Managers, International Association of Chiefs of Police, United States Conference of Mayors, National Sheriffs Association, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, National Tribal Police Association.
• Serves as liaison to mayors/city managers of cities participating in the PLA and to international organizations engaged with the PLA.
• Contributes to the development and amplification of the PLA story with the Public Affairs team in weekly meetings. Assists in the creation of innovative communications campaigns, engaging in public activities, and direct relationships with academic institutions, community organizations, government representatives, and industry partnerships.
• Provides other tasks in partnership with Crime Lab Leadership, the PLA directors and researchers, and Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Academy leadership as necessary.
• Manages program operations and administrative functions to include planning and scheduling, program evaluation, policy implementation, personnel administration, budget, marketing, fundraising and proposal development.
• Recommends program content, policies and strategic planning effort.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree in public policy or law strongly preferred.
  

Experience:

• Significant supervisory experience including hiring, training, and performance management.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work effectively with a diverse workforce in a complex research environment.
  
• Ability to lead new, evolving initiatives.
  
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and comfort interacting with a variety of colleagues.
  
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage large-scale projects towards a successful outcome.
  
• Must be a resourceful problem-solver and critical thinker; must be proactive in leveraging opportunities, and in anticipating and averting problems.
  

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
  
• Cover Letter (required)
  

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Administration & Management

Role Impact

People Manager

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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