University Park Deputy Chief

The Pennsylvania State University • University Park, FL

13d

About The Position

The Penn State University Police and Public Safety Department (UPPS) is dedicated to protecting and serving more than 100,000 students, employees, and visitors across 22 campuses throughout Pennsylvania. Operating as a cohesive, centralized department headquartered at University Park, we employ sworn police officers with full law enforcement authority. We are currently seeking a Deputy Chief to join our team at University Park who embodies our core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence, and community. We are hiring a Deputy Chief for University Park. This pivotal role is responsible for standardizing and overseeing police operations, ensuring policy compliance, managing budgets, providing incident command, coordinating and working with outside collaborators and partners, and supervising staff and resources. This position will report directly to the Executive Deputy Chief. Deputy Chiefs are ultimately responsible for protecting life and property, maintaining peace and order, enhancing community engagement, enforcing laws and university policies, ensuring public safety, conducting investigations, and performing other related duties. This leadership opportunity requires a flexible schedule and strong availability as an exempt employee. Command presence, leadership, mentorship, and accountability are essential attributes for success in this role. University Park Police and Public Safety features specialized units such as K9, drone, criminal investigations, and a tactical response team. The campus is also home to the departmental headquarters, which includes the public safety divisions of Emergency Management, Physical Security, Dispatch Operations, Information Technology, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Behavioral Threat, all working closely with patrol units to respond to major incidents and events. Serving as a police officer on a university campus offers a rewarding career, supporting students and the broader university community through both community policing and outreach programs, while maintaining the traditional policing standards found in municipal and state agencies.

Requirements

• Successful Background Investigation
• U.S. Citizenship
• Fingerprint background check
• Bachelor's Degree
• 8+ years of relevant experience, includes 3+ years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Pennsylvania Driver's License - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
• First Aid Certification - American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other accredited organization
• Firearms Qualification - Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission
• CLEAN Certification - Pennsylvania State Police
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification - American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other accredited organization
• Act 120 - MPOETC Certification - Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission

Responsibilities

• Reviewing schedules and verifying payroll accuracy
• Coordinating staff development
• Handling employee and operational matters
• Ensuring that incidents are addressed promptly and professionally
• Representing the department on committees
• Assisting with interpreting laws and criminal procedures in alignment with department policies
• Collaborating with management as part of the University Police leadership team to lead campus initiatives
• Managing, supporting, coordinating large events and specialty units
• May perform police officer duties when necessary
• Protecting life and property
• Maintaining peace and order
• Enhancing community engagement
• Enforcing laws and university policies
• Ensuring public safety
• Conducting investigations
• Performing other related duties

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees