Director Police Administration-Metro Transit Police Department

Metropolitan Council•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

The Director, Police Administration is a senior leader in the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), reporting to the Chief of Police. The Director provides strategic direction and operational accountability for the department’s administrative and professional services portfolio, ensuring its programs and resources are integrated, effective, compliant, and aligned with departmental and organizational priorities. The Director serves as the Chief’s principal civilian advisor on administrative operations, sets long-range plans and performance expectations, leads department-wide initiatives, and represents MTPD in executive and interdepartmental forums. The position oversees functions including analytics, asset protection, business technology, finance, procurement, fleet services, payroll, records, evidence, and body-worn-camera administration. It directly leads the Support Services department, providing organizational leadership to approximately 30 or more employees, including managers, supervisors, and individual contributors. The role contributes to executive leadership and department-wide planning, resource decisions, and organizational improvement. The Metropolitan Council is the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. MTPD is a licensed police force serving eight counties and approximately 85 cities, with an authorized strength of 171 full-time officers, 55 community service officers, and 40 administrative staff. The department’s mission is to safeguard the transit community with integrity and professionalism while building trust through community partnerships. The work is performed in a standard office setting and may sometimes require travel between the primary work site and other sites. The position is exempt and non-represented, Grade L. A thorough MTPD background check is required for new Metropolitan Council employees; all applicants must have background checks and fingerprints cleared by the Criminal Bureau of Apprehension for CJIS access. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable.

Requirements

One of the following education and experience combinations in administrative services or related experience, with a degree field in Public Safety Administration, Human Resources, Business Technology, or a closely related field: high school diploma/GED and 12 years of work experience, including 5 years of supervisory/management experience; associate degree and 10 years of work experience, including 5 years of supervisory/management experience; or bachelor’s degree or higher and 8 years of work experience, including 5 years of supervisory/management experience.
Knowledge of best practices in workforce development, budget management, contracting, materials, and business systems.
Knowledge of labor relations, collective-bargaining agreements, and organizational development principles.
Knowledge of strategic planning, process improvement, and public-sector management.
Knowledge of organizational leadership and ability to motivate a workforce.
Knowledge of advanced computer applications used for presentations.
Leadership, communication, collaboration, and consensus-building skills.
Analytical and critical-thinking skills to balance operational and strategic objectives.
Skill in managing complex projects and integrating cross-functional teams.
Oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences and governing bodies.
Ability to collaborate with internal and external customers.
Ability to recruit, lead, and mentor managers and staff to achieve performance goals.
Ability to oversee large-scale initiatives and align administrative functions with organizational priorities.
Ability to promote an inclusive, equitable, and high-performance culture.
Ability to motivate the workforce and provide direction to team members.
Ability to represent Metro Transit and the Council with professionalism and credibility.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of police administration, public-safety best practices, or transit/government agency operations.
Proven success leading or centralizing administrative functions within a complex, multi-department organization.
Skill in overseeing workforce development, performance management, succession planning, and comprehensive training programs.
Demonstrated capability in directing the development and implementation of operational technology.
Experience managing teams responsible for complex budgeting, procurement, contract management, and accounts payable.
Strong experience presenting and engaging with groups, including elected, appointed, and government officials.
A proven track record of supporting a diverse workforce and guiding teams through structural organizational change.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise and support managers, supervisors, and individual contributors in Support Services, providing leadership to approximately 30 or more employees.
Plan and coordinate recruitment, assign work, establish priorities, monitor progress, and evaluate Support Services staff performance.
Serve on the Chief’s executive leadership team and contribute to strategic planning, priority setting, resource decisions, and organizational improvement.
Advise the Chief on administrative issues and recommend policies, organizational changes, investments, and operating strategies.
Align priorities and resources across analytics, asset protection, business technology, finance and procurement, fleet, payroll, projects, evidence, body-worn-camera administration, and records.
Translate the Chief’s priorities into integrated strategies, long-range plans, performance expectations, and measurable outcomes for assigned administrative functions.
Advise the Chief on operating and capital budget priorities, financial risks, forecasts, significant expenditures, and long-range resource requirements.
Set strategic direction for asset-protection technology, video and body-worn-camera systems, business technology, analytics, records, evidence, fleet services, payroll systems, and related administrative systems.
Establish performance measures and executive reporting standards for financial management, procurement, payroll, fleet, records, evidence, technology, asset protection, project delivery, and workforce performance.
Prioritize major administrative and technology projects based on organizational need, public-safety impact, risk, cost, available capacity, and anticipated benefit.
Represent MTPD in executive and interdepartmental forums.