Secretary to the Board of Police Commissioners (APPOINTED)

City of Detroit•Michigan, MI

About The Position

The Secretary to the Board of Police Commissioners leads the Board’s day-to-day operations and is responsible for its overall performance. Under general direction, the Secretary supports effective delivery of oversight services and initiatives in alignment with the City Charter, the Open Meetings Act, the Board’s Bylaws, and applicable laws and procedures. The role supervises Board employees, advises Board members, and helps ensure fair, constitutional, and transparent policing and oversight. The Secretary serves at the pleasure of the Board and reports directly to the Board. The position manages Board meeting logistics and records, prepares agendas and minutes, facilitates new Commissioner orientations, prepares resolutions and other documents, and responds to stakeholder inquiries and correspondence. The Secretary also represents the Board in non-technical matters, coordinates with municipal and external stakeholders, and provides consultation on governance, organizational strategies, and initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, or a related field.
Master’s degree in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Human Resources, or a related field.
Five to seven years of recent experience in moderately complex duties involving board governance and compliance, board and committee meeting logistics, recording and distributing minutes, board orientations, investigating and resolving issues, and other complex administrative duties.
At least five years of management experience.
Must not have been an employee or elective or appointive officer of the City of Detroit within three years before consideration for appointment.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be substituted to meet the education and experience requirements.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of federal, state, city, and municipal laws and ordinances.
Juris Doctorate or doctorate in Public Administration and Policy, Business Administration, Management, Criminal Justice, or a related field.
Municipal experience.

Responsibilities

Facilitate the Board’s Charter-mandated requirements under Article 7, Chapter 8, in alignment with the Open Meetings Act, state and local laws, and parliamentary procedures.
Promote cooperation and collaboration between the Board and the Detroit Police Department.
Provide leadership that strengthens organizational culture, oversight operations, and community trust.
Monitor and observe non-Office of the Chief Investigator Board office staff in performing their duties in accordance with the City Charter and Board Bylaws.
Conduct annual staff evaluations and prepare staff and Board strategic plans.
Cultivate and maintain a healthy work environment for personnel.
Supervise implementation of training for Board members and employees to support civilian oversight legitimacy, continuous organizational improvement, and national best practices.
Develop rules, regulations, orders, and procedures for Board approval, incorporating national best practices and oversight legitimacy.
Represent the Board in non-technical matters and serve as liaison with the Mayor’s Office, City Council’s Office, Office of the Chief of Police, staff, command units, municipal departments, law firms, courts, administrative boards, and outside attorneys.
Prepare legal and investigative documents with the Board Attorney, including answers to inquiries, motions, legal memoranda, affidavits, stipulations, resolutions, case files, proofs of service, and unit activity summaries.
Accept service of legal documents and notarize documents.
Answer routine correspondence and draft replies to non-routine correspondence for Board review and approval.
Sort and prioritize correspondence and bring important or urgent matters to the attention of the Board and staff.
Manage Board meeting logistics, including recording and distributing minutes, preparing and distributing agendas, and facilitating new Commissioner orientations.
Provide specialized consultation and advice to facilitate organizational efforts, strategies, and initiatives.
Perform related work as assigned by the Board or Board leadership.