About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
Under the supervision of UMPD’s Administrative Lieutenant, this position is responsible for managing the Department’s Accreditation and Certification process, as the Department’s compliance manager. This position manages the newly appointed officer’s process.
Essential Functions
Accreditation and Certification
- Oversee the coordination and activities associated with compliance programs for which the Police Department is responsible and accreditation; coordinates the organization’s sustainability plan for ongoing re-accreditation.
- Review, edit, and/or developing the Department’s written directives to comply with Certification/accreditation standards. Reviews all proposed and revised policies and procedures to ensure they are in line with the department goals and mission, while aligning with both MPAC and CALEA standards. Responsible for ensuring the Department is properly and adequately prepared to demonstrate its compliance documentation during off-site and on-site assessment processes through use of the PowerDMS software.
- Assists the Chief of Police in providing complete research, analysis, advice and recommendations on complex issues of central importance to the department mission. Collaborates with police leadership and assists in implementing long-range strategic planning for the Department.
- Identifies standards that are not applicable to the Department then prepares and submits Waiver Forms to the MPAC and CALEA Commissions for conditional approval.
- Prepares and submits periodic status reports, both initial and follow-up, to the Chief of Police and designees throughout the self-assessment phase to monitor accreditation efforts and Department progress.
- Identifies which Optional Standards the Department is in compliance with, and those that could be in compliance with, in order to meet the Department’s required minimum percentage (for accreditation only).
- Provides information on accreditation to Department personnel to ensure familiarization with the certification/accreditation process. Prepares and maintains the Department’s compliance documentation, including all accreditation files, as required by the Commissions.
- Assists in the identification and development of new programs, systems and procedures to achieve compliance with standards, which may include the acquisition of new equipment or minor changes to the police facility.
- Oversees and coordinates the Department’s system for updating written directives; assigns policy reviews and policy writing to individuals functionally responsible or connected to each standard and/or assists in the development of draft written directives for staff review.
- Manages the PowerDMS for Law Enforcement system, along with the Administrative Lieutenant to ensure that all time sensitive action items required by standards are completed on schedule (inspections, reports, reviews, and analyses, etc.).
- Maintains archive files of the Department’s written directives in the PowerDMS for Law Enforcement management system.
- Trains new UMPD employees in the use of the PowerDMS for Law Enforcement system. Provides new UMPD employees an overview of the accreditation process.
- Prepares and submits documentation and/or reports to the Commissions, as required.
- Serves as advisor to the Chief of Police and Command Staff on issues related to accreditation.
- Meets regularly with the Administrative Lieutenant and Deputy Chief of Administration to report on accreditation efforts and activities.
- Authority to delegate appropriate assignments, throughout the Department, and enforce deadlines.
- Attends local, regional and national training programs offered by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC), the Coalition of Accreditation Managers of Massachusetts (CAMM), and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and PowerDMS to stay abreast of program updates and changes.
New Officer Compliance
- Works closely with Student Affairs and Campus Life Human Resources and the Chief’s Office as it relates to the Department’s hiring processes.
- Maintains both entry level and lateral UMPD internal hiring spreadsheets.
- Communicates with applicants to provide updates, schedule interviews, exams, and answer basic hiring process questions as it relates to the internal UMPD hiring process
- Works closely with the Chief’s Administrative Assistant to help coordinate applicant appointments between the initial conditional offer of employment, to the final offer of employment
Other Functions
- Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
- Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
- Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.
- Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years of public service, law enforcement, or policy development experience; OR Associates degree and six (6) years public service, law enforcement, or policy development experience; OR High School with ten (10) years law enforcement certification and accreditation experience.
- Demonstrated strong leadership skills at a large-scale complex organization with analytical ability and experience with strategic planning processes, including significant change management initiatives.
- Experience with organizational compliance.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Proven track record of the ability to think strategically while planning, organizing, coordinating and directing multiple projects and activities and varied deadlines in support of a complex agenda.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise exemplary judgment and ensure the utmost discretion and confidentiality in all matters.
- Highly results-oriented.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with diverse internal and external constituents.
- Ability to give and receive constructive criticism.
- Experience at building partnerships.
- Excellent computer skills, Microsoft Office and database management.
- Experience in developing and delivering training modules.
- Law Enforcement Accreditation Assessor certification with 6 months of hire.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Knowledge of the PowerDMS for Law Enforcement system.
- Working knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the MPAC and CALEA standards and process.
- Ability to conduct legal and historical research.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Typical office environment.
Work Schedule
- Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, may be required to work nights and weekends.
- Ability to travel.
Salary Information
Level 27
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.