Position Closes June 7th, 2026
Are you a law enforcement executive who . . .
- Drives innovative public safety initiatives that lower crime rates and strengthen community trust through proactive data sharing and transparency?
- Leads with confidence and command presence, is visible within the organization, and stands behind difficult decisions?
- Can energize and grow a dedicated workforce while championing employee wellness and an engaged organizational culture?
- Values input from staff, empowers subject matter experts, and fosters a culture where employees feel supported, heard, and accountable?
- Builds trusted relationships with community stakeholders and diverse neighborhood groups — listening to different perspectives and identifying the path forward that best serves the community?
If so, the City of Durham is seeking a confident and adaptive executive to serve as its next Chief of Police at a critical point in the department’s evolution. This is an opportunity to lead a CALEA-accredited, high-profile agency during a transformative era—growing and guiding a talented team through a shifting public safety landscape and shaping the future of policing in a premier North Carolina city.
The next Chief will step into a demanding and highly visible role that requires balancing continuing progress in crime reduction, organizational stability, and community expectations. The ideal candidate will be engaged and responsive—both internally and externally—while fostering a culture where employees feel supported, valued, and heard. With a wave of new talent joining the department, the next Chief will play a key role in mentoring the next generation of leaders and building a modern, sustainable workforce.
About the Organization:
The City of Durham operates under a Council/Manager form of government. The City Manager along with four Deputy and Assistant Managers lead approximately 2800 employees working across 25 departments. The City’s FY2025–26 budget totals $722 million, including a $326.5 million General Fund, with a property tax rate of 43.71 cents per $100 assessed budget prioritizes community safety, employee compensation, and core infrastructure, ensuring continued delivery of essential services, responsiveness to new demands, and responsible funding of voter-approved investments like the $200 million “Connect Durham” bond program. The City’s day-to-day management and plan for future growth is managed by its Strategic Plan, which sets the strategic priorities for the community.
A 2024 Resident Survey indicates that 84% of respondents rated the city as an excellent or good place to live, 29.7% higher than the national average, and 79% rated the organization as a great place to work. Residents have particularly high levels of satisfaction with their quality of life, as well as with the quality of services that they receive as city residents. Initiatives in the strategic plan have set a high bar to increase those percentages over time and to achieve Council goals of: Shared Economic Prosperity, Creating a Safer Community Together, Connected, Engaged and Diverse Communities, Innovative & High Performing Organization, and Sustainable Natural and Built Environment.
The City prides itself on community engagement and offers multiple ways for the community to become involved and stay informed from 27 Advisory Boards and Commissions, to state of the art communication tools such as an open data Web platform, and social media, to community surveys. Learn more about the City of Durham here.
About the Department and Position:
The Durham Police Department serves with a focus on reducing crime, improving service delivery, and enhancing public safety. Guided by its vision to be a progressive law enforcement agency, the department emphasizes effective policing, high-quality service, and building public confidence while maintaining high standards across its operations.
The department is authorized for 531 sworn positions and currently employs 405 sworn officers, supported by 133 of 145 authorized civilian (non-sworn) positions and 54 part-time staff, reflecting ongoing recruitment needs. Organized into Patrol Services, Investigative Services, Administrative Services, and the Office of the Chief, the department supports a wide range of specialized units, including criminal investigations, community services, and emergency response teams. Learn more about the department here.
Reporting to the City Manager, the Chief of Police oversees a budget of over $93 million and leads a senior staff that includes three deputy chiefs, a Professional Standards Officer, an Executive Officer, and an Executive Assistant.
Qualifications:
Requires a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or other relevant field, and 10 years of progressive law enforcement experience across functional areas such as patrol, internal affairs, administration, investigations, etc. to include six to seven years professional management or related experience in police administration including three to four years of related administrative supervisory experience. Must possess current advanced NC LE certification or be eligible to acquire. A master’s degree and executive law enforcement training are preferred. Must have a valid NC driver’s license or the ability to obtain a valid NC driver’s license within 60 days of relocating to NC. For information on transfers, view the full job posting via the link below.
Salary and Benefits
The anticipated hiring range for this position is $230,000–$240,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The City offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes participation in the NC Local Government Employees' Retirement System (LGERS), a 5% employer contribution to a 401(k) plan with no employee match required, no-cost employee health insurance for the base plan, city-subsidized dental coverage, paid life insurance and AD&D equal to annual salary, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, 12–13 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave, a wellness program with premium discount, and an Employee Assistance Program. Relocation assistance may be available. Full benefits details are available at this link.
To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the Chief of Police – City of Durham, NC title.
- All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the city’s employment application portal or any other external website.
- Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
- Applicants should apply by June 7, 2026.
- Successful semi-finalists will be invited to participate in interviews and skill evaluation on July 7-8, 2026. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for meetings should they be invited to participate.
- Interviews with the Executive Team will follow quickly at a subsequent time in person.
- Direct inquiries to hiring@developmentalassociates.com
The City of Durham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The recruitment and selection process is being managed by Developmental Associates, LLC.
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