Police Commander Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

OPPORTUNITY OPEN: 6/29/2026 CLOSE: 7/27/2026 8:00 AM INTERVIEW DATE: TBD Anticipated Hiring Range $176,014.28 - $205,000 annually (DOE/DOQ) The City of Santa Maria Police Department is accepting applications for Police Division Commander. The Police Division Commander position is a Strategic Leader role that carries out the vision and provides direction to achieve department mission and goals. Their role enables the Santa Maria Police Department to provide the highest quality service and meet the needs of the community to ensure a safe place to live, work and raise a family

WHO WE ARE: The City of Santa Maria is a full-service City with a City Council/City Manager form of government with over 700 employees and serves approximately 108,000 constituents. The City of Santa Maria is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The City has a harmonious balance of maintaining coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business.

Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers reasonably priced housing, community festivals, quality schools, and is in close proximity to beaches, cultural arts, a local airport, wineries, and higher education institutions. WHAT WE DO: The Santa Maria Police Department strives to protect and serve all those who live, work, and/or visit Santa Maria. This is accomplished by working in cooperation with the community, promoting safety and enforcing the law.

The Department offers a full range of professional police services that include patrol operations, investigations, traffic and parking enforcement, criminalistics, crime prevention, and many other services necessary to ensure the development of a safer community. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: The ideal candidate exhibits the following qualities: Team Player Customer Oriented Integrity and Ethics Learning Agility Communication Skills Problem Solving and Decision Making Motivated DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION: Police Division Commander Broadband Full Pay Range: $176,014.28 - $289,571.88 Annually REQUIRED SUBMITTALS: Due upon application: Cover Letter Resume DUTIES These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization. This position: Oversees and leads a division of the Police Department, and performs more complex administrative/operational work and has broad discretion and decision-making ability

Oversees and reviews the development and implementation of community policing strategies and programs. Studies crime and other reports to determine trends and makes recommendations for changes in organizational and operating procedures. Coordinates police activities with other departments, divisions and with outside agencies.

Directs the selection, placement, training and supervision of other employees; reviews and evaluates performance and recommends personnel action. Represents the City at public events and may act as Chief of Police in his/her absence. Interprets the law and makes decisions in accordance with laws, regulations and policies.

Develops and administers the department's annual budget and controls expenditures Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of the department director. Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation. Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.

Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance. CORE COMPETENCIES Strategic Leader: Incumbents should have a solid foundation of Individual Contributor, Front-line Supervisor and Middle Manager core competencies identified by the organization, as well as the following core competencies identified as essential for Strategic Leader (click the hyper link to see the full definition Strategic Leader Competencies): Mission Focus - Effective performers understand and support the organization's mission, believe in it, value it, and are committed to it. Visioning - Effective performers are imaginative, able to create a vision of a preferred future, and communicate it clearly and enthusiastically to others.

Strategic Thinking - Effective performers act with the future in mind, understand the factors influencing strategy (e.g., core competence, community needs, and the organization's current strengths and limitations), and consider future impact when weighing decisions. Business Thinking - Effective performers see the organization as a series of integrated and interlocking business processes, understand general business concepts that govern these systems, and understand how change impacts the entire organization. Diplomacy - Effective performers work well within the organization's power network

They recognize personal agendas, balance internal politics, work well with elected officials and navigate the political environment effectively. Global Mindset - Effective performers see their city role in a larger context within the community, region and beyond. They value diversity and other points of view, identify partnership opportunities and exhibit coalition-building skills.

Risk Taking - Effective performers have a history of, and propensity for, taking calculated chances to achieve goals. When they fail, they accept it, learn from it, and move on. Leadership Identification - Effective performers identify with the role of leader, and enjoy positions of responsibility and authority.

Presentation Skills - Effective performers are comfortable and confident in front of an audience, deliver messages effectively to inform or persuade, and are adept at public engagement. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Police Division Commander: Significant years of supervisory and leadership experience to perform the job effectively; and Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree in a public administration or a public safety related field; An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. A Bachelor's Degree with graduate work is desired.

Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as: Federal, State and local laws and ordinances, particularly with reference to arrest, rules of evidence pertaining to search and seizure, and preservation and presentation of evidence. Administration, operations, budget, information technology and management. Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent), and project management principles. Use computer and other office equipment effectively. Desired licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment, such as.

P.O.S.T. Advanced Certificate SELECTION PROCESS The most qualified candidates will be selected to appear before a panel of subject matter experts for an oral interview. Those applicants invited to an interview will be notified electronically at the email address provided by each candidate through the application process

Therefore, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide an accurate email address and to allow their inbox to receive emails in regard to this recruitment. The oral board will recommend a limited number of candidates to the eligibility list from which the new Police Division Commander may be selected. Prior to an offer of employment, applicants must pass a thorough background investigation to the satisfaction of the City.

If you are experiencing any technical (computer related) difficulties or need help with attaching documents to your application, please call the NEOGOV help line for assistance at 1-855-524-5627.