Chief of Police-Town of Duck (NC)

Applicants should apply by November 30, 2026

Lead a Turn-Key Police Department in a Unique and Engaged Coastal Community

The picturesque and charming Town of Duck, North Carolina, seeks a seasoned, strategic, and community-focused law enforcement executive to serve as its next Chief of Police.

This leadership opportunity calls for a collaborative and forward-thinking professional who will build upon the department’s strong foundation of excellence, its high-performing team, and the trust and credibility already established within the community. The ideal candidate will provide a clear vision for the future while fostering a culture of teamwork, transparent communication, sound judgment, and accountability. A commitment to public service, effective law enforcement, and maintaining strong community relationships will be essential to sustaining the department’s success and guiding its continued growth.

About The Organization, Department And Position

The Town of Duck operates under the council-manager form of government, with a five-member Town Council serving as the legislative and policy-making body and the Town Manager overseeing daily municipal operations. With a FY-2026-27 budget of $13.7 million. The Town’s internal culture is grounded in its SOAR values—Service, Ownership, Accountability, and Respect—which reflect a shared commitment to integrity, collaboration, personal responsibility, and continuous improvement in service to the community and in support of one another.

The Chief of Police reports directly to the Town Manager and is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities of the Police Department. For FY 2026–27, the department has a budget of $2.8 million, which the Chief is responsible for developing and managing, including providing police-related input for the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan. The Chief directly supervises two lieutenants—the Patrol Lieutenant and Administrative Lieutenant—and shares supervision of an administrative staff member.

The Chief oversees patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and related law enforcement activities. The position includes strategic planning, establishing short- and long-term departmental goals and objectives, developing and administering operating and capital budgets, overseeing personnel and resources, and establishing departmental policies, procedures, and standards of performance.

The Chief also advises the Town Manager and Town Council on law enforcement issues, works with other law enforcement agencies on crime prevention and investigative activities, and collaborates in preparing the Town and department for emergency conditions, storm mitigation, and recovery.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a closely related field, supplemented by advanced coursework in police administration.
• Progressively responsible management experience in law enforcement, preferably including three to five years in a command-level position (Captain or above), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid driver’s license
• Must be examined and certified by a licensed physician to meet the physical requirements necessary to properly fulfill the role as a sworn law enforcement officer.
• An active Law Enforcement Certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission (or the immediate ability to obtain certification via reciprocity).
  
  

Transfers: In-state candidates may transfer their law enforcement officer certification to another agency in NC provided he/she has less than a 12-month break in service at time of appointment. In-state candidates with less than a three-year break in NC service may receive partial credit toward basic law enforcement training. Out-of-state candidates who are serving or have served as a local or state law enforcement officer must have successfully completed a basic law enforcement training course accredited by the state from which they are transferring and cannot have a break in full-time service exceeding three years at the time of appointment. Individuals with Federal law enforcement officer certification who have not had a break in service exceeding three years at the time of appointment may receive partial credit toward NC basic law enforcement training. NC does recognize and give partial credit for military police (MP) training if the candidate has completed a formal military basic training program and been awarded a military police occupational specialty rating and has served as a military police officer for not less than two of the five years preceding the date of appointment.

Salary And Benefits

The salary range for the position is $110,000 – 162,000. Starting salary is dependent on qualifications and experience. The Town of Duck offers a comprehensive employee benefits package for its full-time employees and public safety personnel, including, full health, dental, and vision coverage for employees, paid vacation leave, 401(k) contributions, participation in the Local Government Employees’ Retirement System. A complete review of benefits can be found here.

Note: While Town residency is not required, the successful applicant must live within a 45-minute drive during normal commuting times and conditions.

How To Apply

Please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the Chief of Police – Town of Duck, NC job title.

Note: If you have accessed this position from within the Government Jobs portal, simply hit the green “Apply” button in the upper-right corner to begin your application.

• Application Deadline: November 30, 2026.
• Application Process: All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates appli¬cation portal using the link above—NOT via the Town’s employment portal or external job boards.
• Required Documents: A comprehensive resume and tailored cover letter must be uploaded with the online submission.
• Hiring Process Schedule: Successful semi-finalists will be invited to participate in virtual skill assessment evaluations scheduled for January 7-8, 2027. These dates are fixed. Onsite interviews for selected finalists will take place with the Town of Duck leadership team at a time to be determined. Candi¬dates are asked to reserve these dates should they be invited to participate.
• For direct inquiries, please email hiring@developmentalassociates.com *protected email* .
  
  

The Town of Duck, NC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The recruitment and selection process is being managed by Developmental Associates, LLC. To learn more about our selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/, select "Client Openings," and scroll down to "Important Information for Applicants."