Essex Police and Kent Police
Deputy Chief Constable - Headquarters, Chelmsford
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Location of Role: Headquarters, Chelmsford
Advert Closing Date: 24/08/2026
Salary Range: £171,993* to £178,014 (Plus South-east Allowance and lease car option)
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Mon-Fri
Weekend/Evening Working: No
Please do not apply by clicking the "apply" button below as applications submitted in this manner will not be accepted. To apply for this role, please click here.
Now is an exciting time to join Essex Police. Our force is stronger than it has ever been. We have just been graded as Tier One by HMICFRS, which is testament to the hard work of our talented and dedicated officers, staff, and volunteers. Our force offers significant operational challenge and opportunity and continues to build on our successes in driving down crime and maintaining good levels of public trust and confidence. With international air and sea borders, proximity to the capital, and a large rural community, the force is large enough to prevent and respond to the most serious crime while retaining a strong sense of identity and police family culture.
We continue to find innovative ways to tackle crime, anti-social behavior, protect our communities, and provide the best possible service to victims and the public. Our Chief Officer team brings experience from policing and other professions, with a shared commitment to professionalism, public service, and continuous improvement.
We tackle violence, support and safeguard victims, deal with vulnerability, and maintain visibility in our communities, ensuring we never take public trust for granted.
It is an exciting time to join our Chief Officer team as not only is our force in a strong position, but we are also about to welcome our new Chief Constable into post. This presents a real opportunity to be part of supporting our new Chief as she sets out her vision for the force and seeks to embed that across all of our people.
The Role
As Deputy Chief Constable, you will provide invaluable support to the Chief Constable as the designated deputy. You will help to set and oversee the delivery of the force's direction, culture, and performance, leading and overseeing the day-to-day running of the force and ensuring the most effective and efficient policing response to crime, anti-social behavior, and major and critical incidents.
You’ll balance oversight and delivery of performance with longer-term approaches to force-wide activity and strategic programmes that deliver our vision, strategic aims, and policing priorities, whilst continuing to focus on culture, professionalism, and ensuring all colleagues are inspired, empowered, and supported to deliver the best possible service to the public, especially victims. The success of your leadership will be evident through performance outcomes.
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The Person
We are seeking an inclusive, dynamic, and collaborative leader with an exceptional operational background and outstanding leadership qualities.
The successful candidate will demonstrate exemplary leadership, a strong public service ethos, and a commitment to leading an organisation that innovates and delivers an outstanding service to all communities.
Candidates will be expected to evidence a track record of delivering organizational performance, objective judgment, and sophisticated decision-making in complex and sometimes ambiguous operational environments. Among other responsibilities, the postholder will play a leading role in developing and implementing strategies that deliver a professional service that supports victims, reduces violence, enhances visibility, prevents crime, and protects vulnerable people.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for appointment, candidates:
- Must have served as a police officer who is eligible to undertake either the Police Leadership Programme (PLP) (Stage 5) for executive leaders or the Strategic Command Course (SCC).
- Must have successfully completed the SCC or PLP (Stage 5).
- Successful completion of the A7 authorising officer’s course.
- Candidates will be required to pass the necessary vetting checks required to attain the rank of Deputy Chief Constable before appointment. Developed Vetting & SC is required.
In return for your dedication, Essex Police will offer you a policing, leadership, and organizational challenge that would satisfy the most aspiring police leaders to fulfil their ambitions.
A briefing session will be held for candidates on 18th August 2026 from 14:30, therefore prompt registration of interest is essential.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 10:30 hrs on 24th August 2026.
It is currently anticipated that the assessment process for this opportunity will be held during the week commencing 31st August 2026.
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To arrange an informal and confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact our People Development team on hr.people.development@ecis.police.uk. The team will make arrangements for candidates to speak to the most appropriate person.
*Salary and allowances payable will be in line with relevant Regulations/determinations.
Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.
Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process, or for further information regarding this position, please email us at recruitment.business.services@ecis.police.uk stating 'Application Support and Adjustments' in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01245 452833.
Where appropriate, we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements, and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so.
If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain.
If you’re from the UK, you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.
Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.
Essex Police is a Disability Confident Leader, we:
- have subjected our Disability Confident self-assessment to external challenge and validation
- are taking an active leadership role in encouraging and helping other employers on their journey to becoming Disability Confident.
Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion are central to the values of our organization. At Essex Police, we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities, and abilities that each of us brings to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.
Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team, and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.
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