Chief of Police Search
Classified Details
- Classified ID
- 2082
- Description
The Town of Shelburne is seeking proposals from an Executive Search Firm to support recruitment of our next Chief of Police.
Background
The Town of Shelburne is a full-service local government serving a community of about 8,000 residents. Historically agricultural, Shelburne is now part of the more developed Burlington region and enjoys outstanding quality of life. Lake Champlain, scenic beauty, and cultural amenities are recruiting advantages.
The Town government is led by an elected Selectboard who appoint a Town Manager, who hires and supervises the Police Chief and other department heads. The Police Chief is responsible for the largest department budgets, over $2 million for police and $1 million for dispatch within a $12 total general fund budget in this fiscal year.
The former Chief of Police of the past five years died in June. The interim chief is from within the department and is a potential candidate. The Shelburne Police Department generally has a good reputation in the community. Both police and dispatch are adequately but not fully staffed at present, with the typical recruitment and retention challenges. The workplace is unionized, with normally scheduled contract negotiations going on now.
Scope
The Town of Shelburne is seeking a firm to provide the full range of services related to the recruitment and hiring process which may include, but are not limited to working with the Town Manager and Human Resources Manager on:
- Recruitment
- Design job advertisement
- Develop recruitment strategy
- Implement recruitment strategy
- Community Process
- Work with Town Manager and HR team to create external input process. A relatively robust community process is desired.
- Conduct both internal and external processes.
- Develop a suggested “preferred candidate” profile
- Screening, assessing, interviewing candidates
- Screen and assess top candidates
- Advise on interview process. Work with interview panel to make a committee review and meet and greets.
- Conduct assessment measures.
- Support community events.
- Hiring process
- Conduct background investigation on finalists
- Assist with contract negotiations
Advise on onboarding
Schedule
Proposals due by: December 26th, 2025
Target RFP award date: January 6th, 2026
Target hiring date: July 1, 2026
Proposal Instructions
A: Required: the following information must be provided in the bid form:
- Narrative stating the firm’s approach to the contract, including proposed schedule. Deviations from the scope and target schedule are permitted within reason.
- Information regarding the firm’s experience conducting similar Police Chief searches.
- Price
- References (3 – 5)
B. Required: resumes of key personnel
C. Optional: supplemental information up to five pages may be provided. Links to publicly accessible websites also may be provided.
Submittals
Proposals are due by 12:00 noon on Thursday, December 26th, 2025. Deliver digitally to Adam Backus, HR Manager, Town of Shelburne: abackus@shelburnevt.org. Or mail to Town of Shelburne, PO Box 88, Shelburne, VT 05482.
Questions
Please address questions to Adam Backus, HR Manager, Town of Shelburne: abackus@shelburnevt.org
VII: Selection Process
The Town of Shelburne plans to respond to all firms responding to this RFP. The Town will negotiate a scope of services and a fee proposal with the selected firm. The Town will evaluate and select the firm based on qualifications, experience and performance with similar projects, communities, references, ability to provide timely services, opportunities and constraints and cost. The selected firm must comply with all municipal, state, and federal employment laws, including equal employment opportunity laws and guidelines.
- Title
- Chief of Police Search
- Application Deadline
- 12/26/2025
- Location
- Shelburne, VT
- Application URL
- www.shelburnevt.org/237/Human-Resources
Contact Information
- Name
- Backus, Adam
- Phone Number
- (802) 985-5121
- abackus@shelburnevt.org
- Best Method of Contact