Deputy Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary
The Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary is seeking to appoint a senior strategic leader who will focus on providing the best possible service for the people who need us and keep Cumbria safe. He is looking for an exceptional and resilient individual who can lead the service and continue to build and motivate a diverse workforce whilst providing a safe and legal service to the communities across the county.
As deputy chief constable you must be able to lead, motivate and inspire officers and staff, ensuring their wellbeing, acting with integrity and transparency whilst fostering a culture based on trust and resilience. Ensuring public confidence in the constabulary within Cumbria and further afield will be a key challenge in today’s policing climate.
To succeed in this role, you will need to be innovative, dynamic, a visionary leader and your passion for public service can inspire those around them to help create a police force to be proud of. The chief constable is seeking an individual who can take the opportunity to effectively addresses current challenges, build upon our neighbourhood policing model and further develop Blue Light Collaboration (BLC) across the county.
Applicants must have successfully completed Senior Police National Assessment Centre (PNAC) and the Strategic Command Course (SCC), or the Executive Leadership Programme (ELP). Cumbria Constabulary is committed to equal opportunities, and all applicants will be assessed on an equal basis that determines their suitability to the post applied for.
This role is offered on a full-time basis, and the appointment is for a fixed term of 5 years (to be agreed as part of the final negotiations) with an annual salary of £155,641 + benefits. Any appointment is subject to vetting clearance.
If you believe you can offer this to Cumbria and are ready for this challenging, yet incredibly rewarding, role then I would genuinely welcome your application.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 7th April 2026@ 12 noon. The short listing will be undertaken by Friday 10th April 2026, following which applicants will be notified of the outcome.
We will be holding a familiarisation day for all shortlisted candidates on Wednesday 15th April 2026 at Cumbria Constabulary Police Headquarters.
The interview and assessment process will take place on Wednesday 22nd April 2026.
For any further information and an application pack please contact DCI Hayley Wilkinson for the chief constable, by email or by telephone on 0300 1240 113 ext. 41476.
Application Process:
Part 1 - COMPETENCY AND VALUES FRAMEWORK
For each competency, please provide one specific example, drawn from your last three years’ experience, illustrating your own level of achievement at the appropriate level. The examples should also demonstrate the four underpinning values of impartiality, integrity, public service and transparency.
(Each example should not exceed 500 words in length).
- Emotional Awareness
- Take Ownership
- Collaborative
- Deliver, support, Inspire
- Critical Analysis
- Innovative and Open Minded
PART 2 - JOB RELATED EXPERIENCE
Please summarise your policing experience in such a way as to draw out for us your own practical involvement in the key activity competencies defined for the role profile. This is also an opportunity for you to provide any other relevant information in support of your application. (Maximum of 500 words)
Part 3 – ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
Please note: this information will be requested following submission of application
- Details of the Senior Police National Assessment Centre and Strategic Command Course / Executive Leadership Programme.
- Current First Aid Certificate (or awaiting refresher)
- Current Personal Safety Training (or awaiting refresher – must hold current JRFT)
- Current Job-Related Fitness Test
Part 4 – CHIEF CONSTABLE COMMENTS
Your chief constable is required to provide comments on your application, prior to submission
Instructions - Please find attached to this advert the ‘Chief Constable Comments Form’ and send to your chief constable. The instructions for completion of this form are contained within the document.
Once the comments form has been completed, please attach the document to your application via the ‘attachments’ section. Details on how to upload are contained within this page.
Indicative Timeline:
- Monday 16th March 2026 - Advert published Internally & externally on recruitment portal
- Tuesday 7th April 2026, 12 noon – closing date
- Tuesday 7th April 2026 – 5pm, Friday 10th April 2026 – shortlisting
- Wednesday 15th April 2026 - familiarisation day, details to be confirmed
- Wednesday 22nd April 2026 - selection process
Announcement of Appointment
The appointment will be announced as soon as practicable following the deliberations of the interview panel.
Feedback to Applicants
Arrangements will be made to provide feedback to all applicants.
For further general information regarding your application and the process, please contact DCI Hayley Wilkinson, staff officer to Chief Constable Darren Martland.
Tel: 0300 1240 113 ext. 41476
Location: Carleton Hall Headquarters, Penrith CA10 2AU
For further general information regarding your application and the process please contact the Recruitment Support Team: recruitmentsupport@cumbria.police.uk
