Become a Site-Based Assessor

What is a CALEA Site-Based Assessor?

 

CALEA Site-Based Assessors are per diem employees who follow the policies and procedures of the Commission in the delivery of accreditation assessment services. 

 

To be a CALEA Site-Based Assessor, members must:

 

  • Have the ability to evaluate public safety management policies, procedures, practices, and activities
  • Have a firm understanding of modern public safety personnel, administrative, legal, and operational concepts
  • Be able to interact at a peer level with chief executives and other leadership staff from assessed agencies 
  • Have a comprehensive understanding of CALEA's accreditation process and standards
  • Exemplify the highest levels of professionalism at all times and foster a non-adversarial review process.

 

The CALEA philosophy concerning assessments is “accountability with reasonable assistance.” As the “eyes and ears” of the Commission, Site-Based Assessment Team Members must maintain objectivity and report on the candidate agency’s ability to comply with the requisite number of applicable standards.

The primary factors for Site-Based Assessors focus on their demonstrated professional and managerial abilities to evaluate public safety management policies, procedures, practices and activities.  It is important to have a firm understanding of modern public safety personnel, administrative, legal and operational concepts and be able to interact, at a peer level with the assessed agency Chief Executive Officer and command staff. CALEA seeks to maintain a pool of Site-Based Assessors that represent the demographics of the agencies it serves.

 

Site-Based Assessors need the following qualifications:

  1. A minimum of a baccalaureate degree or equivalent work experience and education.
  2. Five years of contemporary full-time public safety experience: 
    1. As a mid-line manager or higher, or
    2. At a high-level administrative position that requires considerable use of professional discretion, or five years of CALEA Accreditation experience.
  3. The ability to write high-quality professional reports.
  4. The ability to apply analytical skills in the assessment of public safety operations.
  5. A valid passport for international travel.

NOTE: CALEA generally uses Site-Based Assessors from other public safety agencies actively enrolled in the CALEA Accreditation Process. However, there are positions available for government, academic, and private sector Site-Based Assessors who meet a special need for CALEA. Past professional experience will be considered in some instances.

 

Applying to become a CALEA Site-Based Assessor

To be considered for the position of a CALEA Site-Based Assessor, review the minimum qualifications to ensure your education, professional experience and abilities complement the established criteria.

 

How to apply

CALEA maintains an open application process for the position of CALEA Site-Based Assessor. Candidates should submit the following:

 

  1. Cover Letter of Interest detailing related experience and abilities (include active email address)
  2. Contemporary resume´ in a chronological presentation
  3. Letter of Recommendation from the Chief Executive Officer (for actively employed candidates only) indicating approval. 

These documents should be emailed to Human Resources Specialist Rhonda Garner at rgarner@calea.org or mailed to:

 

CALEA

13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 160

Gainesville, Virginia 20155-6660

Attn: Human Resources


CALEA selects candidates as Site-Based Assessors who have successfully completed the testing process and who have the appropriate educational and professional accomplishments that match CALEA’s demographic needs for assessor training.
 

Important considerations:

  • CALEA will review and respond to applicant submissions   
  • To be considered for review, all application materials should be submitted collectively
  • CALEA will not retain application materials for the purpose of redistribution to candidates
  • Successful candidates will be invited to participate in a web-based CALEA Process and Programs Knowledge Examination and Writing Assessment 
  • Successful candidates will be invited to participate in a web-based CALEA process and programs knowledge examination and writing assignment to be completed within 30 days of the invitation.

Candidates should review the CALEA Guide to Successful Accreditation Management and the CALEA website to prepare for the test.  The following sample questions reflect the format of the respective CALEA Process and Programs Knowledge Examination for Site-Based Assessor applicants:

 

1.  An agency signs a Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program Contract with CALEA on October 24, 2020. Since that time, the agency has developed all new directives.  When conducting the initial on-site assessment for this agency, which of the following statements best describes proof of compliance requirements?

 

  1. The agency must have proofs of compliance for each standard from the date of the agency’s inception
  2. The agency must have proofs of compliance for each applicable standard from the effective date of the associated directive
  3. The agency must show proofs of compliance from October 24, 2020
  4. The agency must have a minimum of one year of proofs of compliance for each applicable standard at the time of the on-site

Answer Key:  B