Become a Site-Based Assessment Team Member

What is a CALEA Site-Based Assessment Team Member?

 

CALEA Site-Based Assessment Team Members 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 Assessment Team Member, 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.

 

Site-Based Assessment Team Members 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 first-line supervisor or higher, or
    2. At a high-level administrative position that requires considerable use of professional discretion, or
    3. With 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.

NOTE: CALEA generally uses Site-Based Assessment Team Members 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 Assessment Team Members who meet a special need for CALEA. Past professional experience will be considered.

 

Site-Based Assessment Team Leader Requirements

For every CALEA site-based assessment, one Site-Based Assessment Team Member is designated as the team leader. Team leaders must currently hold or previously have held a senior level executive or management position in a public safety agency. 

 

Team leaders are selected from the Site-Based Assessment Team Member pool based on performance, recommendations of past team leaders and assessed agencies, and a CALEA Staff review. 

 

Team leader certification requires additional CALEA training, as well as maintaining an active Site-Based Assessment Team Member certificate. Re-certification is required every three years for Site-Based Assessment Team Members and team leaders.

 

Applying to become a CALEA Site-Based Assessment Team Member

To be considered for the position of a CALEA Site-Based Assessment Team Member, 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 Assessment Team Member. Candidates should submit the following:

 

  1. Letter of Interest detailing related experience and abilities (include active email address)
  2. Contemporary resume´ in chronological presentation
  3. Endorsement from Chief Executive Officer (for actively employed candidates only)
  4. Recommendation letters (optional)

 

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

 

CALEA

13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320

Gainesville, Virginia 20155-6660

Attn: Human Resources

 

Important considerations:

  • CALEA will review and respond to applicant submissions within approximately 30 days of receipt 
  • 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 
  • The examination invitation is valid for one year. If the individual does not test within that year he/she will need to reapply 
  • All travel expenses associated with this testing and training process will be the responsibility of the Site-Based Assessment Team Member candidate

 

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 Assessment Team Member applicants:

 

 

1.  An agency signs a Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program Contract with CALEA on October 24, 2010. 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, 2010
  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

 

2.  In reviewing a standard for compliance for a training academy, the Site-Based Assessment Team Member determines the file is insufficient. According to the Site-Based Assessment Team Member flowchart for file review, which of the following best describes the next step in determining compliance?

 

  1. the Site-Based Assessment Team Member should determine if a correction is possible
  2. the Site-Based Assessment Team Member should review the action and practices of the agency
  3. the Site-Based Assessment Team Member should classify the standard as non-compliance
  4. the Site-Based Assessment Team Member should determine the applicability of the standard

 

 Answer Key:  A

 

3.  Which of the following statements best describes the final step for an Site-Based Assessment Team Member in reviewing an applicable standard file during an Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation assessment?

 

  1. Verify applicability
  2. Determine file sufficiency
  3. Review the actions and practices of the agency
  4. Verify compliance or non-compliance

 

 Answer Key:  D”