An exceptional opportunity to lead one of South Australia’s most important public institutions. South Australia is seeking an outstanding leader to serve as its next Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner provides strategic leadership, direction and stewardship of South Australia Police and, under the Police Act 1998, is responsible for the control and management of SAPOL. The role carries significant responsibility for community safety, public confidence and the continuing effectiveness, integrity and responsiveness of policing across metropolitan, regional and remote South Australia. This is a consequential leadership appointment at a time of increasing complexity and change. The next Commissioner will be expected to sustain strong operational capability while positioning SAPOL to respond to complex and organised crime, cyber-enabled offending, family and domestic violence, youth offending, road safety, emergency management, security risks, technological development, workforce pressures and changing community expectations. Candidates will bring substantial executive leadership experience in policing, law enforcement, public safety, emergency management or a comparable complex and highly accountable operational workplace. They will demonstrate:
• distinguished strategic and organisational leadership, with the capacity to set direction and translate strategy into sustained performance;
• credibility in policing, law enforcement, public safety or another high-consequence operational environment;




• exceptional judgement under pressure and the ability to balance operational imperatives, public safety, individual rights and organisational risk;
• unquestioned integrity, independence, courage and commitment to public service and accountability;
• a strong record of building capable leadership teams and safe, respectful, inclusive and disciplined cultures;
• experience leading transformation, digital modernisation, innovation and continuous improvement;
• highly developed communication, influence and relationship-building capabilities across government, partner agencies, unions, media and diverse communities; and
• a demonstrated commitment to fair, accessible and culturally safe policing, including building trust with Aboriginal communities, multicultural communities, victims and vulnerable people. The successful candidate will be a visible, calm and principled leader with the authority, resilience and contemporary outlook to lead SAPOL, inspire its people and maintain the trust and confidence of the South Australian community. For further details, including the full position description and person specification, visit www.vuca.com.au/sapolc. For a confidential discussion, please contact VUCA Director Christine Locher on + 61 438 388 510. Submit a letter of application and CV in Microsoft Word format to [email protected] by Friday 27th November 2026. Iworkfor.sa.gov.au job reference number

📌 Commissioner of Police (Adelaide)
🏢 South Australia Police
📍 Adelaide