Superintendent to Chief Superintendent: Promotion Process

Chief Superintendent Promotion

Applications are invited from internal and external substantive Superintendents on promotion, as well as transfer opportunities for external substantive Chief Superintendents.

Applicants must be suitably experienced, competent, and credible for immediate promotion to the rank of Chief Superintendent within West Midlands Police. We have opportunities available across multiple Local Policing Areas and portfolios throughout the force.

Requirements

To be successful in these roles you must have real strengths in:

• Operational Command. Delivering complex frontline operational policing, including the identification and management of critical incidents, the planning and commanding of complex events and operations and relentless focus on the sustained delivery of outcomes for the public.
• Leading organisational change and embracing innovative ways of working, to achieve our vision of being recognised as a police service that is big enough to cope with everything that is asked of us, whilst showing we are small enough to care about the things that really matter to our communities.
• Motivating, developing and unlocking the potential of large and diverse teams, to create an inclusive environment where everyone is committed to the delivery of a service, we are proud of.

If you have what it takes to work as a Chief Superintendent in West Midlands Police and excel in this environment, then we want to hear from you.

Click here for the generic Chief Superintendent role profile from the College of Policing, alongside information regarding competency and values framework (CVF).

Posting

On applying for promotion, you accept that your new role and rank may be performing any function, anywhere across the West Midlands Force area. Please read the Force Promotions Posting Principles, which will be strictly adhered to, on the below link:

Posting Principles

Please advise of any limited duties when applying for the process. All flexible working arrangements will be reviewed before posting.

Application Assessment Question

Please answer the following question, ‘Please demonstrate how you have the necessary substantive experience, operational competence and leadership credibility for immediate promotion to the rank of Chief Superintendent in West Midlands Police’ (no more than 750 words). Please attach this in the section titled, ‘Supporting Documents’.

The Selection Process:

The section process will consist of the following stages:

• Application form questionnaire and written evidence submission. This will be used for shortlisting.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a Stakeholder Panel which is made up from our community partners, staff network representatives, Superintendent's Association
• The main interview will be in front of the Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable & Director of Commercial & People Services.

Further details regarding the selection process will be shared when candidates are invited to the stakeholder panel and the interview.

Timeline:

Application Phase: Wednesday 11 November 2026 to Wednesday 9 December at 23:59

As part of your application, please ensure you attach the following to the supporting documents section:

• Your CV detailing your employment history, education, skills, and qualifications.
• Your 5-year posting history.

• Your response to the application assessment question.

Stakeholder Panel: Thursday 7 January 2027 or Friday 8 January 2027

Interview: Thursday 13 January 2027 or Friday 14 January 2027

If progressed through to the Stakeholder and Interview stage, the Promotions Team will assign candidates to the above dates. There are no alternative dates and you must be available for at least one of the stakeholder panel and interview dates. If you are unavailable for one of the dates please let us know and we will try and accommodate where possible, however it is your role as candidates to ensure your availability.

If you would like to further discuss this opportunity, please contact the Promotions Team by emailing: BP_Promotions@westmidlands.police.uk

West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in England, serving more than 2.9 million people across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall. Every day, our people work together to keep our communities safe, protect vulnerable people, prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.

We answer more than 2,000 emergency calls every day and provide policing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting victims, investigating crime or working behind the scenes, every role plays a vital part in delivering an outstanding service to the public.

We're proud of the progress we've made in reducing crime, improving emergency response times and increasing arrest rates. These achievements are only possible because of the dedication, professionalism and expertise of our officers, staff and volunteers. As we continue to transform the way we police, we're looking for talented people who are committed to making a real difference.

Why Join West Midlands Police?

A career with West Midlands Police is about more than a job, it's an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the lives of millions of people. Whatever your role, you'll contribute to keeping our communities safe while developing your own skills and career.

When you join us, you'll benefit from:

• Meaningful work that makes a difference every day.
• A diverse range of career opportunities across policing and professional support services.
• High-quality training, development and opportunities to progress.
• A supportive and inclusive working environment where everyone is encouraged to achieve their potential.
• Competitive pay, generous annual leave, excellent pension arrangements and a wide range of employee benefits.
• The opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues who share a common purpose.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better understand and serve the communities we protect. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to succeed.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of the Government's Disability Confident scheme, we are committed to removing barriers to employment and supporting disabled applicants and employees throughout their careers. Through our Disability Confident Interview Scheme, applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for a role will normally be offered an interview, subject to the scheme's terms and any recruitment constraints.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Vision is to maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness, respect and inclusion, enabling us to deliver the best possible service to our communities.

Professional Standards

Working in policing is a position of trust. Our officers and staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability. Successful applicants will be subject to appropriate vetting and are expected to uphold the ethical standards and responsibilities that come with serving the public.

Recruitment and the Use of AI

We recognise that many candidates use AI tools to support activities such as proofreading and improving the presentation of written applications. This is acceptable, provided the content you submit accurately reflects your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Applications must be your own work. Any evidence of plagiarism, false or misleading information, or the inappropriate use of AI during assessments or selection activities where it is not permitted may result in your application being rejected.

Benefits

We know that supporting our people is essential to delivering the best service to our communities. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of employee benefits, wellbeing support and development opportunities to help you thrive throughout your career.

Visit our Benefits page to find out more about the rewards and support available when you join West Midlands Police.