Posting Details
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the state's primary public safety agency, responsible for law enforcement, regulatory oversight, and the administration of critical criminal justice information systems that support public safety operations statewide.
Within DPS, the Law Enforcement Records Bureau (LERB) serves as the official state repository for criminal history and biometric data and is a cornerstone of New Mexico's justice infrastructure. The bureau supports hundreds of criminal justice agencies and thousands of authorized users by delivering accurate, real-time data essential for law enforcement, courts, corrections, and regulatory decision-making.
LERB manages a complex portfolio of federally and state-mandated programs, including criminal history reporting, background checks, sex offender registration, and missing persons tracking. It also operates and maintains highly technical systems such as CJIS, NCIC, NLETS/NMLETS, and AFIS, which require strict compliance with federal standards and continuous coordination with national partners.
This bureau operates at the intersection of public safety, advanced technology, and regulatory compliance, requiring strong executive leadership, deep technical expertise, and high-level collaboration across agencies and jurisdictions.
Why does the job exist?
This position exists to provide executive-level leadership, governance, and strategic direction over one of the most critical and technically complex components of New Mexico's public safety ecosystem. The role is responsible for ensuring the integrity, security, accessibility, and compliance of statewide criminal justice data systems that directly impact law enforcement operations, judicial outcomes, regulatory functions, and public trust.
Serving as the Department's designated Records Custodian, this position holds statutory authority over millions of sensitive criminal history and biometric records. It is accountable for maintaining data accuracy, safeguarding information, and ensuring transparency in accordance with state and federal laws.
This is not a routine director role - it requires a seasoned executive with significant experience in high-level leadership, advanced technical systems, and complex stakeholder environments. The position leads large-scale modernization initiatives, ensuring that New Mexico's systems remain interoperable with national platforms and aligned with evolving federal mandates.
The role demands the ability to make high-impact decisions, manage risk, lead large multidisciplinary teams, and engage effectively with law enforcement agencies, government leaders, tribal partners, and regulatory entities across the state. It is essential to maintaining operational continuity, advancing public safety capabilities, and sustaining the integrity of New Mexico's criminal justice infrastructure.
How does it get done?
This position provides executive, operational, and technical leadership across a highly complex statewide program:
- Establishes strategic vision and direction for the bureau, developing policies, performance measures, and long-term plans that align with public safety priorities and federal requirements
- Leads and manages a large, multi-functional organization, ensuring accountability, operational excellence, and alignment across specialized units
- Oversees the statewide criminal history and biometric repository, ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and timely processing of high-volume records from numerous law enforcement and detention agencies
- Directs compliance with federal and state mandates, including auditing agencies, maintaining reporting standards, and overseeing certification and training programs for thousands of system users
- Provides executive oversight of highly technical criminal justice information systems, guiding modernization efforts, system integration, and interoperability with national platforms
- Serves as the Department's Records Custodian, ensuring lawful and transparent management of public records while protecting sensitive and confidential information
- Engages with a wide range of stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, courts, tribal governments, policymakers, and regulatory partners, to ensure collaboration and effective service delivery
- Leads and mentors senior leadership staff, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, professional development, and continuous improvement
- Drives customer service excellence and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that agencies statewide receive responsive, reliable, and high-quality support
Who are the customers?
This position serves a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, including Department of Public Safety personnel, local and state law enforcement agencies, federal partners, courts, corrections agencies, tribal governments, regulatory bodies, and members of the public.
These customers rely on the bureau for accurate, timely, and secure criminal justice information, making this role critical to supporting law enforcement operations, judicial processes, regulatory compliance, and public safety outcomes across the state.
Ideal Candidate
This position serves a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, including Department of Public Safety personnel, local and state law enforcement agencies, federal partners, courts, corrections agencies, tribal governments, regulatory bodies, and members of the public.
These customers rely on the bureau for accurate, timely, and secure criminal justice information, making this role critical to supporting law enforcement operations, judicial processes, regulatory compliance, and public safety outcomes across the state.
Minimum Qualification
Master's Degree in any field of study from an accredited college or university and ten (10) years of executive level experience with a heavy strategic/functional strategy impact directly related to the purpose of the position defined by the agency at the time of recruitment. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling sixteen (16) years may substitute for the required education and experience. A hiring agency will designate a portion of the required experience to include executive management and/or specialized experience. Any required licensure, certification or registration shall be defined at the time of recruitment and will be in addition to the above requirements.
Employment Requirements
Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's Licenses, a current Defensive Driving Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of employment. Employment is subject to a national fingerprint-based records check. Continued employment is contingent upon remaining felony free, per Section 5.12.1.1 of the Criminal Justice Information Systems Security Policy.
The position may require local, in-state and out-of-state travel, extended work hours, and responsiveness to time-sensitive issues, audits, and operational demands. Physical requirements are minimal but may include lifting light office equipment and materials.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in a fast-paced, high-responsibility office environment within a law enforcement setting. The position requires extensive use of computers and advanced information systems, as well as continuous engagement with internal staff and external stakeholders.
The role involves handling highly sensitive and confidential information and requires a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and accountability. Regular interaction with law enforcement personnel and leadership is expected.
Supplemental Information
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Agency Contact Information: Louise Riebe (505) 827-9080 Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
