Emergency Communications Manager

The County of Monterey invites qualified emergency communications professionals to apply for the position of Emergency Communications Manager with the Emergency Communications Department (ECD).

The Emergency Communications Manager is one of three manager positions serving as key members of the Department’s leadership team and reporting to the Assistant Director and Director. Together, the managers share responsibility for the effective management of ECD’s consolidated 24/7 emergency and non-emergency communications operations.

Each manager provides leadership and oversight for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical communications and may also be assigned responsibility for administration, training and workforce development, technology, and other departmental programs. Areas of responsibility may overlap or rotate among the three managers based on departmental priorities, organizational needs, and the experience and strengths of the management team. Managers are expected to work collaboratively across all operational and administrative areas, lead or support responsibilities outside their primary assignments, and participate in rotating after-hours on-call coverage.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced emergency communications professional who is prepared to lead in a complex, fast-paced public safety environment. ECD is committed to leadership development and succession planning. With anticipated leadership transitions in the coming years, individuals who demonstrate strong performance, leadership capacity, and a commitment to the Department’s long-term success may have meaningful opportunities to assume greater responsibility and advance within the organization.

The Oral Examination will be conducted via Zoom and is tentatively scheduled for the week of October 12, 2026. 

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

• Plan, direct, and supervise the work of assigned staff; train employees regarding program policies, procedures, methods, and techniques; evaluate employee performance and initiate disciplinary action as required
• Ensure maintenance of adequate dispatch staffing in accordance with minimum staffing policies and procedures
• Conduct and/or supervise operational and administrative studies of new and existing services, special projects and/or acquisition of services and equipment to determine feasibility and legality and to increase service efficiency
• Conduct incident analysis and assist in solving administrative, technical, and personnel related issues
• Consult with supervisory staff on relevant issues and work collaboratively to find alternative strategies and solutions
• Assist with coordination of multiple emergency situations and major incidents, determine dispatch priorities of simultaneous events, act as an on-line supervisory dispatcher only when necessary, during critical emergency situations
• Act as a liaison to client agencies to ensure all appropriate policies, procedures, and guidelines are followed and operate under expected and/or contractual levels of service
• Direct, coordinate, and participate in the development and implementation of program goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities that balance both mandated services and client needs
• May act on behalf of the Assistant Director of Emergency Communications in their absence

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website: Emergency Communications Manager

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills and abilities.

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and terminology of functional communication systems related to emergency communications
• Principles and techniques of program management
• The operation of emergency communications computer systems, video display terminals, radio dispatch consoles, enhanced 9-1-1 telephone systems, and other related emergency communications equipment
• Practices and procedures in incident reporting, analysis, evaluation, and disposition
• Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and enforcement procedures pertaining to the field of emergency communications and County government

Working knowledge of:

• Personnel management principles and techniques, including supervision, evaluation, discipline, training, and staff development
• Principles involving effective customer service and interpersonal communications
• Organizational and leadership philosophies and practices
• Primary roads, streets, highways, areas, major buildings, public facilities, general topography, and demographics of Monterey County
• The general operations of fire, law enforcement, medical and other public safety user agency operations 

Skill and ability to:

• Supervise, direct, and evaluate the work of others
• Coordinate multiple events and emergency responses
• Use available information and resources to make sound operation and administrative decisions
• Acquire subject matter expertise in the assigned function and activities in the Emergency Communications Department including but not limited to, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, procedures, and technical operations
• Analyze, interpret, develop, and implement assigned program policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and training curricula
• Integrate a variety of activities and services to achieve program short and long term goals, objectives, and priorities
• Analyze situations and problems, identify alternative solutions, and take appropriate actions under general policy guidelines
• Apply principles and techniques of program management
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Education:
Graduation from an accredited college, university, or equivalent institution, with a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.

Experience:
Three (3) years or more of broad and progressively responsible emergency communications dispatching experience or a closely related field, two (2) years of which must have been in a supervisory and/or management level.