Deputy Chief of Emergency Communications

Under the direction of the Chief of Emergency Communications, the Deputy Chief of Emergency Communications assists with the strategic planning, operational oversight, and administrative management of the County’s Emergency Communications Center. This position supports the effective delivery of emergency and non-emergency communications services while ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, employee development, and organizational readiness.
The Deputy Chief provides leadership across communications operations, personnel management, training, quality assurance, technology integration, accreditation efforts, emergency preparedness, and interagency coordination. This position may act on behalf of the Chief of Emergency Communications when assigned and plays a key role in advancing departmental goals, service delivery, innovation, and public safety communications standards.

• Assist with the oversight and management of daily operations of the Emergency Communications Center to ensure efficient, effective, and uninterrupted service delivery.
• Support the development and implementation of strategic initiatives, departmental goals, operational objectives, policies, procedures, and performance standards.
• Act on behalf of the Chief of Emergency Communications in their absence or as delegated.
• Monitor communications center operations to ensure compliance with operational standards, performance metrics, quality benchmarks, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with staffing strategies, workforce planning, scheduling oversight, continuity of operations planning, and emergency activation readiness.
• Evaluate operational workflows, system efficiencies, and service delivery models; recommend improvements as needed.
• Participate in major incident management, emergency activations, disaster response, and continuity of government/public safety operations.
• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, mentoring, and performance management to managers, supervisors, and assigned personnel.
• Assist with recruitment, hiring, onboarding, retention, succession planning, employee development, and wellness initiatives.
• Address employee relations matters, assist with investigations, and recommend corrective or disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Support accreditation initiatives, professional standards compliance, audits, inspections, and quality improvement efforts.
• Ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, labor agreements, policies, and public safety communications standards.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, governmental agencies, and regional stakeholders.
• Represent the department at meetings, committees, regional planning initiatives, and public safety coordination efforts.
• Support emergency planning, disaster response coordination, interoperability initiatives, and partner agency communications.
• Assist with budget preparation, grant administration, purchasing, fiscal monitoring, resource allocation, and capital planning initiatives.
• Promote a culture of professionalism, accountability, innovation, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education.

Experience

• Minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in emergency communications, public safety, emergency management, or a related field.
• Minimum of three to five years of supervisory or management experience in a public safety communications environment preferred.
• Experience in a consolidated, high-volume, or accredited communications center strongly preferred.

Certifications

• APCO and/or NENA professional certifications preferred.
• Emergency Number Professional (ENP) or Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) certification preferred.
• Public safety leadership certifications desirable.
• Completion of applicable telecommunicator certifications required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of public safety communications operations, 911 systems, CAD, radio communications, emergency response protocols, and communications center best practices.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards, quality assurance, performance management, compliance requirements, and emergency communications standards.
• Strong leadership, supervisory, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to lead effectively in high-pressure, rapidly evolving, and mission-critical environments.
• Ability to develop policies, procedures, operational plans, and performance improvement strategies.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with employees, leadership, partner agencies, public safety stakeholders, and the public.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and respond professionally to sensitive or urgent matters.

Work EnvironmentThis position operates in a fast-paced, mission-critical emergency communications environment. The position requires availability during emergencies, disasters, major incidents, and after-hours operational needs. Work may include extended hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call responsibilities as operationally necessary.