911 Emergency Communications Director (opens in new tab)

IAEM; New Mexico; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Emergency Management is seeking a Director II to provide top-level leadership for departmental operations, programs, and staff. The role focuses on strategic planning, budgeting, and ensuring compliance with laws and standards while coordinating with county leadership and external stakeholders.

The Director II will oversee emergency communications programs and the Emergency Operations Plan, manage resources, mentor managers, and represent the department in public meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Emergency Services, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Eleven (11) years of work experience in Emergency Operations or an Emergency Communications Center, including public safety dispatching, E9-1-1, and related systems.
• Four (4) years in a managerial role.

Responsibilities

• Provides executive leadership and direction for departmental operations, programs, and staff.
• Develops and implements strategic plans, policies, and procedures to achieve departmental goals.
• Oversees budgeting, financial management, and resource allocation for the department.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards.
• Collaborates with County leadership, elected officials, and external stakeholders to advance departmental initiatives.
• Monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; recommend and implement improvements.
• Supervises and mentors managers and staff, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Represents the department in public meetings, hearings, and community engagement activities.
• Prepare and present reports, proposals, and recommendations to County leadership.
• Promotes and administers Emergency Communications programs.
• Leads development and training for the department's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
• Coordinates communication operations across jurisdictions and agencies.
• Fosters staff engagement and collaborative work environments.
• Informs stakeholders about system operations and updates.
• Prepares and manages the department's budget.
• Monitors expenditures and ensure fiscal compliance.
• Optimizes use of departmental resources and budgets.
• Builds relationships with internal departments, emergency services, and community groups.
• Attends public meetings and assess legislative impact.
• Implements new programs and improves current services.
• Manages departmental resources, including facilities and technology.
• Ensures high-quality service delivery and performance.
• Handles sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree (Communications, Emergency Services, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field)

Job description

Director II positions serve in senior management roles at the top of a department's organizational structure. They manage and lead lower-level managers and supervisors, serve as mentors, and ensure that county policies, procedures, and initiatives are implemented correctly. Director II's work with managers to evaluate business operations, identify challenges, and act as liaisons to the County Manager's Office.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides executive leadership and direction for departmental operations, programs, and staff.
• Develops and implements strategic plans, policies, and procedures to achieve departmental goals.
• Oversees budgeting, financial management, and resource allocation for the department.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards.
• Collaborates with County leadership, elected officials, and external stakeholders to advance departmental initiatives.
• Monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; recommend and implement improvements.
• Supervises and mentors managers and staff, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Represent the department in public meetings, hearings, and community engagement activities.
• Prepare and present reports, proposals, and recommendations to County leadership.

*The above information is intended to outline the general nature and scope of the duties required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list and may vary depending on specific job assignments and responsibilities.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

• Promotes and administers Emergency Communications programs.
• Leads development and training for the department's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
• Coordinates communication operations across jurisdictions and agencies.
• Fosters staff engagement and collaborative work environments.
• Informs stakeholders about system operations and updates.
• Prepares and manages the department's budget.
• Monitors expenditures and ensure fiscal compliance.
• Optimizes use of departmental resources and budgets.
• Builds relationships with internal departments, emergency services, and community groups.
• Attends public meetings and assess legislative impact.
• Implements new programs and improves current services.
• Manages departmental resources, including facilities and technology.
• Ensures high-quality service delivery and performance.
• Handles sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
• Performs other duties as required.

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Emergency Services, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
Eleven (11) years of work experience in Emergency Operations or an Emergency Communications Center, including work related to public safety dispatching, E9-1-1, communication systems project management, and 700 MHz radio communications, and/or microwave communications.
Four (4) years in a managerial role.