Community Responder EMT Coordinator

City of Durham; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 54,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Bereavement and disability benefits

Life insurance

Volunteer time off

Job summary

City of Durham is seeking an EMT Coordinator to oversee emergency medical services operations. This role includes EMT training programs, quality assurance initiatives, and serving as a liaison with Durham County EMS, Public Health, Duke Hospital Systems and Healthcare for the Homeless.

Additionally, the EMT coordinator will spend time as an infield EMT with Community Response Teams, requiring a strong medical background and ability to lift heavy loads.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Completion of a mental health, peer support or equivalent program.
• Four years of EMT experience required.
• Certified by NC OEMS as EMT Basic.
• Valid NC driver's license; able to obtain NC license if currently licensed elsewhere.
• Ability to travel to worksites within Durham.

Responsibilities

• Develop collaborative relationships with EMS, Public Health, and Healthcare for the Homeless teams.
• Oversee daily EMS operations, response times, and equipment readiness.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to EMT team; foster professional culture.
• Participate as an EMT Provider during emergencies.
• Coordinate with Inventory Specialist on equipment and supplies.
• Maintain accurate documentation per policy and requirements.
• Coordinate continuing education for EMTs; participate in meetings and trainings.
• Contribute to Continuity of Operations planning and strategic department goals.

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Mental health/peer support program

NC OEMS EMT Basic certification

Four years EMT experience

Valid NC driver's license

Job description

Position Description

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $53,962 - $70,000

Hours: Four 10-hour shifts per week on a fixed rotating schedule. Some weekend coverage is required. No overnight shifts.

In 2022, the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) launched four 911 crisis response programs—collectively known as HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams). Please visit our website and dashboard, watch this CNN clip, listen to this NPR segment, or read this piece from The Assembly. In 2025, DCSD has added a new division focused on Stabilization Services. This expansion represents an exciting new phase in DCSD’s development—and a thrilling opportunity to pair alternative response programs with stabilization services that can better support Neighbors.

DCSD is currently seeking a highly skilled and motivated EMT Coordinator to oversee emergency medical services operations. This individual will conduct ongoing EMT training programs, including skills refreshers, protocol updates, and certification courses. Lead quality assurance initiatives to assess and improve patient care standards. They will also act as a key liaison between DCSD and Durham County EMS, Public Health, Duke Hospital Systems and the Healthcare for the Homeless team. In addition to training and liaison responsibilities the EMT coordinator will also spend a portion of their time as an infield EMT on our Community Response Teams.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Develop highly collaborative, trusting, and productive relationships with Durham County EMS, Public Health, and Healthcare for the Homeless teams.
• Coordinate with Shift Supervisors to oversee daily EMS operations, response times, and equipment readiness.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to EMT team, fostering a culture of professionalism and continuous improvement.
• Participate in emergency response as an Provider, assisting with critical patient care as needed.
• Coordinate with DCSD Inventory Specialist to ensure medical equipment and supplies are in proper working order.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables and local, state, and federal policy and requirements.
• Develop and maintain clear, open, timely, cooperative, and collaborative communication and working relations with all staff, clients, and partner agencies.
• Coordinate and track continuing education for EMTs within DCSD.
• Participate in supervision meetings as appropriate, case conferences, staff meetings, in-service training, and other staff development activities.
• Aid in developing and coordinating DCSD’s Continuity of Operations Plan.
• Contribute to strategic planning activities and conversations regarding the performance and direction of the department, particularly in regard to crisis response and departmental culture.
• Demonstrate a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a high crisis and first responder position.
• Candidate may be required to complete Level 1 NC OEMS Instructor Credentialing

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED,
• Completion of a mental health, peer support or equivalent program,
• Four years of experience as an EMT required
• Eligible to function under the auspices of the Durham County Office of Emergency Services, EMS Division, and Medical Director.
• Certification by the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services (NC OEMS) as an EMT Basic required.
• Must have a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if you currently have another state driver's license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire
• Must be able to travel to and from worksite and other locations within Durham
• Must be able to walk/stand up to 75% of any assigned shift. Note: The team will be transported in vans to crisis call locations
• Must be able to lift over 100 lbs occasionally, 50-100 lbs. frequently, or up to 20-50 lbs constantly.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Significant experience with crisis response.
• Crisis Intervention Team certification
• Experience working with Peer Support Specialists or other individuals with lived experience with behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
• Ability to speak two or more languages, with a high priority on Spanish.
• Familiarity with Durham health systems and community resources/services for physical health behavioral and mental health, substance use, Intellectual Developmental Disability, family dynamics, sexual/physical abuse, Veterans' Services, vocational rehabilitation, housing, justice involvement, referral processes, and other services.
• A commitment to and interest in the mission of the department: to enhance public safety through community-centered approaches to prevention and intervention as alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system.
• A commitment to equity, which could include having already attended racial equity trainings.

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service