Deputy Communications Director

NENA; Rockland (ME); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Knox County Government seeks a Deputy Communications Director to assist the Director in leading the Knox County Communications Center. The role supports daily operations, long‑term planning, and organizational leadership, ensuring seamless service delivery to user agencies and stakeholders.

Responsibilities include overseeing HR functions, training programs, QA/QI, budgeting, and staff development, while maintaining certifications and coordinating with police, fire, EMS, and state/federal

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree preferred in criminal justice, public administration, communications, or related field.
• High school diploma or equivalent with an additional 2-year degree or specialized training required.
• Minimum 3 years of progressive supervisory or managerial experience, preferably in public safety or emergency communications.
• Must maintain valid Maine driver's license and complete required FEMA ICS courses within 1 year.
• NG9-1-1 operator, EMD, Fire Dispatcher, and Emergency Telecommunicator certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Director in planning and carrying out county dispatch activities.
• Coordinate with law enforcement, EMA, state police, and fire/EMS contracts for integrated operations.
• Oversee training programs for Dispatchers and continuous QA/QI improvements.
• Manage department budget, including payroll and expenditures.
• Supervise staff, conduct performance appraisals, and ensure compliance with policies.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Interpersonal communication

CAD proficiency

RMS proficiency

Independent judgment

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in related field

High school diploma + 2-year degree or equivalent

Tools

CAD

RMS

Office productivity software

Job description

Summary

The Deputy Communications Director exemplifies the core values of the emergency communications profession—Integrity, Respect, Fairness, Excellence, and Positivity—while assisting the Director in leading, managing, and advancing the mission of the Knox County Communications Center. This position plays a critical role in daily operations, long‑term planning, and organizational leadership. Responsibilities include overseeing internal human resources functions such as recruitment, training, education, policy and procedure development, and labor relations. The Deputy Director works closely with user agencies and collaborates with local, county, state, and federal stakeholders to ensure seamless service delivery.

Essential Functions

Assists the Director in planning and carrying out all County communications and dispatch activities.

Confers as necessary with law enforcement agencies, EMA, state police, fire, EMS contract communities, and other agencies to ensure activities are an integral and coordinated part of the overall systems.

Works closely with the Communications Executive Board and User Group, acting as a proactive operational liaison to municipal police, fire, and EMS chiefs.

Initiates and coordinates an ongoing, comprehensive employee training program to ensure all staff achieve required certifications and maintain competence on all systems, policies, procedures, and protocols.

Develops, organizes, and conducts training and technical assistance programs for Dispatchers.

Oversees quality assurance policies and standards to maintain an effective and current QA/QI program, implementing audit processes to document effectiveness.

Coordinates department work schedules to ensure shift supervisors have properly staffed the communications center.

Assists the Director by managing all financial functions of the department budget and identifying unusual spending needs.

Reviews and approves timesheets, time‑off requests, and weekly payroll to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.

Maximizes department performance, productivity, and efficiency by coaching, counseling, disciplining, and appraising individual and team performance.

Maintains Department staff by recruiting applicants, assisting with the selection process, and monitoring progress through training officer weekly reports.

Deputy Communications Director

Conducts internal reviews of issues and complaints raised by internal or external sources, bringing them to resolution by County Policy or the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Supports safety policies by attending required training programs and reporting all accidents or suspected safety hazards.

Assists Dispatch Supervisors and Dispatchers with day‑to‑day challenges and significant events.

Maintains operational dispatch certifications to act as a Dispatcher during extraordinary events, declared emergencies, or staffing shortages; however, this position shall not be utilized to fulfill baseline shift‑minimum staffing configurations.

Performs various job‑related duties and operational support tasks within the scope of a senior communications supervisor as requested.

Qualifications:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, communications, or a closely related field is preferred.
• A high school diploma or equivalent combined with a 2-year technical/business degree or verified equivalent specialized training is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in a supervisory or managerial position, preferably in a public safety or emergency communications setting.
• Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted State of Maine motor vehicle operator's license.
• Must successfully complete the following within one year of employment: FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800.
• National Crime Information Center Terminal Operators course.
• NG9‑1‑1 operator certification.
• Certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher.
• Certified Fire Dispatcher; and Emergency Telecommunicator Certification.
• Continuous satisfaction of all annual mandatory continuing education hours (CEH) and recertifications is required. Must successfully clear all mandated background checks, including psychological and polygraph examinations.
• General knowledge of 9‑1‑1 systems, radio systems, and emergency operations.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in following procedures, enforcing policies, and prioritizing multiple complex tasks.
• Full proficiency in standard office productivity software, computer-aided dispatch (CAD), and records management systems (RMS).
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills across various mediums, including radio, teletype, and computer.
• Ability to establish and maintain a professional rapport with employees, executive boards, user groups, and top‑level local, county, state, and federal officials.
• Ability to supervise in a diplomatic, even‑handed manner and withstand high‑stress job demands.

Job Environment

Work is performed primarily indoors under typical office conditions. The environment involves regular exposure to communications equipment noise and can be highly stressful due to tight project deadlines, incident dispatching management, and indirect exposure to tragic events.

Makes frequent, highly sensitive contact with department staff, municipal chiefs, external state/federal stakeholders, vendor representatives, and members of the public who may be agitated or under extreme stress.

Has continuous access to highly sensitive internal agency operations, personnel files, and active public safety records, requiring absolute discretion and strict compliance with Knox County Government Policies and Procedures.

Errors in judgment, policy administration, or strategic execution could result in severe delays of critical emergency services, financial vulnerabilities, or significant legal liability for the County.

Physical Requirements

Regularly required to sit for prolonged periods, stand, walk, speak, and hear. Frequently required to use hands to operate a standard computer keyboard and office machinery. Occasionally required to climb, crouch, crawl, bend, stoop, push, pull, or drag objects.

Must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Specific visual acuity required includes close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must maintain an uncompromised alert state of mind and be physically able to withstand job‑related environmental stress. Upon management request, the incumbent must provide a certified physician’s statement from an examination conducted within the past 30 days verifying physical capacity for the position.