Emergency Communications Center Manager

City-of-Santa-Maria,-C; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Santa Maria Police Department seeks a Public Safety Communications Manager to lead the Communications Center, ensuring 24/7 dispatch operations and coordination with field units. The role emphasizes policy, training, and budget oversight to maintain service quality.

Ideal candidates will have five years of dispatch experience, supervisory skills, and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with POST certs desirable.

Qualifications

• Ideally five years of public safety dispatching experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, or related field desired.
• POST Basic Public Safety Dispatcher certificate or equivalent; supervisory/management certificates desirable.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluation skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day Operations of the Communications Center and participate in division goals and budgets.
• Provide admin and technical direction to dispatch staff; assign work and evaluate performance.
• Coordinate staffing to ensure coverage on all shifts and data-driven processes.
• Research and procure dispatch equipment; work with vendors for best pricing.
• Develop and implement operating procedures and training aligned with P.O.S.T.
• Maintain relationships with state reps on 911 funding opportunities.
• Supervise training programs and manage records; prepare dispatch activity reports.

Skills

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Customer service

Integrity & accountability

Learning agility

Problem solving

Initiative & leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration or related field

High school diploma

Tools

CAD/RMS systems

Public safety dispatch software

Job description

City of Santa Maria Police Department seeks a Public Safety Communications Manager to lead the Communications Center, ensuring 24/7 dispatch operations and coordination with field units. The role emphasizes policy, training, and budget oversight to maintain service quality.

Ideal candidates will have five years of dispatch experience, supervisory skills, and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with POST certs desirable.