County of Alameda

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Fire Department Emergency Communications Director is a single-position classification within the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) reporting directly to a Deputy Chief in the ACFD.  The employee in this position has overall managerial responsibility for the development and implementation of all programs, policies, and procedures relating to the ACRECC regional fire and emergency medical dispatch facility. The employee in this position is also responsible to the ACRECC consortium board of directors. This classification is distinguished from the next lower classification of Fire Department Emergency Communications Assistant Director, in that the latter is responsible for overseeing a group of ACRECC supervisors and is considered the second in command while the Director has overall responsibilities of the division.

1. Plans, develops and directs implementation of emergency communications programs and related policies and procedures. 
2. Plans, directs and reviews the work of dispatch supervisory personnel. 
3. Manages personnel, including recruitment, onboarding, training, evaluation, supervision, and grievance resolution. 
4. Maintains current knowledge of technical developments and legislation affecting public safety dispatch services. 
5. Prepares correspondence and complex dispatch-related reports and memoranda. 
6. Prepares and supervises the presentation of written procedures of public safety dispatch services. 
7. Provides advisory support,  serves as a liaison to management, committees, vendors, community partners, the County, ACRECC contract agencies, the public, and regulatory agencies; builds relationships and coalitions. 
8. Represents the ACRECC in public, professional, and technical  matters related to dispatch services. 
9. Participates in the budget development and administration; forecasts funding needs; monitors and approves expenditures; recommends adjustments as necessary.

AND

Experience:

The equivalent of two (2) years of full-time experience in the classification of Fire Department Emergency Communications Assistant Director in the ACFD.

Experience:

The equivalent of five (5) years of experience in the classification of Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor in the ACFD.

Experience:

The equivalent of six (6) years of full-time journey-level dispatching experience, at least four (4) years of which must have been in a supervisory or administrative capacity.

Substitution:

Possession of a professional certification for APCO (Registered Public-Safety Leader – RPL) or NENA (Emergency Number Professional – ENP) may substitute for one (1) year of the required full-time journey-level dispatching experience listed in pattern III.

AND

• Valid California State Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
• Valid Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certificate. 
• Valid Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) certificate.

• Candidates must pass a psychological evaluation, a medical examination and a thorough background evaluation after an offer of employment will be made.  
• This position is located in the ACRECC at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), which requires DOE security clearance.
• Any felony conviction will result in disqualification.   
• Candidates must be US citizens.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and challenges involved in the management of emergency resources dispatch services. 
• Principles of leadership and management, including directing the work of personnel and performance management. 
• Current trends and developments in the field of public safety dispatch services and systems. 
• Regulations of the Federal Communication Commission regarding radio and telephone operations. 
• Computer-aided dispatch systems, radio dispatching consoles, enhanced 9-1-1 telephones and associated public safety communications equipment and systems.

Ability to: 

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Manage day-to-day communications center operations in an effective and efficient manner while establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Maintain discipline and high morale while demonstrating interpersonal sensitivity and leadership.
• Operate modern office equipment including various computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Act decisively in stressful emergency and non-emergency situations regarding resource allocation, operational emergencies, staffing, policy and procedures.
• Evaluate and recommend improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Plan and organize staff work to maximize cost effective operations and control costs within the allocated budget.
• Be flexible. 
• Analyze and prepare budget recommendations of a dynamic multi-million dollar budget.
• Provide strong leadership, mentor and train all levels of ACRECC staff.