WASHINGTON-YUMA COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Communications Director

Appointed Position: Exempt

Department: Washington Yuma Communications Center (WYCC)

JOB SUMMARY

This is a safety-sensitive position exercising a high degree of trust and confidence. The Communications Director is responsible for Communications operations and administration. This includes maintaining an efficient communications center operation by effectively managing resources and maintaining high quality customer service levels for individuals requesting assistance from the Communications personnel.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the direct supervision of the WY Communications Center and 911 Authority Board of Directors; hereafter known as “The Board of Directors”.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Supervises Communications Officers and Lead Communications Officers.

PARTNERSHIP WITH YUMA COUNTY:

The Communications Director works directly with and in cooperation with Yuma County Administration. The Yuma County Administration staff provides financial and human resource administration and serves as the fiscal agent for WYCC.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. WYCC reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time. The duties of the job description are to be performed by demonstrating WYCC’s core values of Commitment to Quality Service, Integrity, Innovation and Teamwork.

The Communications Director is responsible for various components of Finance, Human Resources, Compliance, and Information Technology.

Duties include the daily operational management of the emergency communications center, supervision of all communications center staff, financial and budgetary oversight, ensuring compliance and policy accuracy and adherence, and oversight of technological requirements.

EMPLOYEE OVERSIGHT

Coordinates the activities of Communications Officers to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Communications Center.

Manages, supervises, directs, hires, fires, and ensures productivity of all employees of the organization.

Implements human resources functionality for the organization including enforcement of personnel policies, oversight of hiring, discipline, termination, training, performance management, benefits management, timekeeping, and compliance.

Supervises and evaluates the work of all Communications Officers to include annual evaluations, daily supervision, operational procedures, scheduling, conduct and disciplinary actions.

Trains new employees, evaluates further training needs for existing personnel, coordinates training issues and implements cost effective means of training and evaluating staff to ensure a high-quality work product and quality customer service.

Conducts exit interviews or coordinates exit interviews with the Yuma County Administration Office for employees who are leaving employment.

OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT

Creates and implements Operational Guidelines and various resources to ensure Continuity of Operations. Adheres to and implements directives.

May be required to assume the duties of a Communications Officer in the event of a shortage of personnel or in an emergency situation.

Evaluates and coordinates the communication needs with other governmental agencies and individuals to obtain necessary resources and ensure effective operations, which meet and/or exceed the needs of the community.

Serves as primary liaison to other agencies, offices and departments, and the general public. May serve as a Representative to State and National organizations.

Acts as administrator for relevant Communication Center applications and programs. Distinct knowledge and expertise in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD). Oversee the maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrade of communications hardware and software (e.g., CAD, radio systems, phone systems).

Serves as Quality Assurance Officer for the organization.

Ensures WYCC is equipped to handle emergencies, disasters, or large-scale incidents (e.g., natural disasters, mass casualty events); develop and test emergency response plans and protocols, ensuring staff are prepared for various disaster scenarios; oversee the coordination of multi-agency responses during such emergencies.

When a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared, all WYCC employees may be required to respond.

Represent WYCC, and its partners, in public forums, government meetings, or media interviews to promote transparency and build trust with the community.

Work with local agencies to educate the public on the proper use of 911 services.

Maintain accurate reports of WYCC activities, incidents, and staffing; providing regular reports, including statistical data, to local government, public safety agencies, and other stakeholders on WYCC performance, challenges, and achievements.

Respond to and create requests for Incident Audio Files.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADMINISTRATION

Addresses communication needs with the Board of Directors and conducts research as needed for information on new communication methods.

Completes investigations as requested by the Board of Directors.

Prepares reports, budgets, and other informational data as requested by the Board of Directors.

Oversees, monitors, and reports on the overall financial performance of the organization and is responsible for managing expenditures within approved budgetary limits.

Drafts organizational policies, procedures, and records. Presents such documents to the Board of Directors for approval.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Performs other duties as assigned.

Participates in and complies with WYCC’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Program.

Responsible for the National and Colorado Crime Information Systems; security of confidential information, validity of entries, and authorization of usage.

May assume supervisor duties for CCIC/NCIC coordinator.

Oversee compliance with Federal Communications Commission regulations.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Ability to function in all the required areas of the Communications Officer position.

Knowledge of computers and electronic data processing, and modern office practices and procedures.

Knowledge of WYCC’s geography and street system in order to effectively assist officers and citizens.

Routine software and business applications including, but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and databases.

Ability to manage various tasks and duties simultaneously. Must be able to maintain situation awareness of radios, phones, other team-members, while engaged in other conversations and/or activities.

Ability to effectively communicate with a broad range of people through written or verbal communication. Must be able to understand and be understood when using a telephone or radio headset.

Ability to function effectively and to take appropriate action in emergency situations.

Ability to follow both verbal and written instructions, ability to issue clear concise verbal and written instructions to subordinates and report operations both verbally and in written form to superiors.

Ability to establish and develop efficient and effective systems of communication to meet the needs of WYCC.

Ability to assimilate information and to have the ability to arrive at sound courses of action from information gathered from many sources.

Ability to maintain a high level of day-to-day communications and contact with other agencies and departments in order to ensure that information dissemination is complete at all levels within the organizational structure and supported agencies.

Ability to adjust flexibly to new situations encountered on a daily basis and ability to learn new duties quickly.

Ability to adhere to policy and procedure requirements that are stringent, rigorous, and unwavering, including confidentiality of information and trustworthiness while dealing with sensitive information.

Ability to work with confidential information and maintain legal and confidential records in compliance with HIPAA, CORA, CCIC/NCIC, and other legal requirements.

Functional knowledge of financial processes including budgeting, expense control, financial auditing.

Maintain sensitive and confidential information.

Ability to work with minimal supervision.

Must be able to speak, read, and write English and perform repetitive keyboard motions.

Work on a shift schedule as required; My have on-call responsibilities in certain situations with the necessity to carry department issued cell phone/radio and respond as soon as reasonably possible.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Must be 18 years of age or older and possess a high school degree or GED equivalent.

Must possess a valid driver's license.

Must be a United States Citizen or United States Permanent Resident.

Pass a written / oral examination (s) as required.

Must be able to keyboard at a rate of at least 30 words per minute.

Possession of NCIC/CCIC certification within three (3) months of hire required.

Possession of CPR certification within six (6) months of hire required.

Possession of Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) within six (6) months of hire required.

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice or related field is preferred.

Five (5) years of increasing responsibility and experience in public safety sector, including experience as a Lead/Supervisor/Manager in public safety.

Demonstrated experience in supervising a diverse employee group and effectively implementing quality customer service programs.

A combination of education and experience to provide for the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Personal computer, word processing software, database software, custom dispatch and records programs, telephone, copy machine, base radio, portable radio, pager systems, calculator, computer aided dispatch systems and fax machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, use hands, fingers, handle, feel or operate objects, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.

Employee must communicate clearly and effectively; must understand and be understood.

Mental application utilizes memory for details, complex instructions, emotional stability, creative problem solving.

Must be able to hear the phone and audible signals from equipment. Hearing must be sufficient to use telephone and radio headset.

Must have the ability to actively listen to callers for an understanding of their needs and situations.

Must have the ability to focus on a single source of auditory information in the presence of other distracting noises.

Must be able to detect and discriminate among sounds that vary in a broad range of pitch and volume.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision acuity and the ability to adjust his or her focus, allowing a broad field of vision.

It is essential that the employee be physically able to operate a variety of computer and office equipment successfully in order to fulfill the essential functions of this position. Ability to work on computers for substantial amounts of time.

On rare occasions, the employee may be required to climb and balance. Ability to lift 40 pounds to waist high level and hold for 30 seconds.

The employee must occasionally carry, pull, push or lift up to 20 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND GENERAL INFORMATION:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in a climate-controlled office environment.

The noise level in this environment is usually quiet to moderate.

The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed, and are in no way construed or perceived to be exhaustive.

The majority of this position’s duties are performed in an indoor or protected environment. The incumbent may be exposed to noise, mechanical, and electrical hazards, or other related conditions associated with an office environment.

The Communications Center has many computers and related hazardous conditions due to multiple computer screens. Elements of hazard uncertainty exist in the normal course of performing duties associated with completion of job duties.

Must establish and maintain a primary place of residence within 75 miles of Yuma, Colorado.

Periodic travel may be required to fulfill functions of the job.

Successful completion of all phases of the selection process before appointment. (Including Pre-Employment Conditions of Polygraph, psychological evaluation, medical and drug screening)

Successful completion of the Communications Officer training program.

Regular attendance, as governed by and in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, procedures, and laws, is regarded as an essential requirement of this classification.

Compliance with training directives established by supervisory/managerial personnel. Be willing to attend workshops, seminars, or training functions to advance his / her skills and knowledge at the Board of Director’s request.

Adherence to all applicable Federal and State safety laws, rules, regulations, and WYCC’s safety policies/procedures.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The WY Communication Center and 911 Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and ensures equal employment opportunities are provided in the administration of all personnel practices such as recruitment, appointments, promotions, discipline, retention, training and other benefits, terms and conditions of employment in a manner which does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, veteran status, or any other non-merit factor.

All positions are subject to a basic screening process including but not limited to criminal history search, reference check, degree and employment verification. In addition to the basic screening process, other screenings may include but are not limited to: Drug screen, Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, credit report and/or physical examination.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities.

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.

Nothing in this job description restricts WYCC’s ability to assign, reassign, or eliminate duties and responsibilities of this job at any time. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Those functions may change at any time as the needs of the organization change or for other reasons deemed appropriate. This does not constitute a contract, written or implied, between the organization and any organization employee. No employee should consider these guidelines as a contract. WYCC does not guarantee any specific term or length of employment. All employees of the organization are "at will employees".

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $31.17 - $35.08 per hour

Benefits:

401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off
Parental leave
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

Experience:

Supervisory: 5 years (Preferred)
First Responder: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Washington-Yuma Counties Combined Communications Center jobs

Emergency Communications Director

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