Director, Department Of Public Safety Communications

Job Announcement

As a member of the county's Senior Management Team and reporting to the Deputy County Executive, the Director, Department of Public Safety Communications serves as the primary point of accountability for the department's performance and provides overall leadership, direction and management for its operations, programs, and policies. Ensures DPSC maintains its "best in class" and leader stature in the 9-1-1 public safety communications industry. Responsibilities:

• Plans, coordinates, directs and integrates public safety communications operations, programs, policies, and personnel.
• Collaborates with county leadership in setting and carrying out the county's vision, mission, and objectives for the department.
• Advises and guides the County Executive, Deputy County Executive, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and the Emergency Management Coordinator on strategic public safety communications operations, policies, technology, and programs.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with county officials, employee groups, and employee associations; interacts with community, resident and faith-based organizations.
• Represents the county and participates in local, regional, state, and national organizations regarding a wide range of public safety communications matters.
• With department managers, develops, implements, and monitors work plans, operations, policies, standard operating procedures, and long-range strategic plans; and sets goals for the department.
• Directs the development and implementation of long-range technology plans; plans, directs, manages and/or coordinates the acquisition, design, operation, enhancement, and maintenance of information technology systems.
• Provides fiscal oversight and prepares budget estimates and controls expenditures of all departmental funds. Secures and oversees resources for the efficient and effective operation of the department.

For more information on Fairfax County and this position, please click here to download a pdf.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

• Plans, coordinates, directs, and integrates operations and personnel of the Department of Public Safety Communications;
• Serves as the primary point of accountability for the Department's performance;
• Works closely with County leadership in setting and carrying out the County's vision, mission, and objectives for the Department;
• Provides advice and guidance to the County Executive, Deputy County Executive, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Emergency Management Coordinator, and other County officials on Department of Public Safety Communications operations and programs; In conjunction with subordinate managers, develops, implements, and monitors work plans to achieve the Department's mission, goals, and performance measures;
• Conducts long-range, strategic planning and sets goals for the Department;
• Provides vision, direction, and subject matter expertise in the field of 9-1-1 and public safety communication operations;
• Serves as a member of the County's Senior Management Team and the Deputy County Executive's senior management team;
• Integrates activities with all agencies of Fairfax County Government; local, regional, state, and federal agencies; partners; volunteers; and the private sector through enhanced partnerships;
• Provides sustained and effective operation of the Department;
• Participates in the development of intergovernmental agency contracts and agreements for emergency communications services;
• Establishes and maintains an effective working relationship with the Office of the County Executive, Police Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Information Technology, and other County agencies;
• Builds and maintains effective client relationships;
• Participates, as deemed necessary, in local, regional, state, and national organizations regarding a wide range of public safety communications issues;
• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates performance of assigned staff, providing coaching for performance improvement and development;
• Provides clear direction and supervision to direct reports, utilizing a participative management style;
• Provides leadership and participates in programs and activities that promote workplace diversity and a work environment that promotes positive employee relations;
• Manages operational readiness of the Department by oversight of recruitment and hiring efforts to ensure proper staffing levels;
• Reviews and analyzes management information reports and communicates with employees to identify deficiencies in operations, policies, and procedures, as a means of implementing changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department;
• Directs the improvement of management systems, processes, and measurement techniques to improve Department operations and effectiveness;
• Directs the development and implementation of a long-range technology plan for the Department;
• Plans, directs, manages, and/or coordinates the acquisition, design, operation, enhancement, and maintenance of information technology systems supporting the Department of Public Safety Communications;
• Prepares budget estimates and controls expenditures of all departmental funds;
• Secures resources for the efficient and effective operation of the Department;
• Formulates and enforces departmental regulations, Standard Operating Procedures, and directives, etc.
• Ensures that the Standard Operating Procedures manual is reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list.)

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods of human resource management, budgeting, program planning, and administration, and the ability to apply them;
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and county laws and regulations affecting departmental operations, and the ability to interpret and apply them correctly;
• Extensive knowledge of, and familiarity with, operating a public safety communications operation;
• Extensive knowledge of, and familiarity with, public safety functions and concerns, and of the Department's demands and requirements;
• Extensive knowledge of state and municipal governmental operations;
• Knowledge of research techniques and statistical analysis as they relate to the operation of a large public safety communications center;
• Knowledge of, and experience in, problem solving and conflict resolution;
• Knowledge of computer-aided dispatch systems and radio communication systems;
• Knowledge of the mission, responsibilities, policies, and directives of the Department, and ability to coordinate them on a daily basis;
• Knowledge of police, fire and rescue, and EMS operations;
• Ability to strategically plan and direct a large, comprehensive emergency communications operation and its personnel;
• Ability to analyze data and draw sound conclusions;
• Ability to develop and implement departmental goals and objectives;
• Ability to effectively coordinate and implement departmental changes;
• Ability to effectively manage, mentor, train, and motivate employees;
• Ability to plan, direct, and coordinate the work of staff;
• Ability to provide effective leadership;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with County officials, colleagues, employees, community and business organizations, the media, and the general public.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Public Safety Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, Emergency Management, Criminal Justice, or a closely related field; plus 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public safety, to include four years of senior-management experience (e.g., director/administrator/chief, assistant/deputy director or equivalent) in public safety administration and operations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• The ideal candidate is a proactive, progressive and visionary leader with a successful track record of increasingly responsible experience in public safety communications and has extensive command staff/senior-management level experience in administering, managing, and operating a large 9-1-1 public safety communications center.
• Four or more years of experience in labor management relations and strategies, to include the ability to build strong relationships and interact with employee groups in the public sector.
• Strong expertise in congressional mandates and local, regional, state, and federal rules and regulations that govern 9-1-1 public safety communications services.
• The candidate is a customer-focused individual with strong interpersonal skills and proven experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships by collaborating with county executive leadership, public safety agencies and partners, governing boards, employee associations, employee groups, and community, resident and faith-based organizations.
• The successful candidate is committed to the county's residents and models entrepreneurship and strategic thinking; cultivates the development and professional growth of staff, and creates a culture of engagement and innovation.
• Certification as an Emergency Number Professional (ENP) issued by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), or as a Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) issued by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO).

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Incident Command System (ICS) 100 (Required within 12 months)
• Incident Command System (ICS) 200 (Required within 12 months)
• Incident Command System (ICS) 300 (Required within 12 months)
• Incident Command System (ICS) 400 (Required within 12 months)
• Incident Command System (ICS) 700 (Required within 12 months)
• Incident Command System (ICS) 800 (Required within 12 months)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or religious reasons will still be subject to the weekly testing requirement. Otherwise, vaccinated employees will complete the attestation online in the first day of employment.

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, and credit check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
J ob is generally sedentary in nature, visual acuity required to read data on computer monitor. Must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment. Must be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing with others departments and county offices. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.