Description

Incumbent serves as Executive Director of Public Safety for Porter County Central Communications 911 Department, responsible for supervising department personnel and overseeing day-to-day operations and financing of the department.

DUTIES
Oversees the daily operations of department, including leading/directing duties of personnel, ensuring emergency calls are handled properly and timely, approving payroll and scheduling requests, updating standard operating procedures, and ensuring safe environment for personnel.

Supervises department personnel, including analyzing workload, interviewing, making hiring decisions, planning, delegating and controlling work assignments, establishing specific work goals, training, reviewing salaries, recommending personnel actions, keeping supervisor and assigned staff informed of organization developments, maintaining discipline, communicating and administering personnel programs and procedures.

Negotiates contracts, leases, and purchases related to the department.

Serves as project manager for special projects involving the communications center.

Ensures quality assurance is met, discrepancies are identified, and solutions to improve are implemented.

Oversees financing of department, including preparing annual budget, payroll, and purchasing.

Serves as liaison with local government officials as needed.

Attends meetings, conferences and professional education workshops as required.

Receives and responds to citizen and agency concerns/complaints, resolving complaints in a diplomatic and timely manner.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS
Baccalaureate degree in Public Safety or Communications is preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Ability to obtain and maintain certifications and training, including APCO Registered Public-Safety Leader, APCO Certified Public-Safety Executive, and NENA Emergency Numbered Professional.

Ability to meet all department hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test.

Working knowledge of and ability to make practical application of standard practices, procedures, rules and regulations of the department, and ability to take authoritative action as situations demand.

Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to compose correspondence, plan and present public speaking presentations, and prepare detailed written reports.

Working knowledge of radio frequencies, codes, and area law enforcement, EMS and fire demands.

Working knowledge of budget administration, and ability to perform arithmetic calculations to prepare and present annual budget requests.

Working knowledge of personnel management and conflict resolution, and ability to direct operations, provide leadership, and supervise/direct personnel.

Ability to operate a variety of standard office and communication equipment, including computer, printer, telephone, calculator, and vehicle.

Ability to obtain and apply knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, ordinances, and accepted police procedures.

Ability to analyze, evaluate, observe, diagnose, and investigate.

Ability to compile, collate, classify data, make determinations, and act based on data analysis.

Ability to compare similarities and differences between people or things.

Ability to provide public access to, or maintain confidentiality of, department information and records according to state requirements.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County and state departments, County Council and Commissioners, law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency services/agencies, other 911 communication centers, vendors, regulatory agencies, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate/difficult persons.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out verbal and written instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.

Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and work rapidly for long periods, often under time pressure.

Ability to apply knowledge of people and/or locations and plan and layout assigned work projects.

Ability to maintain a county vehicle gas card and county credit card.

Ability to work extended hours, evenings, and weekends and travel out of town for meetings/conferences, sometimes overnight.

Ability to respond to emergencies and serve on a 24-hour call rotation basis.

Possession of valid driver's license with demonstrated safe driving record.

II. DIFFICULTY OF WORK
Incumbent performs a broad range of complex duties that demand original thinking and analysis, making independent decisions, and taking authoritative action to ensure proper administration of E-911 operations and personnel, and to effectively serve the needs of the public. Guidelines are not always clear and extensive analysis is required in selecting appropriate precedents or facts to apply to specific cases.

III. RESPONSIBILITY
Incumbent is responsible for interpreting and applying well-established policies and procedures to a variety of unrelated cases and circumstances which may impact the safety and welfare of the public. Incumbent exercises final decision-making responsibilities for and has authority over all matters of the department. Incumbent's work is periodically reviewed for technical accuracy and compliance with legal requirements. Incumbent's decisions can be overruled by the County Commissioners.

IV. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS
Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County and state departments, County Council and Commissioners, law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency services/agencies, other 911 communication centers, vendors, regulatory agencies, and the public, for purposes of giving and receiving information, rendering service, instructing, exchanging ideas, and mentoring.

Incumbent reports directly to the Commissioners.

V. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment, including sitting for long periods, sitting and walking at will, lifting/carrying objects weighing under 25 pounds, hearing sounds/communication, speaking clearly, close vision, keyboarding, and driving. Incumbent may be exposed to potential violent/irate individuals.

Incumbent works extended hours, evenings, and weekends, travels out of town for meetings/conferences, sometimes overnight, responds to emergencies, and serves on a 24-hour call rotation basis.