COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Click here to apply for Communications Director
Atchison County Sheriff's Office
Department/Division: Communications Division
Reports to: Sheriff, Undersheriff, or Other Supervisor
Updated: April 17, 2024
Approved by: Sheriff Jack Laurie
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Candidate must possess at least four (4) years of successful service as an emergency services dispatcher or a minimum of four (4) years of management, supervisory or other comparable experience. Experience as a dispatcher and experienced in training dispatchers is preferred but not required. Prior experience in management, law enforcement, fire service, emergency management, emergency medical service, or other comparable experience will be considered to satisfy these requirements. If not experienced as an emergency services dispatcher, the candidate will be required to attend and successfully complete training as an emergency services dispatcher.
POSITION SUMMARY: Under the direct supervision of the Sheriff and/or Undersheriff, the Dispatch Director is charged with overseeing all aspects of the Atchison County Sheriff's Office Communications Division as the division commander, an advanced level position. Duties include, but are not limited to, managing Communications Division personnel, communications center operations, directing the operations of the Office's multi-jurisdictional Public Safety Answering Point and maintaining communications division equipment.
DUTIES - EXAMPLES OF WORK: Possess considerable knowledge of the equipment, procedures and systems used in public safety telecommunications; responsible for testing applicants, interviewing applicants, and making hiring recommendations to the Sheriff; administers the division training program through research, planning, curriculum, design, implementation and evaluation; reviews and maintains all certification and training files; plans and implements continuing education requirements; is responsible for scheduling personnel, ensuring minimum staffing needs are met; assists with planning, development, and implementation of new programs, policies, procedures, systems, and equipment to improve agency performance in relation to compliance with applicable standards to reduce liability and maximize responder and citizen safety; evaluates current policies and directives as needed and makes recommendation for change; oversees the quality assurance program, evaluates performance of personnel, works with personnel to correct deficiencies, implements disciplinary procedures and counsels employees; communicates concerns/complaints to user agency administrative staff; stays abreast of other agencies' changes to policy and procedure, attends operations briefings and inter-agency meetings to ensure current information is available to the division; responds to complaints regarding dispatch operations - includes speaking with complainant(s), reviewing the incident/audio, reviewing policy and procedure, administrative investigation and possible disciplinary actions; coordinates services with user agencies and surrounding counties; receives notification and makes notification of all communications equipment fault, equipment failure and equipment repair; ensures that the facility and equipment is maintained and operational at all times; assists with upgrade and equipment needs - makes recommendation and performs research; monitors the use of the Securld tokens, assists the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) and/or Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) with any inquiry involving misuse or abuse of tokens the CJIS system, assists the KHP CJIS unit with audits, security checks and any investigation of security violations, receives updates (TOUs), documents and materials from KCJIS and NCIC and distributes them to appropriate personnel; ensures that all NCIC terminal users are properly trained and maintain current NCIC certification; ensures all sworn law enforcement are trained in NCIC; attends conferences, conventions and other educational meetings to stay abreast of local, regional, state and national trends concerning 9-1-1 technology; performs data analysis for planning and needs purposes, makes recommendation and provides statistical data; prepares presentations and publications in support of all communications functions; serves as a project manager; briefs administration staff as required. Is a sitting member of the Mid-America Regional Counsel (M.A.R.C.) Public Safety Communications Users Committee and shall participate in other MARC committees as needed.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Essential functions, as defined under the American with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents in this class.
OTHER DUTIES: Performs other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Demonstrates and promotes the Mission Statement and Values of the Atchison County Sheriff's Office
Ability to maintain the strictest of confidentiality regarding employee and Sheriff's Office matters
Advanced knowledge of the communications division operations, policies, procedures, rules and regulations of NCIC, KCJIS, CJIS, KDOR and NLETS
Advanced knowledge of law enforcement, fire and emergency medical terminology and procedures
Advanced knowledge of the operations component of the office
Advanced knowledge of all technology systems used by the communications division, i.e. the county network, Atchison County Sheriff's Office computer systems, the radio, warning systems, mapping systems and telephone systems
Ability to think clearly and remain calm during stressful situations while selecting a logical, proficient and tactful course of action; ensures the course of action is clearly communicated to communications' division personnel, followed, the results monitored, and adjustments made when required
Accepts responsibility of staff performance and reports to the Undersheriff and/or Sheriff when required
Ability to manage multiple projects in the prescribed manner/timeframe and report as directed
Ability to manage the Communication Division workload, assign work to front line personnel and monitor the results for completion and correctness
Ability to respectfully manage others, provide instruction and direction
Ability to work independently and in harmony with others
Must possess the ability, skill and knowledge to teach the adult learner
Ability to communicate effectively and coherently verbally and in writing using appropriate knowledge of the English language, grammar, punctuation, spelling and proper word usage
Possess excellent knowledge and performance of active listening skills and situational awareness
Possess good decision-making skills
Ability to perform duties without immediate or direct supervision
Must possess the ability to recognize and address negativity to promote a positive work environment
Must have demonstrated the ability to work closely and in harmony with others while maintaining a professional decorum and maintain professional separation in order to supervise
This position requires that the Communications Director maintain all requirements of the Communications Supervisor position. Must attend and satisfactorily complete all supervisory courses assigned and maintain certification.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work involves light work generally in a communications center setting. Must be able to sit or stand for long periods. There is frequent need to use manual dexterity to operate multiple computer databases, computer monitors, touchscreens, push-to- talk equipment and foot pedal and perform other similar actions during the course of the workday. The Atchison County Sheriff's Office promotes a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory pre-employment drug testing.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: United State citizen; High School Diploma or GED, Associate's degree or higher preferred; Pass a pre-employment background investigation
Classification - Quick View
FLSA: Exempt
ADA: Applicable
FMLA: Eligible
The Atchison County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to successfully perform the job. The roles, responsibilities, job functions, knowledge, skills and abilities set forth herein may be revised from time to time in order to comply with federal and state laws, departmental needs and the changing requirements for this position. The Atchison County Sheriff's Office maintains the ability and right to assign, reassign or eliminate the duties and responsibilities of this job either orally or in writing at any time.