Communications Director

Anderson County is a great place to live, work, and explore. From the historic community of Clinton to the innovation legacy of Oak Ridge-famously known as "The Secret City" from its Manhattan Project roots-our county blends small-town warmth with big scientific impact. We're home to scenic treasures like Norris Lake, the Clinch River, Melton Hill Lake, and miles of rolling hills and wooded trails perfect for hiking, biking, paddling, and fishing. Nearby Norris Dam State Park and the off-road adventure terrain at Windrock Park add even more ways to get outside. You'll also find a growing mix of local eats, family-friendly spots, festivals, and craft brews across our communities, making Anderson County a welcoming place to put down roots and enjoy East Tennessee life. Anderson County Government is committed to being a top employer in the region and a great place to build a career. We're proud to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes generous paid sick and vacation leave, 14 paid holidays, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid basic life insurance, supplemental insurance options, and a variety of wellness programs and resources to support our employees' overall well-being.   Position Objective.Performs responsible supervisory and administrative functions. Supervision Received.Works under general supervision of the Operations Captain. Supervision Exercised:The Director of Communications oversees the operations of the Communications Center under general supervision of the Operations Captain. The Duties include managing communication and dispatch functions for receiving and processing emergency and non-emergency assistance requests and dispatching to the appropriate Police, Fire, Medical, and other personnel; supervising and training Emergency Communications Center Staff, maintaining communication and information systems; developing protocols; and coordinating with other emergency services and departments. Duties/Responsibilities1. Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and participates in the work of Communications Center Staff, responsible for the daily operations and activities for the Communications Center.2. Participates in selecting staff, provides or coordinates staff trainings, conducts quality assurance reviews of calls and dispatches, works with employees to correct deficiencies 3. Participates in preparing and managing the Communications center budget, submits budget recommendations. monitors expenditures.4. Schedules staff to maintain levels and adequate coverage while allowing for time off, manages all time off requests, approves overtime. 5. Participates in developing policies, processes, procedures, operation manuals, and systems; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards and guidelines. 6. Assures adherence to Stat requirements as a 911 Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP).7. Monitors the Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC); monitors the contact person required by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for agencies with access to the Tennessee Information Enforcement System (TIES), National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (NLETS) serves as Sheriff's Office expert in policy and procedures and is responsible for ensuring agency compliance with FBI, NCIC, and NLETS policy and regulations; monitors NCIC training and testing for emergency communications personnel; monitors NCIC entry and validation of sex offenders. 8. Represents the Sheriff's Office as pertains to Local Agency Security Officer (LASO); the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIS); and in all matters about information security; disseminates information security alerts; maintains information security documentation. 9. Maintains Emergency Communications Center records and reports and prepares information subpoenaed for court as necessary.10. Represents the Sheriff's Office in matters related to operational readiness of equipment related to the 911 emergency telephone system, radio systems, and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system11. Administers information systems integration and implementation of hardware and software of the Sheriff's Office in collaboration with the 911 District.12. Performs essential functions of Communications Dispatcher when necessary.13. Performs other duties as assigned.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Must be at least 21 years of age and bendable.Must be a citizen of the United States.Must be a high school graduate or equivalent for Classified EmployeesMust not have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving "moral turpitude" as the term is defined by law and not have been released or discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.Six (6) years of emergency communications experience.Two (2) years of emergency communications supervisory experience preferred.Must possess NCIC certification or obtain certification within six (6) months of hire.Must possess a basic emergency communications dispatcher certification through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), National Emergency Number Association (NENA), or similar organization or obtain certification within six (6} months of hire.Must possess an emergency communications supervisor certification through APCO, NENA, or similar organization or obtain certification within 18 months of hire.Must possess a State of Tennessee driver's license. Out-of-state candidates must obtain a State of Tennessee driver's license within the timeframe specified by state law.Must successfully pass pre-employment and post-offer testing, including a background investigation, drug screen, and psychological examination. Failure to pass these will result in revocation of the employment offer.Must be free of all latent or apparent mental disorders as verified by a qualified professional.Must have a good moral character as determined by investigation.All employees shall also meet all minimum standards set forth by the Sheriff of Anderson County and the Anderson County Civil Service Policies and Procedures, and, if applicable, the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission Rules and Regulations or other standards set forth by the Tennessee Code Annotated.KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:Knowledge:State, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding emergency communications and criminal justice information systems.Emergency communications principles, practices, and methods.Equipment utilized in emergency communications, including radio consoles, telephones, and CAD software.iSOMS software preferred.Police, Fire, and EMS response procedures.Management and supervisory principles and practices.Office management principles and practices, work scheduling, automation, and workflow analysis.Current office practices and procedures and operation of standard office equipment and software.Computer hardware and software, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.Anderson County geography.Sheriff's Office policies, procedures, and practices.the use of a multi-line telephone system.Skills:Effectively managing, supervising, and evaluating assigned staff.Operating a radio communications system, utilizing radio codes and phonetic alphabet.In effective oral and written communications.In working under pressure in emergency and stressful situations to quickly and accurately obtain pertinent information.In training emergency communications personnel on communications equipment.Observing situations analytically and objectively, making quick decisions, and recording information clearly and completelyManaging situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and impartiallyPreparing and maintaining records and reportsCommunicating effectively, both orally and in writingReacting quickly and calmly in emergenciesEstablishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the public, Sheriff's Department members, and othersAbilities:Perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.Prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.Maintain accurate and legible notes.Analyze and prepare organizational and functional reports from research data.Operate standard office equipment and perform word processing and/or data entry.Work the allocated hours of the position.Stand and sit for long periods of timeSee and recall visual detailsHear and understand speech and police radio transmissionsPerform multiple tasks simultaneouslySpeak clearlyEQUIPMENT USED:Computers, phone, court security monitoring, CAD programming, printer, copier, mapping software, paging software, radio headset, communication radio.ADDITIONAL WORKING CONDITIONS:Work may require the occasional exertion of in excess of 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting; frequently requires standing, speaking, hearing, using hands to finger, handle, feel, and make repetitive motions; and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and reaching with hands and arms.Work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, and peripheral vision.Vocal communication is required to express and exchange ideas through spoken word and accurately convey detailed or important instructions to others.Hearing is required to perceive Information at normal spoken word levels and receive detailed information through oral communications.Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.Work may be subject to intense levels of stressful activities, verbal threats, artificial light and electronic equipment, close quarters and secured setting, and usual moderate noise level with occasional loud noise levels.COUNTY OFFERED BENEFITS.County Paid BenefitsFREE Life InsuranceFREE Onsite Health Clinic (with the enrollment in a Health Plan)FREE Telehealth: Medical and BehavioralFREE Employee Assistance ProgramCounty Share Payment of BenefitsMedical / Behavioral / Prescription Vision / Dental (buy-up and family plan)State Defined Retirement Voluntary Benefit OptionsAccident Critical Care / CancerShort & Long Term Disability Pet Insurance 401k (Roth plan available)and 457b Retirement Personal Time OffSickPersonalVacation Anderson County Government is an equal opportunity employer. Is it the policy of Anderson County to provide EEO to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, statues with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.