Sheriff's Communications Director

Full Job Description

Meet the Team!

The law enforcement professionals of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, with a staff of over 3,600 dedicated men and women, cover the expanse of over 7,300 square miles in southern California.

The Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to serving the citizens of its communities with integrity, professionalism, leadership, and loyalty and believes in service above self.

Requirements

Depending on the area of assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to the following)

• Provide leadership and oversight of 24/7 emergency communications operations staffed with sworn and non-sworn employees; develop and oversee the strategic, operational, administrative, and implementation efforts of the Communications Bureau’s objectives; identify operational and organizational challenges, and develop and execute effective solutions.
• Oversee maintenance and modernization of complex communication systems, including, but not limited to, Computer-Aided Dispatch(CAD), radio, mapping tools, and other communications systems; evaluate new technologies and methodologies and develop process improvements for the effective utilization, application, and adherence to allow for continued growth and development for a fully operational, modernized Sheriff’s Communications Bureau.
• Monitor and enhance operational performance metrics by setting specific goals and measuring outcomes, including, but not limited to, call response times, dispatch accuracy, and frequency usage by stations and mobile units.
• Manage large-scale budgets, budget planning, and forecasting to ensure funds are allocated appropriately; manage and comply with complex grant requirements, regulations, and reporting deadlines; identify funding opportunities and assisting grant applications and renewals; partner with the Sheriff’s Project Management Officer for capital improvement projects to align budget resources with Bureau Communication’s project timelines and deliverables.
• Lead efforts to enhance employee retention and engagement in a high-stress environment; foster a culture of continuous learning and resilience within dispatch teams to improve morale and minimize burnout; identify opportunities to implement best management practices or redesign processes to optimize internal performance and efficiency.
• Analyze workload data and call volumes to forecast staffing needs; develop and implement contingency staffing plans to ensure adequate coverage, attendance, overtime, and leave patterns for a 24/7 emergency communications operation; address recruitment challenges by designing retention programs to reduce turnover and improve employee satisfaction.
• Assess training needs of the Communications Bureau through performance evaluations, staff feedback, and industry standards to tailor programs accordingly; design and oversee comprehensive training, curriculum, and materials that cover technical skills, emergency protocols, communication techniques, and stress management for dispatch staff; establish mentorship and coaching programs to support skill development and career growth.
• Coordinate allied agency service agreements by establishing clear expectations and responsibilities for service deliverables; monitor performance and service quality to ensure accountability and drive continuous improvement; address service disruptions and implement problem-solving measures to minimize operational impact; oversee the implementation of operational changes and potential workflow streamlining.
• Develop and implement changes to procedures to ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations; continue monitoring progress of legislation and impact on operations ensuring conformance meets all state and federally mandated requirements and reporting; ensure compliance with relevant certifications and licensing requirements for dispatch personnel.
• Develop, implement,and enforce policies, procedures,and risk mitigation strategies by establishing clear guidelines and plans to effectively manage risks and operations; ensure consistent adherence to these rules in support of departmental goals, including identifying security risks, developing security management practices, and monitoring the effectiveness of protective measures.
• Direct and maintain comprehensive continuity of operations (COOP) to ensure critical functions remain operational during major incidents and emergencies; implement incident and disaster recovery to restore communications and essential services promptly; evaluate post incident reports to ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards; implement enhancements to resource allocations and logistics of incident and disaster response times for operational resilience.
• Serve as the communications liaison during emergency operations by coordinating with internal departments and external agencies to ensure alignment in disaster response and communication recovery efforts; communicate with stakeholders and personnel during major incidents, including the activation of Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), to provide real-time guidance and updates in support of emergency response activities.
• Represent the agency and agency interests in interagency collaborations with local, regional, and state agencies to support initiatives and provide subject matter expertise on communication operations, policies and capabilities; represent and engage in public meetings to foster transparency, trust and awareness of Bureau communications operations; assist with regional planning efforts, particularly those impacting Sheriff’s communications or emergency response.

Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with major course work in computer science, information systems, electronics engineering, voice/data communications, criminal justice, business or public administration, or a related field to the assignment.

(Additional qualifying dispatch journey-level experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Experience: Five years of management or supervisory administrative experience with responsibility for planning, organizing, and implementing budgets, programs, and projects.

This must have included at least two years of experience managing a staff in any one of the following functions: radio dispatch operations, budgets, systems analysis, or telecommunications functions.

(A master's degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one year of non-management experience.)

Knowledge of: The principles and practices of complex radio communications, including laws, regulations and ordinances that govern county, state and federal radio transmissions; Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) equipment, recording equipment and other communications management software; management of operations with a high-volume dispatch communication center; safety and law enforcement terminology; familiarity with codes, signals, and procedures used by police, fire, and EMS agencies; functions, authority and jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Department; advanced principals of supervision and office management, including, workplace safety, especially relating to stress management and ergonomics in dispatch centers;training and supervision of personnel to ensure high-quality service delivery and adherence to company standard; budget development, financial forecasting, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring compliance with funding guidelines and fiscal controls; computer information management including data integrity, confidentiality, and compliance with laws.

Ability to: Organize, motivate, mentor, and direct staff while fostering a positive and high-performance work culture; recognizing and managing personal emotions and the emotions of others, especially in high-stress situations; train personnel in communications activities; exercise sound judgment in emergency situations; assess complex situations quickly and make sound,data-informed decisions; skills for managing high-stress interactions with callers, field personnel, and other agencies; develop and evaluate communications and record-keeping procedures to ensure accuracy in dispatch operations, dataentry, analysis, and reporting; interpret statistical reports to support informed decision-making and operational improvements; managing multiple responsibilities, tasks, and incidents under time-sensitive conditions; demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills; understand diverse community needs and ensuring equitable communication and service delivery; perform advanced arithmetic skills to complete calculations related to scheduling, budgeting, or data tracking; establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and partner agencies.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Additional Information

For questions regarding this recruitment:
Contact the recruiter, Mary Miller, at 951-955-3454 or via email at mmiller@rivco.org with any questions regarding this recruitment. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.