Police Communications Manager

The Community of  Carlsbad: This nearly 40 square mile city is ideally situated in north San Diego County with an approximate population of 115,000. It offers a great climate, beautiful beaches, lagoons, and abundant natural open space. World-class resorts, family attractions, well-planned neighborhoods, a diverse business sector, and a charming village atmosphere combine to create the ideal California experience.

About the Police Department

The Carlsbad Police Department is a full-service police department that prides itself on its strong partnership with the community. Through the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the police department, and the support of City Council members and the community, Carlsbad continues to be a safe community to live, work and play.

• The City of Carlsbad ranks among California's safest cities.

• Carlsbad residents report high satisfaction with police services; recent survey results indicate that over 90% of the residents are satisfied with police service.

The Carlsbad Police Department's "Ideal Candidate" exemplifies department values, is a leader, role model, team player and problem solver.  Under general direction, direct the efforts of the police communications division and perform a variety of managerial responsibilities and/or other duties as assigned.

The Communications Manager shall be assigned as the division manager of the police Communications Division, which is the highest-level classification of a Police Communications Operator, and assumes full management responsibility for all dispatching services and activities.   This position will perform the more technical and complex tasks relative to the Communications Division.

DEI Statement: The City of Carlsbad embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and recognizes the vital relationship of a culturally diverse, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. A diverse, equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule

Recruitment will close 7/3/2024

Interviews are expected to take place mid-July

Selection Process

Oral Panel Appraisal Interview: Appraisal of general experience, education, judgment, problem solving ability and communication skills. Those candidates who are qualified will continue in the selection process.

Background Appraisal Interview: Completion and review of detailed Personal History Statement.

Candidates meeting the basic criteria will continue with a background investigation.

Comprehensive Background Investigation: A detailed investigation of the candidate's personal history and suitability for employment as a law enforcement officer based on the job dimensions identified by POST. This investigation includes a lie detection polygraph screening.

Captains' Interview: Personal interviews with the Captain of Field Operations and the Captain of Support Operations.

Final Steps: Psychological and medical evaluations before hire are required. The Chief of Police may select/appoint any individual who has successfully completed the process. Appointments are probationary for one year.

Plan, direct, supervise and manage the strategic and daily activities of communications services center, and other responsibilities on an assigned basis.

Provide overall technical and administrative direction and supervision to personnel or an assigned staff. Set goals and objectives; select, train, motivate staff; assess performance and make recommendations.

Manage employees through the dispatch supervisors:  review the work of subordinates to ensure compliance with departmental policies and procedures. Evaluate employee performance, counsel employees, and initiate actions as appropriate, including disciplinary or corrective actions.

Conduct training programs in the various phases of communications activities. Ensure all dispatchers meet training requirements including POST and other requirements set forth by the police department and State of California. Update the Communications Manual.

Receive complaints or reports of emergencies and determine need for action; conduct confidential internal and administrative investigations as assigned.

Manage the administrative responsibilities involving the division's budgeting, purchasing and personnel functions.  Conduct special studies of division functions. Identify resources and needs; allocates resources accordingly.

Coordinate communication needs for the department and city events.

Administer and prepare special studies, clear and comprehensive statistical and informational written reports as requested or required by federal, state or local level laws.

Administer and prepare special studies, clear and comprehensive statistical and informational written reports as requested or required by federal, state or local level laws.

Act as Custodian of Property and Records for the Communications Division. Create CAD system and telephone data reports, including copies of call records upon request.

Ensure quality assurance monitoring of Communications Division and identify opportunities for improvement.

Oversee, monitor, maintain, and implement necessary changes and updates to a variety of dispatch equipment, hardware, and software (i.e. dispatch consoles, telephone systems, Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, and radio systems. Work with appropriate parties to ensure systems are working properly. Stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of communications; incorporate new developments into programs as appropriate.

Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with agencies in the County providing similar services.

Report to the Police Administrative Manager and perform other related duties as assigned.To perform a job in this classification, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties as generally described in the specification.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties in a specific job.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of organization, administration, budget and personnel management.

• Automated police communications systems, including dispatch principles and emergency practices.

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules governing police radio transmission; law enforcement operation functions; federal privacy laws and federal and state penal codes governing the transmission and release of criminal information.

• Rules of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) and California Law Enforcement Telecommunications (CLETS) procedures

• Departmental rules and regulations.

• Functions and objectives of federal, state and other local law enforcement agencies.

• Principles and practices of supervision, training, principles of organizational management.

• Principles and practices of effective and strategic monitoring of the scheduling function.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and effectively manage the work of Communications Division personnel through supervision, training, planning, directing, and reviewing the work of lower-level staff.

• Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, to all levels within and outside of the organization.

• Establish, evaluate, and implement policies and practices and adhere to all federal, state, and local laws as required for the Communications Division operations.

• Analyze and effectively resolve operational problems.

• Develop, implement and maintain training and safety policies and procedures for all personnel.

• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports.

• Prepare implement and monitor operating budget within established parameters.

• Maintain effective and productive work relationships with those encountered in the performance of duties and prepare and conduct persuasive oral presentations in the performance of public relations activities or as otherwise directed.

Any combination equivalent to the education and experience that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical background may include:

Equivalent to completion of a bachelors' degree majoring in law enforcement or related discipline, and five years of communications experience with a California law enforcement agency, with three years supervisory experience in a safety communications department or agency.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess a Police Officer Standards of Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Complaint/Dispatcher

Certificate.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING:

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms.  An employee is frequently required to walk and stand. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus to read and operate office equipment as necessary during the course of the work assignments.

While performing the duties, employees of this class are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use reasoning; observe and interpret people and situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work under intensive deadlines; and interact with the public, staff and others encountered in the course of work.

Depending on the assignment, the physical and mental requirements and environment may vary.  Refer to the task analysis of the essential duties for more specific physical and mental requirements related to individual assignments.

This is an at-will management classification.