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What-Comm Deputy Director

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What-Comm Deputy Director

Salary

$117,252.00 - $142,536.00 Annually

Location

City of Bellingham, WA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

25-What-Comm Deputy Director

Department

Police Department

Opening Date

07/01/2025

Closing Date

7/20/2025 4:30 PM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Eteam

+ Description

+ Benefits

Nature of Work

GMP Consultants is assisting the City of Bellingham with this search. Learn more and apply at gmphr.com (https://gmphr.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a2nm8xmxt49c/aa0) . The first review of applications is on July 20, 2025. The position may be closed at any time following the first review.

This position manages, administers, and directs the activities, programs and operations of the What-Comm 911 Communications Center. Researches, develops, implements and oversees the programs, policies, procedures and services at the Center, ensuring the highest service standards to the public and user agencies. Responsible for direct or indirect supervision of all What-Comm Communications Center personnel. Manages the Center’s overall annual budget and assists in the preparation, oversight, and presentation to the What-Comm Administrative Board for final approval. Researches and recommends equipment and technology replacements and upgrades to maintain and enhance efficiency standards.

The current full salary range for this position is $9,771/month - $11,878/month. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the E-Team Handbook (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule) and City policy.

Research has demonstrated that salary negotiation can further inequality due to bias across gender and race. To prevent negotiation bias, the City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience in accordance with City policy. This is in line with the City's commitment to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits (https://cob.org/about/employment/benefits) page and labor agreements (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule) page.

+ 13.33 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time

+ 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year

+ 40 hours of sick leave upon hire + 8 hours accrued monthly

+ Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families

+ Life insurance and long-term disability coverage

+ Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program

+ Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

+ Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security

+ Optional 457 deferred compensation savings plan and 401(a) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

+ Plans, organizes and directs the activities of the What-Comm Communications Center and its telecommunication facilities, programs, equipment and personnel. Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of short and long-term goals and programs. Develops and effectively implements necessary changes. Develops, recommends and implements standard operating procedures for the Center. Maintains appropriate reports, correspondence and records.

+ Oversees, plans, organizes, coordinates, and assigns the work of Center personnel. Establishes performance standards, oversees training and evaluation, performs coaching and recommends corrective action as necessary. Participates in the selection of new employees in conjunction with the police department’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Collaborates with Center Director and Human Resources to manage and ensure compliance with City and Department policies and procedures and collective bargaining agreements and participates in negotiation of new contracts.

+ Fosters a service-oriented and cooperative attitude among staff to ensure coordination of efforts, efficient and intelligent use of resources. Conducts staff meetings. Promote staff’s recommendation of improvement ideas. Oversees investigation of complaints, questions, and inquiries.

+ Ensures that the Center is in a state of perpetual readiness through regular testing, exercise, and maintenance programs. Oversees both technical and operational problem-solving of equipment. Ensures that all systems, programs, and equipment are maintained in a good state of repair and meet the user agency’s needs in the most economical manner consistent with the budget, technical practices, operational procedures, and governing laws and regulations. Recommends appropriate changes to Center Director.

+ Develops appropriate long-range plans, including strategic capital improvements, staffing and other matters. Prepares specifications for the purchase of telecommunications equipment and maintenance contracts. Ensures proper management of CAD program to include purchases, upgrades, and coordinates efforts with hardware/software vendors.

+ Develops and maintains excellent working relationships with Administrative Board members, personnel, user agencies, the media, other community stakeholders, and the public. Works with the Director in developing reports to the Administrative Board on outstanding issues of strategic planning and financial impacts to the Center and/or User Agencies.

+ Assists in the preparation of the Center’s budget and its presentation to the Administrative Board for final approval. Works with Director as liaison to user agencies, elected and appointed officials of local governments, representing the program in meetings with other agencies, locally and regionally. May participate in public hearings concerning Center Operations/needs. Oversees the proper billing of user agencies.

+ Represents Center’s interests with local, state, and national 911 technical organizations and association meetings.

+ Responsible for public relations by overseeing community education and performing public information tasks as need/demand arises.

+ Responsible for ensuring proper collection of evidentiary recordings of 911 calls and testimony in court to authenticate recorded incidents and other matters involving the center. Oversees response to public records requests and ensures compliance with Public Records Act.

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

+ Performs other related work of a similar nature and level.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is generally performed in a secured office environment with travel to meeting locations, within and outside the County and State. May be required to attend early morning, evening, or weekend meetings. Will be required to carry a cell phone. In emergency situations, must have access to guaranteed, reliable transportation at all times. This is a sedentary position with minimal physical exertion requirements.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job including:

+ Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, and fax machine;

+ Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others;

+ Frequently remain stationary for long periods of time;

+ Occasionally move between work sites;

+ Occasionally transport objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Experience and Training

+ Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Communications, Business Administration, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Political Science or related field.

+ Four years of experience in a countywide 911 Center with combined call-receiving and dispatching.

+ Three years of management or supervisory experience including responsibility for compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws, regulations and mandates.

+ Experience with budget preparation and management preferred.

+ Experience with issues surrounding the consolidation of 911 Centers preferred.

+ An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Necessary Special Requirements

+ Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, background investigation, polygraph examination and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.

+ Valid Washington State driver’s license and good driving record. Candidates must submit a three-year driving record abstract prior to hire.

+ Adaptability and flexibility to accept schedule changes as necessary, and willingness to accept “call out” status for emergency situations.

Selection Process

GMP Consultants is assisting the City of Bellingham with this search. Learn more and apply at gmphr.com (https://gmphr.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a2nm8xmxt49c/aa0) . The first review of applications is on July 20, 2025. The position may be closed at any time following the first review.

The City of Bellingham is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity and inclusion are crucial to their success. They seek to recruit the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and strongly encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section (https://www.cob.org/employment/pages/benefits.aspx) for additional information.

This position is unrepresented. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the E-Team Handbook. (https://www.cob.org/employment/Pages/labor-agreements-pay-schedule.aspx)

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website (http://www.drs.wa.gov/) for more information on PERS.

Employer

City of Bellingham

Address

104 West Magnolia Street Bellingham, Washington, 98225

Phone

360-778-8228

Website

http://www.cob.org/employment

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