Public Safety Communications System Specialist

This job posting expires at 11 : 59PM on July 21, 2025. No applications can be submitted after 11 : 59PM on July 21, 2025.Job Title : Public Safety Communications System SpecialistDepartment :  Public Safety CommunicationsExternal Hiring Range :  $62,541.91 - $78,086.20Compensation Grade :  3005Pay Range :  $62,541.91 - $99,848.16Posted Internally and Externally

The Buncombe County Public Safety Communication Center is a lifeline from the public to emergency services. In the Public Safety Communication Center we dispatch and coordinate the response of Fire Departments, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services every day. If you want to make a difference, we want you on our team helping us provide critical lifesaving services in our community.

This position is in person and works from our Emergency Services and Public Safety Communications department building at 164 Erwin Hills Road, Asheville NC 28806.

Purpose of the position :

The purpose of this position is to maintain, support, and optimize mission critical public safety communication systems. This includes Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), phone and radio systems, logging and recording tools, and related hardware and

software.

Minimum Education, Training and / or Experience (required at time of hire) :

Associate degree in computer science, emergency services technology, telecommunications, or related field and a minimum of four (4) years of experience in public safety / 911 communications systems, radio technology, or similar technical support roles; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation :

40-hr NC Telecommunicator certification preferred, or must the ability to

obtain the certification within 180 days.

Essential Functions of the position :

Maintain, troubleshoot, and support core Public Safety Communications (911) systems, including CAD, telephony, radio consoles, logging systems, and associated networks.

Serve as a liaison between Public Safety Communications, County IT, vendors, and public safety partners on system-related issues and projects.

Monitor system performance and uptime, escalate critical issues, and ensure timely resolution.

Provide technical support and training to Public Safety Communications staff to ensure effective system use.

Assist with planning, testing, and implementing system upgrades, patches, and enhancements.

Document configurations, workflows, and system changes per department policies.

Support continuity of operations through redundancy testing, disaster recovery planning, and emergency system response.

Collaborate with internal and external partners, including County IT, CAD / phone / radio vendors, QA / QI, Training Division, and Operations staff.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities :

Knowledge of public safety systems and infrastructure.

Knowledge of problem-solving techniques and diagnostic methods.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with both technical and non-technical users.

Ability to maintain attention to detail and accurately document systems.

Ability to work under pressure and prioritize critical tasks.

Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners.

Knowledge of public safety communication systems and vendor management.

Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders.

Ability to coordinate and collaborate across multiple departments to achieve system improvements.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.