Logo
The Johns Hopkins University

Director Communication Operations

The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States


Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link

Johns Hopkins strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine requirement remains unchanged. Exceptions may be provided under certain circumstances. Click here for more information. .

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert: Create Alert

Johns Hopkins Public Safety is seeking a Director, Communication Operations. This position will be integral to maintaining a safe community throughout the Johns Hopkins’ Campuses. The Director Communications Operations Center, a key member of Johns Hopkins Public Safety (JHPS), is the primary point of accountability for the performance of multiple communications and dispatch centers within the Johns Hopkins Enterprise, to include the new Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD). This role involves providing comprehensive leadership, direction, and management for operations, programs, and policies. The Director ensures that the JHPS communications and dispatch centers develop a stature in the public safety communications industry commensurate with Johns Hopkins standards and expectations.

In addition to these responsibilities, Director performs a variety of routine and complex administrative, supervisory, and professional tasks. These tasks are crucial in providing both emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for JHPS. The Director’s duties extend to the planning, organizing, coordinating, and managing multiple Johns Hopkins Communications and Dispatch Centers located throughout our campuses.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

  • Serves as the primary point of accountability for the department's performance.
  • Works closely with JHPS and JHPD leadership in setting and carrying out the vision, mission, and objectives for the Department.
  • Provides vision, direction, and subject matter expertise in the field of 9-1-1 and public safety communication operations.
  • Works with JHPS leadership to establish and maintain a real-time crime center to support the JHPD.
  • Responsible for direct and indirect supervision of all communications center personnel to include operations personnel at Homewood campus and JHPD.
  • Participates in the selection of new employees in conjunction with JHPS Human Resources.
  • Manages operational readiness of the department by oversight of recruitment and hiring efforts to ensure proper staffing levels.
  • Reviews and analyzes management information reports and communicates with employees to identify deficiencies in operations, policies, and procedures, as a means of implementing changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department.
  • Review, evaluate and develop department staff training to effectively ensure quality public safety communications service and the compliance with JHPS and JHPD training requirements.
  • Formulates and enforces departmental regulations, standard operating procedures, and directives, etc.
  • Manages the department’s overall annual budget and assists in the preparation, oversight, and presentation for final approval.
  • Researches and recommends equipment and technology replacements and upgrades to maintain and enhance efficiency standards.
  • Assist in the planning, management, and/or coordination of the acquisition, design, operation, enhancement, and/or maintenance of information technology systems supporting JHPS communications.
  • Work with local and state agencies on issues pertinent to communications operations.
  • Monitor proposed and pending local and state legislation related to emergency communications.
  • Responsible for ensuring proper collection of evidentiary recordings of emergency calls and testimony in court to authenticate recorded incidents and other matters involving the center.
  • Knowledge of federal, state, and county laws and regulations affecting departmental operations, and the ability to interpret and apply them correctly.
  • Ability to strategically plan and direct large, comprehensive emergency communications centers and the associated personnel.
  • Knowledge of, and familiarity with, public safety functions and concerns, and of the Department's demands and requirements.
  • Knowledge of police operations.
  • Knowledge of computer-aided dispatch systems, radio communication systems, and dispatch recording equipment.
  • Knowledge of managerial practices, supervisory and personnel management practices, including team building and motivational skills to supervise staff.

Johns Hopkins Public Safety is seeking a Director, Communication Operations. This position will be integral to maintaining a safe community throughout the Johns Hopkins’ Campuses. The Director Communications Operations Center, a key member of Johns Hopkins Public Safety (JHPS), is the primary point of accountability for the performance of multiple communications and dispatch centers within the Johns Hopkins Enterprise, to include the new Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD). This role involves providing comprehensive leadership, direction, and management for operations, programs, and policies. The Director ensures that the JHPS communications and dispatch centers develop a stature in the public safety communications industry commensurate with Johns Hopkins standards and expectations.

In addition to these responsibilities, Director performs a variety of routine and complex administrative, supervisory, and professional tasks. These tasks are crucial in providing both emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for JHPS. The Director’s duties extend to the planning, organizing, coordinating, and managing multiple Johns Hopkins Communications and Dispatch Centers located throughout our campuses.


Specific Duties & Responsibilities

  • Serves as the primary point of accountability for the department's performance.
  • Works closely with JHPS and JHPD leadership in setting and carrying out the vision, mission, and objectives for the Department.
  • Provides vision, direction, and subject matter expertise in the field of 9-1-1 and public safety communication operations.
  • Works with JHPS leadership to establish and maintain a real-time crime center to support the JHPD.
  • Responsible for direct and indirect supervision of all communications center personnel to include operations personnel at Homewood campus and JHPD.
  • Participates in the selection of new employees in conjunction with JHPS Human Resources.
  • Manages operational readiness of the department by oversight of recruitment and hiring efforts to ensure proper staffing levels.
  • Reviews and analyzes management information reports and communicates with employees to identify deficiencies in operations, policies, and procedures, as a means of implementing changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department.
  • Review, evaluate and develop department staff training to effectively ensure quality public safety communications service and the compliance with JHPS and JHPD training requirements.
  • Formulates and enforces departmental regulations, standard operating procedures, and directives, etc.
  • Manages the department’s overall annual budget and assists in the preparation, oversight, and presentation for final approval.
  • Researches and recommends equipment and technology replacements and upgrades to maintain and enhance efficiency standards.
  • Assist in the planning, management, and/or coordination of the acquisition, design, operation, enhancement, and/or maintenance of information technology systems supporting JHPS communications.
  • Work with local and state agencies on issues pertinent to communications operations.
  • Monitor proposed and pending local and state legislation related to emergency communications.
  • Responsible for ensuring proper collection of evidentiary recordings of emergency calls and testimony in court to authenticate recorded incidents and other matters involving the center.
  • Knowledge of federal, state, and county laws and regulations affecting departmental operations, and the ability to interpret and apply them correctly.
  • Ability to strategically plan and direct large, comprehensive emergency communications centers and the associated personnel.
  • Knowledge of, and familiarity with, public safety functions and concerns, and of the Department's demands and requirements.
  • Knowledge of police operations.
  • Knowledge of computer-aided dispatch systems, radio communication systems, and dispatch recording equipment.
  • Knowledge of managerial practices, supervisory and personnel management practices, including team building and motivational skills to supervise staff.


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree.
  • Ten (10) years’ progressively responsible related experience working within communications operations including call center, 911 and/or emergency communications systems within a public safety or similar work environment. At least 2 years supervisory experience.
  • Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s Degree.
  • Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification through the National Emergency Number Association (NENA)

Classified Title: Director Communication Operations Center 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Director Communication Operations
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PG
Starting Salary Range: $99,800 - $175,000 Annually (Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Mon - Fri 9 -5 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Hybrid/Eastern High Campus 
Department name: VP for Public Safety Office of
Personnel area: University Administration 

Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/ .

Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion .

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu . For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit https://accessibility.jhu.edu/ .

Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine . Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/  and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/ .

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

#J-18808-Ljbffr