Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director

Posting number: 2026-00090

Department: Emergency Services

Division: Emergency Medical Services

Job classification: Emergency Medical Services Director

Posting type: External & Internal

Categories: EMS

Summary

Performs executive, administrative, managerial, and supervisory work in directing and managing the County's Emergency Medical Services Department. Serves as the County's principal administrative and operational leader for Emergency Medical Services and as a member of the County's department-head leadership team.

The employee is responsible for the overall administration, operation, performance, and service delivery of the Emergency Medical Services Department. Work includes establishing departmental goals and priorities; developing and implementing policies and procedures; planning and evaluating service delivery; establishing organizational structure and staffing requirements; preparing and managing operating and capital budgets; projecting future service and resource needs; and ensuring the effective and efficient use of personnel, facilities, vehicles, equipment, technology, and financial resources.

The employee provides leadership through subordinate supervisors and managers and is accountable for the performance, effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of departmental services. Personnel responsibilities include recruitment and selection, staffing, employee development, performance management, discipline, succession planning, and compliance with applicable certification, training, safety, medical, and regulatory requirements.

The employee works directly with the County Manager's Office regarding departmental operations, organizational priorities, policy development, budget development and administration, personnel matters, capital needs, service delivery, regulatory requirements, and long-range planning. The employee exercises substantial independent judgment within established County policies, applicable laws and regulations, and delegated authority.

The employee establishes and maintains effective relationships with fire and rescue departments, emergency communications, governmental agencies, public officials, professional organizations, and community partners. The employee may serve in a leadership, coordination, or operational capacity during major emergencies, disasters, and other significant events.

The employee is subject to the usual hazards associated with emergency medical services and emergency response operations and may work in both indoor and outdoor environmental conditions. The employee is subject to OSHA standards relating to bloodborne pathogens and other applicable occupational safety requirements.

Work is performed under the general administrative direction of the County Manager's Office, with substantial latitude for independent judgment and decision-making. Work is evaluated through conferences, reports, budgetary results, operational and performance measures, regulatory compliance, achievement of departmental goals, and the effectiveness and quality of services provided.

Examples of duties

• Provides overall leadership, direction, administration, and management of the Emergency Medical Services Department and establishes departmental priorities consistent with County goals and policies.

• Develops and implements short- and long-range plans for Emergency Medical Services, including staffing, facilities, vehicles, equipment, technology, training, service delivery, and capital needs.

• Directs departmental operations through subordinate supervisors and managers and establishes appropriate levels of authority, accountability, and responsibility.

• Develops and recommends the department's annual operating and capital budgets; provides justification for budget recommendations; monitors expenditures and revenues; manages resources within approved appropriations; and identifies opportunities for efficiency and cost savings.

• Establishes, reviews, and updates departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and operational standards to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, medical standards, and County policies.

• Monitors departmental performance using response statistics, quality assurance measures, operational data, financial information, customer feedback, and other appropriate performance indicators; identifies and implements opportunities for improvement.

• Keeps the County Manager's Office informed regarding significant operational, personnel, budgetary, regulatory, equipment, facility, and service delivery matters and makes recommendations concerning policy and administrative decisions.

• Works with the Medical Director, Training Officer, supervisors, and other appropriate personnel to establish and evaluate clinical, medical, response, and training protocols and ensure compliance with applicable standards.

• Oversees departmental personnel functions, including recruitment, selection, training, employee development, performance management, succession planning, and disciplinary matters in accordance with County policies and applicable law.

• Coordinates with other County department heads and departments on matters involving emergency response, public safety, facilities, finance, human resources, information technology, purchasing, risk management, communications, and other shared organizational functions.

• Responds to complaints, questions, and requests for information concerning EMS operations and works to resolve concerns in a professional and timely manner.

• Coordinates or participates in emergency operations and major incident response activities, including significant emergencies, disasters, mass casualty incidents, extended incidents, and other events as assigned.

• Participates in EMS response for patient care, search and rescue missions, extended medical and rescue incidents, and other emergency operations as needed.

• Ensures the timely completion and maintenance of records, reports, statistics, quality assurance information, and other documentation required by federal, state, and local laws, regulations, funding agencies, and County policies.

• Participates in professional development activities and maintains current knowledge of emergency medical services, emergency response, public safety administration, and organizational management.

• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, standards, and practices pertaining to emergency medical services and emergency response.
• Thorough knowledge of emergency medical principles, practices, procedures, clinical standards, and EMS service delivery models.
• Considerable knowledge of public-sector administration, organizational management, strategic planning, budgeting, purchasing, personnel administration, and performance management.
• Ability to provide strategic leadership and establish priorities for a complex department providing critical public safety services.
• Ability to develop, justify, and manage operating and capital budgets and effectively allocate resources among competing departmental needs.
• Ability to lead through subordinate supervisors and managers and establish clear expectations, accountability, and organizational responsibility.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the County Manager's Office, other department heads, elected officials, governmental agencies, community organizations, and the general public.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and make effective presentations to elected officials, employees, professional organizations, and the public.

Supplemental information

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree (master’s degree preferred) in emergency medical services, emergency management, public administration, business administration, healthcare administration, or a related field and considerable progressively responsible experience in emergency medical services, including significant supervisory and management experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience managing a complex emergency medical services organization, including responsibility for budgeting, personnel administration, strategic planning, service delivery, regulatory compliance, and interagency coordination, is highly desirable.

Special Requirements

Valid State of North Carolina Paramedic Certification and the ability to obtain and maintain certifications required by the County and applicable regulatory agencies within timeframes established by the County.

Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Must maintain all certifications and qualifications required to perform the duties of the position.