CO-5 Emergency Communications Facilitator

Job Description Code: 9F.010 Division/Department: Safety and Security Pay Grade: CO-5 Pay Type: Salaried; Non-Exempt Retirement: TRS Contract Work Year: 233 Days/40 Hours Per Week Reports To: Police Captain Evaluation Instrument: PEI Minimum Qualifications High School Diploma; Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Certification/Licensure: (1) Possess a Valid Georgia Driver’s License; (2) Communications Unit Leader (COML) and Communications Technician (COMT) certifications through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are required or must be obtained within 24 months of employment. Minimum of five (5) years of experience in public safety, emergency management, risk management, radio communications or other related field or combination of related fields. GOAL Supports and facilitates the educational process within the Cherokee County School District to provide a safe and secure environment for teaching and learning through sustainability of intra/interoperability of both fixed and mobile two-way radio communications platforms (including hand-held, dispatch, consoles and desktops) used by the District, meeting Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) operational, technical and training standards, thereby mitigating or preventing the loss of life or property during critical incidents or events. Representative Duties & Responsibilities Supports School Board Policy and Major System Priorities by reviewing best safety and security practices related to the K-12 education environment. Assists in the development and management of radio communication grant opportunities. Reviews and evaluates the District’s Crisis Command Center plan to ensure accountability and continuity of functionality and operations of radio communications between district facilities and other public safety entities during a crisis, emergency or other district-wide occurrence. Reviews and evaluates the District’s Reunification Team plan to ensure accountability and continuity of functionality and operations for radio communications during a crisis, emergency or other district-wide occurrence. Evaluates and assists in safety audits/inspections of district-wide radio communications assets to prevent or mitigate potential risks. Collaborates with district and other public safety entities to identify varying types of radio communications resources that may be utilized during a crisis or emergency. Assists local and state agencies with the development and dissemination of critical radio communications infrastructure information necessary for effective response by public safety agencies to a school-based or district-wide occurrence. Maintains all VHF, UHF, 700 MHz and 800 MHz two-way radio communication equipment and systems by coordinating the installation, maintenance and repair of all mobile, portable and fixed radio equipment utilized by School District employees. Programs all two-way radio communications equipment utilized by school-based staff to ensure equipment features and functions best suit the needs of the School District. Develops bid specifications and requests for proposals (RFPs) for two-way radio communications equipment and systems. Submits and maintains all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Licenses required to utilize all two-way radio communications equipment used by the School District and ensures licenses are maintained and displayed per FCC Rules & Regulations. Serves as the radio frequency coordinator and Communications Unit Leader (COML) for the School District to ensure sustainability of effective district-wide communications and inter-operability with public safety agencies during routine and emergency operations. Works closely with the District’s IT Division to ensure the IP repeater sites are operational and meet state-of-the-art APCO Project 25 phase II Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology relative to coverage and interoperability capabilities. Works closely with school-based staff to ensure effective use of intrusion, fire and digital camera systems and coordinates with vendor providers to ensure the effective operation of equipment. Works with key staff to ensure integration of security systems including, but not limited to emergency notification, digital cameras, visitor management, and electronic access to facilities. Works closely with School District Emergency Operations Facilitator on emergency operations planning and the development of training exercises that may involve radio communications system operations. Works closely with Cherokee County’s COML regarding the District’s radio system, alias changes, maintenance coordination and other routine matters. Works closely with authorized radio service technicians to ensure access to repeater sites for maintenance, repair or trouble resolution. Attends local, state, and national seminars, conferences and user group meetings relative to radio communications, emergency response and crisis management, such as APCO, State of Georgia 700 MHz & 800 MHz Regional Planning Committees (RPC), etc. Attends various training programs and courses sponsored or approved by the state director of emergency management to maintain appropriate certifications on an annual basis. Ensure adherence to good safety procedures. Follow federal and state laws, as well as Board policies. Perform other duties as assigned. IMPORTANT NOTES Essential Duties Job descriptions are designed and intended only to summarize the essential duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements for the purpose of clarifying the general nature and scope of a position’s role as part of the overall organization. Job descriptions do not list all tasks an employee might be expected to perform, and they do not limit the right of the employer/supervisor to assign additional tasks or otherwise to modify duties to be performed – even if seemingly unrelated to the basic job. Every employee has a duty to perform all assigned tasks. (An employee who is assigned a duty or task believed to be unlawful should report the assignment to the Chief Human Resources Officer.) It should also be noted the order of duties/ responsibilities as listed in the job description is not designed or intended to rank the duties in any order of importance relative to each other. Minimum Requirements In filling a vacant position, preferred or required credentials regarding education, training, experience, and other bona fide occupational qualifications may be established. The credentials shown in this job description may be interpreted only as the minimum criteria existing at the time the description was developed. Other bona fide occupational qualifications and criteria may be utilized as needed in the selection process. Fringe Benefits FICA is paid by the employee and matched by the School District. Temporary workers do not qualify for employee benefits. Adopted: September 2018 Revised: July 2023, July 2024, July 2025