IT Public Safety Communications Chief*

County of San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$141,918.40–$203,361.60 Per Year
SKILLS
Administrative Skills, Background Investigation, Budget Forecasting, Budget Management, Budgeting, Business Continuity Planning (BCP), CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), Capital Project, Cisco Network Systems, Communication Skills, Communication Systems, Computer Networks, Computer Operations, Computer Science, Conservation, Cost Benefit Analysis, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, Data Processing, Disciplinary Action, Employee Benefits, Expense Management, FCC (Federal Communications Commission), Financial Management, Government, Human Resources, Information Technology & Information Systems, Interoperability, Interpersonal Skills, Interviewing Skills, Leadership, Legal, Licensing, Life Insurance, MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching), Mentoring, Microwaves, Network Administration/Management, Network Architecture/Engineering, Network Performance/Analysis, Operational Audit, Operational Strategy, Operational Support, Operations, Organizational Development/Management, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Analysis, Performance Management, Performance Reviews, Policy Development, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Primary Care, Problem Solving Skills, Project Planning, Project/Program Management, Public Safety, Radio Engineering, Records Management, Regulations, Safety Systems, Safety/Work Safety, Staff Development, Staff Training, Storage Area Network (SAN), Strategic Planning, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Systems Administration/Management, Technical Leadership, Technical Presentation, Technical Strategy, Technical Support, Technical Writing, Technology Analysis, Telecommunications, Time Management, Training Program, Training/Teaching, Trunked Radio, Unified Communications, Vendor/Supplier Planning, Vendor/Supplier Relations, Vision Plan, VoIP (Voice over IP), Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Radio
LOCATION
San Bernardino, CA
POSTED
30+ days ago

IT Public Safety Communications Chief*

Salary

$141,918.40 - $203,361.60 Annually

Location

San Bernardino, CA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

26-15022PSC-02

Department

Innovation and Technology Department

Opening Date

05/16/2026

Closing Date

5/29/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

  • Description
  • Benefits
  • Questions

The Job

The Innovation and Technology Department (ITD) is recruiting for an IT Public Safety Communications Chief* who will serve on the Executive Management Team. The incumbent will lead the division responsible for the County's public safety communications infrastructure and related technology services, including oversight of the Land Mobile Radio (LMR)/800 MHz radio system and microwave transport program.

This position provides strategic and operational leadership for mission-critical communications services, division personnel, service planning, policy development, and partner agency coordination. Responsibilities may include:

  • Overseeing daily operations and reviewing service integrity, security, and efficiency
  • Evaluating and recommending system and service enhancements
  • Making formal presentations to governing boards, public agencies, and private-sector partners
  • Monitoring technology trends and performing feasibility and cost/benefit analyses for new technologies, hardware, and software
  • Recommending staff development and training programs
  • Coordinating with regulatory agencies (including the FCC), public utilities, public safety agencies, and other stakeholders
  • Collaborating with customers and partner agencies to resolve service issues and maintain high service levels
  • Developing and managing the Division's annual budget and conducting periodic budget reviews

The incumbent is expected to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of specialized technical staff and contractors supporting mission-critical communications services.

For more detailed information, refer to the Information Services Division Chief job description.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Innovation and Technology Department is San Bernardino County's primary technology service provider, entrusted with managing and safeguarding the County's enterprise mission-critical systems and infrastructure. The Department supports County operations through innovation and enterprise solutions that promote progress through technology and provide transparency, mobility, and reliable support services to County departments and partner agencies.

ITD's infrastructure portfolio spans voice and data technologies, land-based networks, microwave transmissions, and radio communications used by public safety personnel-covering over 20,000 square miles across the largest county in the contiguous United States.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS

To review job-specific benefits, refer to:

Summary of Benefits

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Pre-Employment Process: Prior to appointment, candidate must undergo a background check, which includes fingerprinting and a medical exam.

Travel: Travel throughout the County may be required. Employees will be required to make provisions for such transportation.

Sponsorship: San Bernardino County is unable to consider candidates who require Visa sponsorship at the time or in the future. Candidates must be able to present their legal right to work in the United States.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates MUST possess the required education and experience in ALL of the following areas to qualify.

EXPERIENCE:Four (4) years of full-time equivalent experience, within the last six (6) years, planning, organizing, and implementation of information technology programs and projects, which includes supervising staff engaged in systems administration and performing analysis of computer and network operations.

Qualifying experience must be in at least one (1) of the following technical domains:

  • Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems, including 800 MHz trunked radio
  • Microwave transport systems or licensed point-to-point/point-to-multipoint communications
  • Wide Area Network (WAN) design, administration, or operations at an enterprise or regional scale
  • Enterprise telecommunications infrastructure, including unified communications or VoIP systems
  • Public safety communications systems, such as Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), dispatch center operations, or interoperability coordination

MANAGEMENT: Three (3) years full-time equivalent experience in management or higher over staff engaged in the implementation, support, or administration of technology services. This experience must have included primary responsibility for assigning and reviewing work and preparing performance evaluations. Experience may be concurrent.

Qualifying experience must include at least two (2) of the following:

  • Strategic technology planning, roadmap development, or enterprise-wide IT program management
  • Divisional or departmental budget development and management
  • Multi-team or multi-discipline technology program management in a complex organizational environment
  • Vendor, contractor, or regulatory agency coordination (e.g., FCC, public utilities, public safety agencies)

EDUCATION:A Bachelors degree or higher from an accredited college/university in computer science, information technology, data processing or a closely related field.

Substitution: Two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may substitute for the required education.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate will:

  • Demonstrated ability to lead a diverse, multi-disciplinary technical division in a mission-critical, 24/7 environment
  • Proven track record of implementing and maintaining complex technology solutions across distributed teams and geographies
  • Familiarity with public safety interoperability frameworks
  • Experience working with FCC licensing, frequency coordination, and spectrum management
  • Strong fiscal management skills, including capital project planning and multi-year budget forecasting
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to present technical content to executive leadership, governing boards, and the public
  • Ability to mentor subordinate managers, supervisors, and technical specialists across diverse disciplines
  • Experience managing vendor relationships and technology contracts in a public sector environment
  • Openness to organizational change and a track record of championing innovation while maintaining operational stability

Selection Process

Examination Procedure:

There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on the information provided in the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of your qualifying experience and skills, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department.

Application Procedure:

Please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire for consideration before 5:00 PM PST, FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2026. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaires.

To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application before the filing deadline. Applicants will be automatically logged-out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.

If you need technical assistance, follow this link to review the Government Jobs online application guide or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by your internet connection, computer, or browser when submitting an application.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants.

ADA Accommodation:

If you have a disability and need accommodations during the testing process, please submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form (Download PDF) within one week of the recruitment filing deadline.

Veterans Preference:

Eligible veterans, their spouses, or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the Veterans Preference Policy.

For more important details, review the Applicant Information and County Employment Process.

Exempt Unit-Group C

San Bernardino County offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of other voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.

Please review the appropriate Summary of Benefits* for more information

Refer to the appropriate MOU, contact the County's Employee Benefits and Services Division at (909) 387-5787 or visit the Employee Benefits website for more detailed information.

  • Retirement benefits subject to change.

01

Instructions: The information on the application and your responses to the following supplemental questions will be used in a competitive evaluation of qualifications. Experience listed on this questionnaire must also be listed and fully detailed in the work experience section of your application.

  • I have read and understand the above statement.

02

Minimum Requirements - Education: Indicate the option under which you qualify.

  • I possess a Bachelors degree or higher in computer science, information technology, data processing or a closely related field.
  • I am submitting my application requesting the use of the education substitution - I possess two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, as described in the minimum requirements.
  • None of the above

03

Lead/Supervisory Experience: Indicate the areas in which you have a minimum of three (3) years of experience. Select ALL that apply.

  • Advise on work problems
  • Assign and review work
  • Train staff
  • Approve leave time
  • Change work schedules
  • Counsel on behavior problems
  • Give input on work performance evaluations
  • Write work performance evaluations for supervisors signature
  • Write and sign work performance evaluations
  • Interview candidates for hiring
  • Recommend candidates for hiring
  • Make final hiring decisions
  • Recommend disciplinary actions
  • Carry out disciplinary actions (write reprimands, terminations, etc.)
  • None of the above

04

Technical Domain: Select all technical areas in which you have direct, hands-on experience in a management role. Select all that apply.

  • Land Mobile Radio (LMR) / 700-800 MHz trunked radio systems (e.g., P25, Motorola)
  • Microwave transport systems (licensed point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communications)
  • Wide Area Network (WAN) design, administration, or operations at an enterprise or regional scale
  • Enterprise telecommunications infrastructure (unified communications, VoIP, or similar)
  • Public safety communications systems (CAD, dispatch operations, or interoperability coordination)
  • None of the above.

05

Land Mobile Radio / 800 MHz): Describe your experience planning, implementing, operating, or managing a Land Mobile Radio (LMR) or 800 MHz trunked radio system. In your response, include: total years of experience in this area, the organization, your specific role, the system type and scale (number of sites, channels, subscriber units), any P25 or interoperability work, and the outcome of your involvement. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

06

Microwave Transport Systems: Describe your experience with licensed microwave transport networks or point-to-point/point-to-multipoint communications systems. In your response, include: total years of experience in this area, the organization, your role, the scale of the network (number of links, path distances, frequencies used), and any regulatory coordination with the FCC or frequency coordinators. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

07

WAN / Enterprise Networking: Describe your experience designing, administering, or managing a Wide Area Network or enterprise telecommunications infrastructure. In your response, include: total years of experience in this area, the organization, your role, the scale of the network (geographic coverage, number of sites, technology stack - e.g., MPLS, SD-WAN, fiber, Cisco), and the scope of your responsibility. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

08

Public Safety Communications Systems: Describe your experience with public safety communications systems, such as Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management Systems (RMS), dispatch center operations, or regional interoperability coordination. In your response, include: total years of experience in this area, the organization, your role, the system(s) involved, and how your work supported public safety operations. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

09

Management Experience: Describe your experience supervising or managing technical staff. In your response, include: total years in a supervisory or management role, the number of direct reports, their technical classifications or roles, and examples of how you assigned work, conducted performance evaluations, and developed your staff. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

10

Technology Programs/Projects: Describe the most complex technology program or project you have led from initiation through completion. In your response, include: total years of program or project management experience, the organization, your specific role, the technology involved, the scope (budget, timeline, number of teams or agencies), the challenges you encountered, and how you resolved them. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

11

Budget Experience: Describe your experience developing and managing a technology division or program budget. In your response, include: total years of budget management experience, the approximate annual budget size, the types of expenditures you managed (personnel, capital, contracts, licensing), and a specific example of a budget decision or challenge you navigated. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

12

Stakeholder Experience: Describe your experience coordinating with external stakeholders, regulatory agencies, or partner organizations on technology or communications matters. In your response, include: total years of experience in external coordination or stakeholder management. Examples include: FCC licensing or frequency coordination, interagency interoperability planning, vendor or contractor management, public utility coordination, or presentations to governing boards or elected officials. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

13

Technology Strategy: Describe your experience developing or contributing to a long-range technology strategy, roadmap, or master plan. In your response, include: total years of experience in strategic or long-range technology planning, the organization, your role, the scope of the planning effort, how you engaged stakeholders, and how the plan was implemented or adopted. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

14

Mission Critical Operations: Describe your experience managing technology systems or services that operate in a 24/7 mission-critical environment where downtime has significant public safety or operational consequences. In your response, include: total years of experience in mission-critical environments, the nature of the system(s), how you ensured continuity of operations, how you handled a major outage or incident, and what you put in place to prevent recurrence. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

15

Leading IT Staff: Public Safety Communications Chief requires leading staff across multiple technical disciplines - for example, radio engineers, network engineers, and dispatch technicians. Describe how you have managed or would approach leading a multi-disciplinary technical team where you may not have deep expertise in every specialty. If no experience, indicate "N/A."

16

Applicant Acknowledgement - Notification via email: As part of our efforts to increase efficiency and promote conservation of resources, Human Resources uses email to communicate with applicants. Therefore, all future communications regarding this recruitment, including applicant status and testing notifications, will be made via email. Each applicant needs their own email address. We strongly encourage you, as an applicant, to ensure that the email address you have provided us with your application is current, secure, confidential, and readily accessible to you. Adjust Spam and/or other filters so that our emails are accepted. Please carefully read any notices that we send you and follow any instructions provided in a timely manner. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails (i.e., for the non-delivery of our emails or if you fail to check your e-mail on a timely basis).

  • I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to the above.

17

ATTENTION GMAIL USERS

We have become aware of an increase in Gmails spam filter sensitivity. Due to this change, it is possible that emails coming from San Bernardino County Human Resources may be marked as spam and will not make it into your Gmail inbox.

For your convenience, a step-by-step guide to create and apply filters within Gmail is available in the attached PDF. Download the PDF Guide. Once downloaded, follow the instructions so that you will receive future emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources.

Note: If you apply the filters and still do not receive emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources you can check your www.governmentjobs.com (Neogov) account inbox. All notifications will appear there.

  • I understand

18

Applicant Acknowledgement - Application Complete: Thank you for taking the time to complete this application and supplemental questionnaire. Please be sure to review all information provided prior to submitting it as you cannot update or revise it once submitted. Your submitted application will be reviewed and evaluated as is. Please do not refer to a resume or other documentation in lieu of completing the employment history section or responding to the supplemental questions; they will not be reviewed or considered.

Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email confirmation will be sent to the email address listed on your application. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.

  • I acknowledge that I have reviewed my application and understand that I will not be able to update or revise any part of it once submitted.

Required Question

Employer San Bernardino County

Address 175 West Fifth Street, 1st Floor

San Bernardino, California, 92415-0440

Phone (909) 387-8304

TTY Users: 711

Website http://www.sbcounty.gov/jobs

About the Company

C

County of San Bernardino