Lead Where Every Second Matters!
Become the Next Director of Guilford Metro 9-1-1.
Position Closes: September 1, 2026
Guilford Metro 9-1-1 seeks an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking leader to serve as its next Director. This leadership role oversees one of North Carolina's largest regional emergency communications and public safety technology organizations, supporting 102 public safety and government agencies and more than 21,000 users across Guilford County and the surrounding region. The Director leads a workforce of approximately 125 employees and is responsible for emergency communications operations, public safety IT, technical services (Radio Systems), Training and Quality Assurance, Administrative functions, strategic planning, financial management, and regional partnerships.
Reporting to City and County leadership, the Director works closely with elected officials, public safety executives, regional partners, and advisory groups to ensure the delivery of reliable, innovative, and mission-critical communications services that support first responders and the communities they serve.
About the Guilford Metro 9-1-1 Department:
Guilford Metro 9-1-1 serves as the communications hub for public safety agencies throughout the region. The organization is committed to providing exceptional emergency communications services while serving as a trusted technology and operational partner to law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and local government agencies. Oversees Emergency Communications, Public Safety IT, Technical Services, Training & Quality Assurance, and Administration.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Executive Leadership
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Provide strategic leadership and direction for all Guilford Metro 9-1-1 operations.
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Foster a culture focused on operational excellence, employee engagement, innovation, accountability, and service.
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Develop future leaders and ensure the organization remains responsive to evolving public safety needs.
Public Safety Communications & Technology
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Oversee one of the region's most critical public safety infrastructures, including emergency communications operations and technology systems.
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Provide strategic oversight of Public Safety IT services supporting emergency communications, law enforcement, fire, and public safety operations.
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Manages and directs the operation and long-term planning of the regional P25 radio network serving 102 agencies and more than 21,000 users.
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Lead major technology initiatives to ensure the effective deployment and integration of critical technology initiatives that improve operational effectiveness and support public safety agencies.
Strategic Planning & Performance Management
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Establish and implement the organization's long-term vision, strategic priorities, and organizational goals.
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Develop policies, procedures, performance measures, and operational standards that promote service excellence.
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Oversee departmental work plans and initiatives aligned with Vision 36 and other strategic priorities.
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Monitor organizational performance and provide executive-level reporting on key outcomes and initiatives.
Financial Stewardship
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Develop and manage a complex operating budget supported by city, county, and state funding sources.
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Ensure responsible stewardship of public resources and long-term financial sustainability.
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Provide oversight of financial audits associated with North Carolina E911 surcharge funding and other funding streams.
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Evaluate capital improvement needs and technology investments that support future growth and operational effectiveness.
Partnerships & Regional Collaboration
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Serve as the primary liaison with local governments, public safety agencies, regional stakeholders, and advisory councils.
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Build consensus among diverse stakeholders with varying operational needs and priorities.
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Support emergency management planning and coordination efforts, including continuity of operations and emergency response initiatives.
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Represent Guilford Metro 9-1-1 in public meetings, regional forums, and professional organizations.
Compliance & Governance
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Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, public safety standards, and accreditation requirements.
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Oversee public records management and legal compliance related to communication systems and data.
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Maintain operational readiness, accountability, and transparency across all functional areas.
About the Organization:
The City of Greensboro is governed under a Council-Manager form of government, with the City Council serving as the legislative body. The Council is composed of a Mayor and eight Councilmembers, each serving four-year terms. The Council is responsible for establishing policy and approving the City’s $830.6 M budget.
The City organization includes approximately 2,800 full-time, 200 part-time, and up to 1,000 temporary and seasonal employees across a wide range of services and departments. The City Manager serves as the chief executive officer of the City and is responsible for implementing Council policy and overseeing the day-to-day operations of City government.
Learn more about the City of Greensboro by visiting its website.
Salary and Benefits:
The salary offered at the time of hire is expected to be between $130,000 and $190,000, with the final salary offered commensurate with experience. The full salary band is $130,000 - $233,000 offering compensation growth over time.
The city offers comprehensive benefits to full-time employees. As a City employee, the Director of Guilford Metro 911 participates in the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (NCLGERS), which includes a 6% pre-tax employee contribution and a City-funded employer contribution, with vesting after five years. Supplemental retirement savings opportunities include participation in a 401(a) plan with a 3.25% City contribution based on base salary, as well as 457 / Roth 457 and 401(k) / Roth 401(k) plans. For highly experienced executives, the City may recognize prior public sector service through adjusted leave accrual rates and initial leave balances, consistent with established policies. Learn more about the City’s generous benefits package Here.
As with all individuals appointed as City Department Directors, the Director must live within a 30-mile radius of the Greensboro city limits within 12 months of their appointment.
An Ideal Candidate Profile:
The next Director of Guilford Metro 911 must be a highly visible, relationship-driven public safety executive who can preserve operational excellence while leading the organization through its next phase of workforce, technology, and organizational evolution. Stakeholders consistently emphasized the need for a leader who is present, accessible, transparent, and skilled at managing a complex environment that includes city and county leadership, public safety agencies, governing boards, employees, and regional partners.
Ideal Candidate Characteristics
Visible and Engaged Leader: The strongest candidate will embrace a highly visible leadership style and be actively present throughout the organization. Stakeholders repeatedly identified leadership presence as the most important attribute for the next Director.
The successful candidate will:
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Be routinely present in operations and accessible to employees.
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Develop strong relationships across all levels of the organization.
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Demonstrate genuine interest in understanding frontline challenges.
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Foster trust through approachability, authenticity, and consistency.
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Lead through engagement rather than distance.
Skilled Relationship Builder: Success in this role requires exceptional stakeholder management abilities. The Director must effectively balance competing interests while building trust among diverse constituencies, including police, fire, EMS, municipal leadership, county leadership, governing boards, and employees.
The ideal candidate will:
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Be a collaborative consensus-builder.
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Navigate political and governance complexities with confidence.
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Demonstrate executive-level communication skills.
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Maintain credibility across multiple jurisdictions and agencies.
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Build productive partnerships through transparency and responsiveness.
Strategic Change Leader: Stakeholders seek a leader capable of preserving the organization's outstanding reputation while thoughtfully advancing innovation and modernization.
The ideal candidate will:
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Lead organizational change without disrupting operational performance.
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Challenge outdated assumptions and encourage continuous improvement.
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Develop and execute long-term strategic initiatives.
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Balance stability with innovation.
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Effectively manage transformational projects and organizational evolution.
Workforce Champion: Retention, recruitment, employee engagement, and succession planning remain critical organizational priorities.
The ideal candidate will:
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Demonstrate a successful track record improving workforce stability.
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Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, and inclusion.
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Understand the unique pressures facing emergency communications personnel.
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Support employee wellness and professional development.
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Build a leadership pipeline for the future.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCES AND EXPERTISE
Candidates will be particularly attractive if they possess experience in:
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Consolidated emergency communications centers.
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Multi-jurisdictional or regional service delivery models.
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Public Safety IT environments supporting police, fire, and EMS operations.
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Regional P25 radio systems administration and governance.
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Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) implementation or modernization projects.
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Large-scale technology transformation initiatives.
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Complex intergovernmental partnerships and governance structures.
Technical and Operational Expertise
The successful candidate should possess a strong understanding of:
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Emergency communications operations.
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Public Safety IT systems supporting police, fire, and EMS.
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Call handling technologies and communications infrastructure.
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CAD systems and implementation strategies.
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Regional P25 radio networks and public safety communications systems.
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Quality assurance and accreditation processes.
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GIS/GPS, mobile data, telecommunications, and emerging public safety technologies.
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Strategic planning, performance management, and public sector budgeting.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
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Executive Presence: Commands credibility with elected officials, public safety leaders, governing boards, and employees while remaining approachable and connected to frontline operations.
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Transparent Communicator: Communicates openly, proactively, and honestly with stakeholders, creating confidence in organizational decisions and priorities.
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Politically Astute: Effectively navigates complex governmental, funding, and governance environments while maintaining positive relationships and organizational credibility.
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Customer and Service Focused: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to supporting stakeholder agencies and strengthening collaborative partnerships.
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Decisive Yet Collaborative: Leverages stakeholder input while maintaining the courage and confidence to make difficult decisions when necessary.
LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES DURING THE FIRST 12–24 MONTHS
The ideal candidate should be prepared to:
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Strengthen visibility, accessibility, and engagement throughout the organization.
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Improve stakeholder communication, transparency, and partnership development.
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Advance workforce recruitment, retention, morale, and succession planning efforts.
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Successfully lead team through CAD implementation and future technology modernization initiatives.
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Maintain operational excellence while positioning the organization for future growth.
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Navigate complex governance, political, and funding environments with credibility and effectiveness.
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Balance national industry engagement with a strong internal operational focus.
