Director of EMS

Director of EMS

Performs highly responsible professional, technical, administrative, and supervisory work directing the Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division. Manages the daily operations of the county's EMS System, including administration of the ambulance service contract and coordination of EMS-related services with municipal and independent special district fire departments providing first response within Pinellas County. Plans, organizes, develops, and implements a comprehensive EMS program; provides supervision and administration of the Division, including budget and personnel. Work is performed under the general supervision of upper-level management, with considerable independent judgment and initiative required in directing daily Division operations.

MUST PASS AND MAINTAIN A LEVEL 2 CJIS BACKGROUND CHECK

What Will You Do

• Provides leadership, management principles, and strategic direction for the EMS Division;
• Plans, develops, organizes, supervises, and reviews the work of a supervisory, professional, and clerical staff engaged in conducting varied activities. Directs, supports, and guides managers and subordinates in project development.
• Provides training and oversight of staff, including hiring, assigning work, evaluating performance, coaching, and administering discipline;
• Supervises management employees in the assigned division which includes creating goals, objectives, and accountability, developing individual Personal Development Plans and conducting performance appraisals for each staff member in their division;
• Directs and manages EMS performance contracts, including, but not limited to, the ambulance service contract, first responder, and Office of Medical Director (OMD) in a fiscally responsible and operationally sound manner; serves as primary point of contract management and accountability for the ambulance contractor;
• Manages the working relationship with the Office of the Medical Director (OMD), ambulance contractor, first responder contractors, and other outside health care agencies coordinating medical oversight, protocol development, and quality/CME functions in support of the EMS system and OMD;
• Develops an annual plan of work for the assigned area, monitoring it for results, and reporting accomplishments to County leadership;
• Coordinates with the Fire Director on county-wide projects, system improvements, and contracts affecting both EMS and Fire operations, ensuring alignment of shared initiatives, joint response planning, and cross-divisional contract matters;
• Aligns the planning, stakeholder coordination, and system-wide rollout of new clinical and operational directives and initiatives, including new protocols, equipment, or program launches, and manages high-level interagency relationships and represents the Division with stakeholder groups;
• Directs QA/QI functions across the EMS system, continuing Medical Education (CME) programming and new-employee academy onboarding oversight in conjunction with the OMD, and credentialing oversight for EMS system personnel to ensure compliance with certification and licensure requirements;
• Provides regulatory oversight of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) issuance and compliance for EMS providers operating within Pinellas County;
• Develops general policies, in consultation with County leadership and other Directors, for maximum utilization of available financial resources through appropriate allocation of staffing and equipment services;
• Prepares, reviews, approves, and submits the Division's operating budget, coordinating jointly with the Fire Director on shared budget items and preparation given the combined EMS/Fire budget structure. Seeks out and develops external funding sources;
• Manages the CME budget and EMS grant funding, including identifying, applying for, and administering EMS-specific grant opportunities; coordinates with the Fire Director on budget and grant items shared between EMS and Fire while retaining responsibility for EMS-specific budget and grant matters;
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

What Do You Need

• Eight (8) years of professional experience that includes three (3) years of responsible management or supervisory experience; or
• Bachelor's degree in a related field and four (4) years of experience as described above; or
• Master's degree in a related field and two (2) years of experience as described above; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current, active State of Florida Paramedic certification;
• Four (4) years of professional EMS/public safety administration experience that includes three (3) years of responsible management or supervisory experience.
• Valid Florida Driver's License or State ID, if any; or the ability to obtain within 3 months
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations;
• Must have ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700; or the ability to obtain within 1 year.
• Other knowledge, skills, abilities, and credentials required for a specific position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of public and business administration, as applied in a large organization;
• Knowledge of budget and accounting principles, practices, and procedures, as applied in a large organization;
• Skill in advanced leadership techniques and practices to evaluate and determine organizational goals and objectives, maximizing effectiveness of organizational work units through staff selection and assignments;
• Knowledge of County budgeting procedures and ability to apply this knowledge to administer and coordinate administrative and operational budgets;
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of effective communication;
• Knowledge of public administration principles and practices;
• Ability to apply computer applications and software;
• Ability to apply independent judgment and discretion based on knowledge of the County functional and structural organization;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with governmental agencies, public officials, private officials, and the general public;
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and tact in working with people and applying and interpreting departmental policies and procedures;
• Ability to make decisions in accordance with county ordinances and practices;
• Ability to plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and supervise the work of professional, supervisory, and clerical employees;
• Ability to present programs and ideas clearly and concisely, in writing and orally, to small and large groups;
• Ability to work independently on complex and confidential tasks;
• Knowledge of Advanced Life Support (ALS) EMS system operations, protocols, and Florida EMS statutes/regulations;
• Knowledge of contract negotiation, administration, and performance-based contract management as applied to ambulance service and medical direction contracts;
• Knowledge of EMS quality assurance/quality improvement methodologies and clinical outcome measures (e.g., cardiac arrest, STEMI, stroke care);
• Knowledge of EMS data and reporting platforms (e.g., CAD, ImageTrend, Target Solutions, Hexagon);
• Ability to interpret and apply EMS certification, licensure, and credentialing requirements;
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with municipal fire department leadership, hospital systems, and EMS Advisory Councils in matters relating to EMS service delivery.

Physical/Mental Demands

The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.;
• Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on transcription device;
• Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone;
• Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes;
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly;
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers;
• Field presence: Ability to travel to and be present at field locations, scene visits, hospital/stakeholder sites, and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as required for quality reviews, stakeholder meetings, and emergency activations.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs