Position Details
Executive Director - Lake Consolidated Emergency Communications (LakeComm), IL
Lake Consolidated Emergency Communications (LakeComm) is seeking a founding Executive Director for a newly created Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and Emergency Dispatch agency.
Located in Lake County, Illinois, LakeComm was established in 2024 as a new intergovernmental agency to provide consolidated 9-1-1 call answering and Law Enforcement, Fire, and Emergency Medical dispatch services for 24 Lake County member municipalities and agencies. LakeComm is a consolidation of seven existing 9-1-1 / dispatch centers and has a residential 9-1-1 service population of approximately 435,000.
LakeComm’s service area currently includes the Village of Antioch, First Fire Protection District of Antioch, Beach Park Fire Protection District, Countryside Fire Protection District, Village of Fox Lake, Fox Lake Fire Protection District, Village of Gurnee, Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, Village of Island Lake, Village of Lake Villa, Lake Villa Fire Protection District, Village of Lake Zurich, Village of Mundelein, Newport Township Fire Protection District, City of North Chicago, Village of Round Lake, Village of Round Lake Beach, Village of Round Lake Heights, Village of Round Lake Park, Village of Vernon Hills, Village of Wauconda, Wauconda Fire Protection District, City of Zion and Unincorporated Lake County (County of Lake). There is an ongoing opportunity for additional municipalities and agencies to become LakeComm members.
A new, purpose-built Regional Operations and Communications (ROC) Facility is under construction to house LakeComm and is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2025 with LakeComm being operational in mid to late summer of 2025. Centrally located in Libertyville, Illinois, the ROC Facility represents the latest in emergency public safety dispatch technology and telecommunicator wellness. The center is expected to receive an estimated 625,000 total calls for service, of which approximately 185,000 will be 9-1-1 calls. LakeComm will be staffed by an estimated one hundred and sixteen (116) full-time employees, of which one hundred and four (104) will be telecommunication employees. The fiscal year 2026 operations budget is estimated to be $17.0 million.
The successful candidates will:
- Be a proven team builder, innovative leader, and collaborator.
- Possess and demonstrate outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Be familiar with state-of-the-art technology in a new facility.
- Have experience identifying talent and know how to position team members for success of the new center.
- Ability to work collaboratively to provide the highest quality service to the residents in the LakeComm service area.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices and regulations pertaining to 9-1-1 systems including Next Generation 9-1-1 with a proven track record in a progressive, consolidated communications system.
- Have experience in the areas of project and personnel management, budget development and administration, financial oversight, long range financial planning, training, Next Generation 9-1-1 system design, maintenance, and operations of equipment, including Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software, hardware, and process.
- Demonstrate a performance history of working closely with county/municipal officials and public safety leadership in managing a consolidated PSAP / Emergency Communications Center.
- Understand leadership and supervision in a unionized environment; be comfortable empowering staff, building consensus; ensuring that appropriate training programs are offered and supported, including development opportunities for personnel.
- Demonstrate proficiency in policy development and implementation of organizational procedures; consistency in decision making and exemplary follow through on policy implementation and communication.
Candidates should also have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, as outlined below:
- Ten years of progressively responsible experience in public safety, emergency communications or public/government sector, with three years of senior management experience for a comparably sized organization or as a director for a smaller organization; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
- Public Safety Communications Certifications preferred, including but not limited to one or more of the following: NENA Emergency Number Professional (ENP), APCO Registered Public Safety Leader, NENA Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP), and APCO Certified Public Safety Executive (CPE).
- Bachelor’s degree (desired, not required), Master’s (desired, not required), or equivalent years of experience for education consideration. Associate’s degree and/or a combination of relevant certifications, education, and experience may be considered in place of a degree.
The Executive Director reports to a Member Board of Directors (Village Managers, Mayors of the member communities) through a seven-member Executive Committee (Police Chief, Fire Chief, County Administrator, Mayors, Trustees, Village / City Managers of the member municipalities and agencies).
Apply online with a resume, cover letter, and contact information for five professional references by October 21, 2024:
www.GovHRjobs.com
Confidential inquiries may be directed to Marc Hornstein, and Jon Fehlman, MGT Senior Consultants, at:
847-380-3240, x178
