Interoperability Communication Manager (Department Information Technology Manager) – Police

About the Police Department

The San José Police Department is dedicated to providing public safety through community partnerships and 21st Century Policing practices, ensuring equity for all. The Department is committed to treating all of San Jose’s diverse community members with dignity, fairness, and respect, while protecting their rights and providing equal protection under the law.

Position and Duties

The Police Department's opening for a position of Interoperability Communication Manager. This position falls under the Bureau of Technical Services of the Police Department. This position will also require contact with the San Jose Fire Department, The Office of Emergency Services and the City Manager’s Office. The Interoperable Communications Systems Manager reports to the Bureau of Technical Services Deputy Director and will be responsible for program implementation and coordination of multiple complex interoperable communications projects for the City of San Jose to include voice and data systems. 

The Interoperable Communications Systems Manager serves as a manager, coordinator, and liaison to other City Departments and other allied Santa Clara County, San Francisco Bay Area, State and Federal agencies on all Silicon Valley Regional interoperable Authority (SVRIA) and UASI initiatives. The Interoperable Communications Systems Manager will oversee the City’s participation with these Departments, Agencies, and Committees. Excellent command of verbal and written communication skills is required. 

 The responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Managing the implementation of SVRIA and UASI projects, serving as liaison between the City and allied stakeholders and vendors to address project issues, and providing technical and management guidance during project implementation;
• Overseeing the coordination, development, and implementation of the City’s Interoperable Communication systems goals, policies, and strategic plans.
• Managing the allocation of resources and service levels to ensure that City’s interoperable communications projects meet grant program guidelines and requirements.
• Assisting in the development and drafting of intergovernmental agreements, MOUs, and other agreements that promote effective interoperable communications
• Participating in the SVRIA Working Committee and Technical Advisory Group in addition to other organizations to further the City’s interoperable communications capability.
• Implementing programs and policies and evaluating systems and technologies that will further local, regional, state and national information sharing initiatives 
• Monitoring, analyzing, and resolving system problems, and making recommendations to improve and enhance capabilities of associated systems.
• Preparing grant applications in coordination with City grants administration staff in the Office of Emergency Services, Fire Department and Police Department to include developing budgets and financial program information to secure grant funding for interoperable communications initiatives and preparing programmatic and financial status reports and documents and agreements to implement the grant funded projects.
• Providing regular updates to the City senior staff, City Councilmembers, public safety chiefs, working groups, the SVRIA Governing Board, and other jurisdictions on project status and implementation issues;
• Coordinating and liaising with local and regional coordinators on interoperable communications issues.
•  The successful candidate will have solid information management experience, strong interpersonal and management skills, and hand-on experience with systems, equipment and methodologies used by Police Departments. 

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience 

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in computer science, information systems, business administration, or closely related field and five (5) years of experience managing, maintaining, and implementing technology programs, computer system infrastructure and design, network operations, security design, application development and configurations, and system/server administration, including three (3) years of supervisory experience over a technical team.

Required Licensing (such as driver license, certifications, etc.) 

Possession of a valid license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in California. 

 Background: Submit to and successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation as required by the San Jose Police Department. 

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include: 

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge and use of applicable Citywide and departmental procedures/policies; demonstrates knowledge and use of applicable federal and state rules and regulations. 

• Three (3) or more years of work experience in development and implementation of communications systems or complex IT systems for a large public jurisdiction.
• Three (3) or more years of project management experience in administrating, coordinating and managing grant funded technology projects. 
• High level knowledge of radio systems including UHF, VHF, 700 & 700 MHz Trunked Systems and APCO Project 25 Phase II Standards 
• Experience in public safety emergency communications system
• Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, encourages and rewards risk-taking, allowing others to learn from mistakes.

Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices, establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customer's needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently in a timely, accurate, respectful and friendly manner.

Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Analytical Thinking - Approaching a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.

Creativity - Addresses objectives and problems while questioning traditional assumptions/solutions in order to generate creative ideas and new ways of doing business; exhibits creativity and innovation when contributing to organizational and individual objectives; seeks out opportunities to improve, streamline, reinvent work processes.

Communication Skills - Communicates and listens effectively and responds in an timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, current; well-organized, legible, concise, neat, and in proper grammatical form responds to statements and comments of others in a way that reflects understanding of the content and the accompanying emotion; asks clarifying questions to assure understanding of what the speaker intended, ensures consistent communication takes place within area of responsibility.

Team Work & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Technology Use/Management - Uses efficient and cost-effective approaches to integrate technology into the workplace and improve program effectiveness.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews and a background investigation.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response. 

• Please describe your progressive experience with public safety agencies in work involving emergency complex public safety IT projects in the public or private sector and your work experience that includes the development, administration or participation with multi-jurisdictional governance entities. Please provide the years, employers and your job duties.
• Describe your experience working with Fire Departments, Police Departments or the Office of Emergency Services, include specific projects you were involved with and your specific role in each project. 
• Please provide details of any relevant experience that would demonstrate your qualifications for this position, including your experience with the Urban Area Securities Initiative, and the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority
• Have you recently participated in a software development project? If yes, describe your role in the project and a summary of the project approach. Describe the key factors that contributed to the success of the project.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. 

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, please contact Judi Torrico at judi.torrico@sanjoseca.gov.

If you have questions about the selection or hiring processes, please contact Alexandria Rodriguez at alexandria.rodriguez@sanjoseca.gov.