Director Operational Communications Center

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief, the Director, Operational Communications Centre is accountable for establishing, leading, and maturing the operational communications capability for the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service. This senior leadership role will lead the design, stand-up, and implementation of an Operational Communications Centre (OCC) and Real-Time Operations Centre (RTOC) that support ASPS police operations, operational readiness, officer safety, public safety, and future 9-1-1 dispatch capability.

The Director will build this function from the ground up by integrating existing Alberta Sheriffs Branch operational communications infrastructure, practices, people, systems, and service requirements into developing ASPS operating model. The position will work closely with the Executive Director, Information and Technology, ASPS executive leadership, operational commanders, Government of Alberta partners, law enforcement agencies, emergency communications stakeholders, and technology vendors to ensure the OCC and RTOC are operationally sound, scalable, compliant, and capable of supporting a modern provincial police service.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Leads the end-to-end planning, design, implementation, and maturation of the ASPS Operational Communications Centre and Real-Time Operations Centre.
• Works in close partnership with the Executive Director, Information and Technology to define business requirements, operational workflows, system dependencies, data needs, access requirements, cybersecurity considerations, and technology priorities for OCC/RTOC implementation.
• Establishes an OCC/RTOC function capable of supporting 24/7 police operations, priority events, critical incidents, officer safety monitoring, resource coordination, and timely information flow to operational commanders and frontline members.
• Leads the development of staffing models, role profiles, training pathways, standard operating procedures, quality assurance practices, and performance expectations for OCC and RTOC personnel. 

ASPS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in-depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

• Systems Thinking: Understands how operational communications, real-time operations, technology, staffing, governance, officer safety, and public safety outcomes are interconnected within a modern provincial police service.
• Drive for Results: Establishes clear priorities, implementation milestones, accountability measures, and performance expectations to deliver a reliable OCC/RTOC capability that supports 24/7 police operations.
• Develop Networks: Builds trusted working relationships with ASPS executive leadership, operational commanders, Government of Alberta partners, law enforcement agencies, emergency communications stakeholders, municipalities, and technology vendors.
• Agility: Adapts implementation plans, operational workflows, and service approaches in response to evolving ASPS priorities, emerging technologies, legislative requirements, incident demands, and future 9-1-1 dispatch readiness.
• Creative Problem Solving: Develops practical, operationally sound solutions to complex communications, dispatch, technology integration, staffing, process, risk, and inter-agency challenges.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Fosters collaboration across operational, technology, governance, vendor, and partner groups to align requirements, resolve dependencies, support implementation, and strengthen information flow during routine and critical operations.
• Develop Self and Others: Builds OCC/RTOC organizational capability by developing role profiles, training pathways, coaching practices, succession planning, quality assurance, and performance management expectations for staff and leaders.

Qualifications

University degree in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Information Management, Business Administration, Communications, or a related discipline, plus seven (7) years of leadership experience.

Directly related education or experience will be considered on the basis of:

• One year of education for one year of experience.
• One year of experience for one year of education.

Assets

• Senior leadership experience in policing, public safety, emergency communications, dispatch operations, operational support, intelligence coordination, emergency management, or another complex 24/7 operational environment.
• Experience building, transforming, or leading operational communications, dispatch, real-time operations, command centre, or critical incident coordination functions.
• Experience leading complex implementation initiatives involving people, process, policy, technology, infrastructure, governance, and inter-agency dependencies.
• Experience in police operations, officer safety, call-taking, dispatch, real-time operational support, critical incident management, emergency response coordination, or public safety communications.
• Experience working with senior executives, operational commanders, technology leaders, government partners, law enforcement agencies, municipalities, emergency communications stakeholders, and vendors in a multi-stakeholder environment.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

Please note there is one (1) permanent, full-time, in-person position available.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 36.25 hours per week.

• Please note a cover letter explaining how you meet the requirements and assets of the role is required.
• Final candidates will be required to undergo security screening.
• Valid Class 5 Alberta Driver's License or equivalent is required.
• Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.
  
  

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP).
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.