Klamath 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District - Executive Director
Posted: 4/14/25
Location: Klamath Falls, OR
Application Deadline: May 12th, 2025
Position Details
Full-Time Position
Salary Range: $97,800 - $129,600
(exact placement within the salary range dependent on qualifications)
Benefits: Competitive benefit program that includes health, dental and vision insurance (currently 93% employer paid), employer paid Oregon PERS retirement, earned (vacation) leave, sick leave, and HRA VEBA contribution.
THE AREA
Klamath County is situated in south central Oregon bounded on the east by Lake County, on the north by Deschutes County, on the west by Jackson and Douglas Counties and south by California. The county is Oregon’s fourth largest at 6,135 square miles, with a population of approximately 69,000 citizens.
Klamath County is home to Crater Lake which at 1,943 feet deep, is the deepest in the United States and the seventh deepest lake in the world. Klamath Lake, just outside of Klamath Falls, is the largest freshwater lake in Oregon and one of the largest in the United States. With nearly 300 days of sunshine per year the City of Klamath Falls is known as Oregon’s “City of Sunshine”.
The District has several major transportation routes including Highways 97 and 140, with ready access to the rest of the State of Oregon and Northern California.
The District’s location allows for short travel times to the Rogue Valley, Central Oregon, and the rest of beautiful southeastern Oregon. The Oregon Institute of Technology campus is located within the City of Klamath Falls and Sky Lakes Medical Center is a full-service hospital serving the area. From fishing, to camping, skiing, to theatre, to county fairs, there are a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities within the area.
THE DISTRICT
The Klamath 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District was formed in 1986 and became an Oregon special district in 1997. The District is governed by a citizen Board of Directors elected from seven geographic zones within Klamath County. The Board governs with the participation of an Advisory Committee consisting of appointed members from various public and private safety organizations within the district. The Board also appoints up to seven citizen members to its annual Budget Committee.
Klamath 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District is the single public safety answering (PSAP) and dispatch point for all of Klamath County, Oregon. The District answers more than 9,000 incoming telephone calls – 4,500 of them 911 calls – per month making it the busiest per-seat 911 center in the State. The District serves twenty- seven (27) public safety agencies including Klamath Falls, Merrill, and Malin Police Departments; Klamath County Sheriff’s Office; and all Fire and Ambulance districts within the County. Additionally, the District provides communications support services for the Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Institute of Technology, Union Pacific Railroad, U.S. National Forestry and Klamath County Parole and Probation. In January 2025, Klamath 911 began providing PSAP and dispatch services to neighboring Lake County under an intergovernmental agreement adding an additional nine (9) public safety agencies.
Klamath 9-1-1 enjoys a positive working relationship withpublic safety and emergency providerstogether serving the needs of people and communities throughout Klamath County.
THE POSITION
The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the District. The Director reports directly to the elected Board of Directors and recommends policy to the Board and implements those policies for District operations. Through leadership and management skills, the Executive Director develops and administers the agency’s operational plans.
The Executive Director has overall management responsibility for the 911 center. This position requires a high degree of independent judgement and professional decision making.
The Executive Director is responsible for coordinating, overseeing, mentoring, coaching, and training the District’s 15 fulltime employees.
The Executive Director is the “face” of the District, regularly communicating with the District’s employees, the public, the media, and the District’s partner agencies.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes at a minimum:
- The ability to plan, coordinate, and direct county wide emergency communications systems.
- Experience in preparing, recommending, and administering an annual agency budget.
- Skill in developing and maintaining reports and statistical information for administrative and regulatory purposes.
- The ability to recommend and clearly articulate policies to the Board of Directors.
- The ability to report all significant District activities to the Board of Directors on a regular basis.
- Experience in employee selection and retention.
- Experience in communication with members of the media and citizens regarding items of interest to the public.
- Skill in communicating with other governmental agencies with the purpose of maintaining strong inter-governmental relationships with all user groups.
- The ability to remain calm in stressful environment of crisis and emergency events.
- The ability to prioritize duties and complete duties timely.
- Must be able to demonstrate innovative thinking by making necessary decisions and solving problems without supervision.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Safety, Emergency Services or a related field
- Minimum of five (5) years management experience in relevant public administration, public safety, emergency response, public finance, emergency telecommunications, or public safety communications technology.
- Required to hold or be able to achieve within 24 months of appointment a supervisory, management or executive certificate in Telecommunications and EMD in the State of Oregon through DPSST; RPL or CPE certification through APCO; CMCP or ENP Certification through NENA; or a combination.
- Familiarity with Oregon laws governing public bodies
-OR-
- An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job which can include a combination of education and experience to include coursework and experience in the areas of contract development, budget preparation, and intergovernmental relations and/or agreements.
See job description for full position details and requirements.
SELECTION PROCESS TIMELINE
(Dates subject to change)
Recruitment Period Opens: April 14, 2025
Recruitment Period Closes: May 12, 2025
Semi-Finalists Interviews (onsite)*: June 2, 2025
Tentative Start Date: August 1, 2025
*Candidates invited to the onsite interviews will be eligible for travel and lodging reimbursement to a maximum of $500.
To review the full job announcement and job description and to complete the application please see this link: https://www.sdao.com/classifieds.
To be considered as a candidate, please submit a completed and signed application, resume, and
cover letter to the address or email listed below. Electronic submission is preferred.
Attn. Shanta Carter
Klamath 911 Emergency Communications District – Executive Director Special Districts Association of Oregon
PO Box 23879
Tigard, Oregon 97281
-OR-
Email: scarter@sdao.com
Questions regarding the position or the selection process can be directed to Senior Consultant Gordon Sletmoe at gsletmoe@sdao.com.
Additional information about the Klamath 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District can be found at www.klamath911.com.