State of Rhode Island
Overview
The Director of Radio Operations is responsible for the strategic oversight, management, and coordination of all public safety radio communications systems within the law enforcement agency. This includes planning, implementing, maintaining, and enhancing radio infrastructure and communications technology used to support daily law enforcement operations, emergency response, and inter-agency coordination. The Director ensures that all radio operations align with federal, state, and local requirements and supports the mission of public safety and officer effectiveness. Supervision
Supervision received: Works under the administrative supervision of a superior with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgement in the application of systems analysis and radio data processing techniques; work is reviewed usually upon completion for results obtained and conformance with departmental policies, and pertinent laws and regulations. Supervision exercised: Plans, coordinates, directs and supervises the work of professional, technical, and clerical staff engaged in radio network systems analysis, radio programming, technical/network technicians, and radio data programming procedures. Illustrative Examples Of Work Performed
Plan, direct, and oversee the daily operations and long-term strategy of the law enforcement radio communications systems, ensuring system integrity, reliability, and compliance with public safety standards. Manage the design, implementation, and maintenance of land mobile radio (LMR) systems, including trunked, conventional, and digital P25 systems used by patrol units, dispatch centers, and special operations teams. Conduct needs assessments and coordination with command staff, dispatch supervisors, and field personnel to ensure radio system capabilities align with operational requirements. Supervise a team of technical staff and radio technicians responsible for the programming, repair, and deployment of mobile and portable radios, base stations, and related communication hardware. Collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies to develop and maintain interoperable communications protocols for multi-jurisdictional operations and emergency mutual aid. Oversee the procurement of radio and telecommunications equipment, including the development of technical specifications, review of vendor proposals, and evaluation of system upgrades or replacements. Serve as the agency's point of contact with regulatory agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), ensuring proper licensing and frequency coordination. Respond to critical incidents, system outages, or major events to provide technical support and ensure communication continuity for frontline officers and emergency responders. Develop and implement preventative maintenance schedules, testing protocols, and contingency plans for radio towers, repeaters, dispatch consoles, and infrastructure. Provide training and technical guidance to end users, including officers, dispatchers, and supervisors, on the proper use and capabilities of the agency’s radio systems. Monitor technological advancements in public safety communications and recommend system enhancements, upgrades, or replacement strategies to improve performance and reliability. Prepare and present reports, briefings, and budget proposals to executive leadership regarding radio operations, capital projects, and system performance metrics. Temporal Examples Of Work Performed
Monitor the performance and operational status of all radio communication systems to ensure uninterrupted service for patrol units, dispatchers, and field personnel. Conduct team meetings with radio technicians and IT support staff to review system issues, schedule maintenance, and assign tasks for equipment upgrades or troubleshooting. Review user feedback and operational concerns from field officers and dispatch supervisors; make recommendations or initiate changes to improve radio system usability and effectiveness. Oversee preventative maintenance of critical infrastructure such as radio towers, repeaters, base stations, and dispatch consoles to ensure system reliability and compliance with safety standards. Conduct a comprehensive audit of all radio communications equipment, including inventory verification, system performance assessments, and review of FCC licensing and frequency coordination requirements. Provide on-call support for large-scale public safety events, major system outages, or critical incidents, ensuring rapid resolution of communication disruptions and field support. Prepare and submit annual capital improvement proposals for system upgrades, infrastructure enhancements, and procurement of new equipment based on evolving operational needs. Manage system implementation timelines, vendor coordination, and contract compliance during radio system expansions, tower construction, or transitions to next-generation communication platforms. Required Qualifications For Appointment
Knowledge, Skills and Capacities
Knowledge of FCC rules, regulations, and licensing requirements relevant to public safety radio communications. Knowledge of radio frequency (RF) engineering principles, including signal propagation, interference mitigation, and antenna system design, and IP based networks. Familiarity with dispatch center operations and CAD/RMS integration with communications systems. Understanding of public safety operational procedures, emergency response protocols, and interoperability requirements between law enforcement and other public safety agencies. Advanced troubleshooting and diagnostic skills related to radio systems, infrastructure, and field equipment. Proficiency in radio system planning tools, programming software, and communications infrastructure management platforms. Strong leadership, project management, and organizational skills. Skilled in contract management, vendor coordination, and technical procurement. Ability to prepare detailed reports, system documentation, technical specifications, and policy guidelines. Ability to manage multiple high- impact projects and priorities simultaneously in a dynamic, public safety environment. Capacity to respond calmly and decisively during emergencies or critical incidents requiring communication system support. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement personnel, government officials, vendors, and partner agencies. Capacity to make informed decisions under pressure and implement solutions that ensure officer safety and communication reliability. Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and compliance with evolving public safety standards and technologies. Education & Experience
Education: High school diploma or equivalent, associate or bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field preferred. Experience: At least 5–7 years of progressive experience in Information/Radio Technology, with at least 2–3 years in a leadership or supervisory role managing technical teams, IT/Radio operations, or a related field. Or, any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience. Supplemental Information
Special Requirements
Prior to appointment, selected candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation conducted by the Rhode Island State Police. Following appointment, selected candidate must successfully complete a 130 working-day probationary period. For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/. Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.
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The Director of Radio Operations is responsible for the strategic oversight, management, and coordination of all public safety radio communications systems within the law enforcement agency. This includes planning, implementing, maintaining, and enhancing radio infrastructure and communications technology used to support daily law enforcement operations, emergency response, and inter-agency coordination. The Director ensures that all radio operations align with federal, state, and local requirements and supports the mission of public safety and officer effectiveness. Supervision
Supervision received: Works under the administrative supervision of a superior with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgement in the application of systems analysis and radio data processing techniques; work is reviewed usually upon completion for results obtained and conformance with departmental policies, and pertinent laws and regulations. Supervision exercised: Plans, coordinates, directs and supervises the work of professional, technical, and clerical staff engaged in radio network systems analysis, radio programming, technical/network technicians, and radio data programming procedures. Illustrative Examples Of Work Performed
Plan, direct, and oversee the daily operations and long-term strategy of the law enforcement radio communications systems, ensuring system integrity, reliability, and compliance with public safety standards. Manage the design, implementation, and maintenance of land mobile radio (LMR) systems, including trunked, conventional, and digital P25 systems used by patrol units, dispatch centers, and special operations teams. Conduct needs assessments and coordination with command staff, dispatch supervisors, and field personnel to ensure radio system capabilities align with operational requirements. Supervise a team of technical staff and radio technicians responsible for the programming, repair, and deployment of mobile and portable radios, base stations, and related communication hardware. Collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies to develop and maintain interoperable communications protocols for multi-jurisdictional operations and emergency mutual aid. Oversee the procurement of radio and telecommunications equipment, including the development of technical specifications, review of vendor proposals, and evaluation of system upgrades or replacements. Serve as the agency's point of contact with regulatory agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), ensuring proper licensing and frequency coordination. Respond to critical incidents, system outages, or major events to provide technical support and ensure communication continuity for frontline officers and emergency responders. Develop and implement preventative maintenance schedules, testing protocols, and contingency plans for radio towers, repeaters, dispatch consoles, and infrastructure. Provide training and technical guidance to end users, including officers, dispatchers, and supervisors, on the proper use and capabilities of the agency’s radio systems. Monitor technological advancements in public safety communications and recommend system enhancements, upgrades, or replacement strategies to improve performance and reliability. Prepare and present reports, briefings, and budget proposals to executive leadership regarding radio operations, capital projects, and system performance metrics. Temporal Examples Of Work Performed
Monitor the performance and operational status of all radio communication systems to ensure uninterrupted service for patrol units, dispatchers, and field personnel. Conduct team meetings with radio technicians and IT support staff to review system issues, schedule maintenance, and assign tasks for equipment upgrades or troubleshooting. Review user feedback and operational concerns from field officers and dispatch supervisors; make recommendations or initiate changes to improve radio system usability and effectiveness. Oversee preventative maintenance of critical infrastructure such as radio towers, repeaters, base stations, and dispatch consoles to ensure system reliability and compliance with safety standards. Conduct a comprehensive audit of all radio communications equipment, including inventory verification, system performance assessments, and review of FCC licensing and frequency coordination requirements. Provide on-call support for large-scale public safety events, major system outages, or critical incidents, ensuring rapid resolution of communication disruptions and field support. Prepare and submit annual capital improvement proposals for system upgrades, infrastructure enhancements, and procurement of new equipment based on evolving operational needs. Manage system implementation timelines, vendor coordination, and contract compliance during radio system expansions, tower construction, or transitions to next-generation communication platforms. Required Qualifications For Appointment
Knowledge, Skills and Capacities
Knowledge of FCC rules, regulations, and licensing requirements relevant to public safety radio communications. Knowledge of radio frequency (RF) engineering principles, including signal propagation, interference mitigation, and antenna system design, and IP based networks. Familiarity with dispatch center operations and CAD/RMS integration with communications systems. Understanding of public safety operational procedures, emergency response protocols, and interoperability requirements between law enforcement and other public safety agencies. Advanced troubleshooting and diagnostic skills related to radio systems, infrastructure, and field equipment. Proficiency in radio system planning tools, programming software, and communications infrastructure management platforms. Strong leadership, project management, and organizational skills. Skilled in contract management, vendor coordination, and technical procurement. Ability to prepare detailed reports, system documentation, technical specifications, and policy guidelines. Ability to manage multiple high- impact projects and priorities simultaneously in a dynamic, public safety environment. Capacity to respond calmly and decisively during emergencies or critical incidents requiring communication system support. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement personnel, government officials, vendors, and partner agencies. Capacity to make informed decisions under pressure and implement solutions that ensure officer safety and communication reliability. Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and compliance with evolving public safety standards and technologies. Education & Experience
Education: High school diploma or equivalent, associate or bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field preferred. Experience: At least 5–7 years of progressive experience in Information/Radio Technology, with at least 2–3 years in a leadership or supervisory role managing technical teams, IT/Radio operations, or a related field. Or, any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience. Supplemental Information
Special Requirements
Prior to appointment, selected candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation conducted by the Rhode Island State Police. Following appointment, selected candidate must successfully complete a 130 working-day probationary period. For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/. Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.
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