PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER en Town of Cary, NC

About the Department

Cary is seeking a forward-thinking and experienced Public Safety Information Technology (IT) Manager to lead the strategic direction and daily operations of technology systems that are vital to the safety and well-being of our community. This is a unique opportunity to play a central role in supporting and enhancing the mission-critical infrastructure that powers our Police and Fire Departments, as well as our 911 Emergency Communications Center. The successful candidate will bring a strategic mindset and a hands-on approach to managing complex IT environments, ensuring that systems are secure, resilient, and responsive to the evolving needs of public safety operations and our community. 

Working directly with leadership within the Police Department, Fire Department, and 911 Emergency Communications Center, as well as with cross-departmental partners around the organization, the Public Safety IT Manager will ensure that technology solutions align with evolving operational goals and regulatory requirements. From managing hardware and software systems to supporting critical interfaces and applications, this role serves as a trusted advisor and technical expert. The role also involves assessing Cary's current and future public safety technology needs and ensuring that systems are maintained to the highest standards of performance, security, and compliance. This position offers the chance to make a lasting impact on the safety and resilience of Cary through thoughtful and mission-driven technology leadership.

Cary, NC is more than just a workplace. It’s a community that consistently ranks among the best places to live in the United States. Located in the heart of the Research Triangle, Cary offers a unique blend of innovation, natural beauty, and cultural vibrancy. With top-rated schools, a strong local economy, miles of greenways and parks, and a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere, Cary is an ideal place to build a career and enjoy a high quality of life. As a city that values excellence in public service and forward-thinking leadership, Cary provides the perfect environment for professionals who want to make a meaningful impact through technology. If this all sounds like the perfect fit for you, then apply today and learn more about becoming part of our team. 

Position Duties

• Coordinates and supports public safety IT needs across Police, Fire, and 911 Dispatch operations in collaboration with Cary’s IT department and in accordance with Cary standards and requirements; 
• Installs, configures, troubleshoots, and upgrades software and hardware systems; works closely with public safety personnel to assess technology requirements and implement solutions that enhance operational efficiency;
• Oversees the administration, support, and maintenance of hardware and software application inventories and licenses for the Records Management Systems (RMS), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Mobile Data Terminals (MDT), 800 MHz radio system, Geographic Information System (GIS) integration, and any other technologies while adhering to Cary’s IT policies, standard procedures, and life-cycle management;
• Creates and supervises a team of public safety analysts and administrators in support of Public Safety applications and radio communications systems;
• Supports the installation, configuration, and maintenance of security and surveillance systems, including cameras, access control systems, and alarm systems;
• Ensures the availability, reliability, and security of IT systems that support 24/7 public safety operations and ensures technical support, customer service, and assistance are provided to Police and Fire personnel;
• Leads IT projects related to public safety, including system upgrades, new technology implementations, and integrations with other systems;
• Develops project plans, allocates resources, and monitors project progress to ensure timely completion within budgetary requirements; coordinates and communicates effectively with cross-functional teams and key stakeholders to gather project requirements, provide updates, and ensure successful project completion; 
• Serves as the primary IT liaison for Police and Fire, facilitating communication and ensuring alignment with Cary’s organizational goals; coordinates and negotiates with vendors, contractors, and other external partners to support public safety technology initiatives;
• Ensures all public safety IT systems comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) security policies;
• Coordinates the implementations and maintenance of cybersecurity measures and backup systems to protect sensitive data to ensure the integrity of public safety systems;
• Works with the Public Safety team to establish Public Safety IT strategic and tactical goals, policies, standards, practices, and security measures to ensure effective and consistent information processing operations, and to safeguard information resources;
• Conducts regular audits and assessments of public safety IT systems to identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement;
• Provides training and technical support to IT Public Safety team and public safety personnel on the use of IT systems and technologies;
• Performs technical writing duties in the development, production and maintenance of system documentation, instructional materials, and best practices; creates and updates Public Safety IT system Standard Operating Procedures;
• Develops and manages the budget for public safety IT systems, including hardware and software, while negotiating and supporting related contracts to ensure cost-effective procurement and ongoing maintenance;
• Investigates, analyzes, and resolves public safety application related problems; resolves compatibility problems; troubleshoots system software, hardware, and communication problems; recommends and implements changes and improvements;
• Facilitates interdepartmental collaboration to achieve innovation and ensure interoperability between data platforms;
• Collaborates with Cary’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team to maintain comprehensive GIS data in relation to the Police and Fire departments and its integration with CAD, MDT, and other interfaces;
• Collaborates with key stakeholders to analyze and extract data from dispatch and public safety databases for use in studies, reports, and recommendations by the public safety departments;
• Collaborates with other Cary departments and external regional partners to obtain and share data and to ensure the data and software meets standards; exchanges knowledge and technology; 
• Performs necessary updates and upgrades of Public Safety dispatch IT equipment;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Critical thinking and analytical ability with demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving skills; strong analytical skills, including ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate large amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy; knowledge related to research and evaluation of new and emerging public safety specific technologies and trends; knowledge of the principles and practices of project management to achieve objectives within established budgets and schedules and manage multiple projects; ability to demonstrate initiative and ability to identify varying approaches, options and solutions to solve problems; ability to prioritize work and manage on-going and frequently changing assignments; strong skills in supervising, managing and evaluating employees; preparing and monitoring budgets; troubleshooting communications and computer systems; evaluating software upgrades; analyzing end-user system and program needs; designing system processes and software applications; configuring systems and software; preparing bid specifications; evaluating vendor bids; preparing and delivering presentations;  and excellent communication and interpersonal skills to carry out necessary tasks and functions and convey information to varied groups and stakeholders, including coworkers, supervisors, vendors, and the public. 

Other Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field and a minimum of five years’ experience working with public safety in the information technology field, including with Public Safety IT platforms and server and system maintenance. Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) certification or ability to obtain certification is required.

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Project Management Professional (PMP), or other relevant certifications are preferred. 

Preferred experience includes:

• Public Safety/911 technical support and team management experience
• Operational knowledge of various computer aided dispatch (CAD) systems, public safety applications, and peripheral equipment
• Principles, practices, methods, and techniques used in computer systems development, maintenance, and administration
• Performing systems development, implementation, maintenance, and administration duties
• Evaluating, testing, implementing, monitoring, and supporting computer systems
• Reading, interpreting, and applying complex technical publications, manuals, and related documents
• Troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving systems, hardware, and software problems
• Installing, testing, and configuring system hardware and software applications and programs