Deputy Director of Emergency Services, Guilford County, NC
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Job Location:
Greensboro, NC - USA
Yearly Salary:
USD 94490 - 120473
Posted on:
21 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
About Us
POSITION CLOSES FEBRUARY 9 2026
Guilford County one of the most populous counties in North Carolina and a regional hub for commerce education and culture is seeking a strategic credible and collaborative leader to serve as the nextEmergency Services Deputy Director EMS. The ideal candidate will provide steady visible leadership that supports both the workforce and the community. Balancing day-to-day operations with long-term strategic planning theEmergency Services Deputy Director EMSwill ensure that EMS remains reliable resilient and prepared to meet the needs of a growing and diverse population. Clear communication thoughtful decision-making and the ability to foster trusted relationships with staff county leadership and external partners are keys to success in this role.
This is a senior leadership role that is central to the stability performance and long-term success of the EMS system guiding the organization as it manages growth rising call volumes and increasing operational complexity.
About the Community:
Guilford County with a population of over 541000 is NCs 3rdmost populous county. Among ten municipalities Greensboro (county seat) and High Point are the largest within Guilford County. Guilford County is a growing and vibrant community with a diverse population and over 100 languages spoken. Demographically the county is 47.23% Caucasian 33.15% African American 9.63% Hispanic of any race and 5.31% Asian.
With a median age of 37 among its residents Guilford County continues to work hard to develop and promote quality of life choices for all ages with focused efforts in K-12 schools job training economic development employment and recreation. Guilford County has many higher educational institutions including UNC Greensboro Greensboro College Elon University School of Law Bennett College NC Agricultural and Technical State University Guilford College Guilford Technical Community College and High Point University.
Guilford County recently approved a historic $2B school bond investment that has already resulted in 6 new school construction projects. Construction of additional schools and school improvements are also underway. GCS is the 3rd largest school district in NC and is one of the 50thlargest school districts in the US. GCS which serves 70000 students pre-K 12thgrade and offers 258 Career-Technical Education programs in 49 schools boasts a 91.8% high school graduation rate (2022) above the national average and higher than all the largest NC school districts.
From a variety of restaurants museums and educational and art centers such as theSteven Tanger Center for Performing ArtsInternational Civil Rights Center and Museum and theGreensboro Science Centerto Broadway performances and live music Guilford County offers something for everyone. Outdoor recreation opportunities in the county include various hiking trails mountain biking trails greenways parks and lakes. Guilford County is also home to the semi-annualHigh Point Market the largest wholesale finished goods home furnishings market in the world.
Though the furniture and textile industries helped build Guilford County the local landscape also includes technology healthcare and service industries with five of the top 60 Fortune 500 companies having a presence in Guilford County resulting in a vibrant economy. Guilford County has recently attracted new businesses. Toyota Battery is investing over $8B and bringing in over 3000 jobs to the area. BOOM Supersonic is building a 62-acre campus at Piedmont Triad International Airport and will bring over 2000 jobs to the area.
Duties/Responsibilities
About the Organization:
Guilford County is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners elected by district and at-large to serve four-year terms. The County is regarded as a fiscally responsible stable and well-managed government with sound budget and fiscal management and a strong fund balance (net assets). The County has abudget for FY2025-26 of approximately $847.3 million a property tax rate of 73.05 cents per $100 of assessed value and 3032 full-time employees in over 30 departments and agencies. These entities are organized into strategic service areas to promote efficiency effectiveness and equity throughout county services. Learn more about Guilford Countyhere.
About the Department and Position:
The Guilford County Emergency Services Department delivers paramedic-level care fire operations support code inspections fire investigations logistics vehicle maintenance and emergency management services. Its work is organized across five divisions: Emergency Medical Services Emergency Management Administration Fire and Vehicle Maintenance. The department has aFY2026 budget of $48Mand has 303 full-time employees. Learn more about the Department by visiting the countys websitehere.
Reporting to the Director for Guilford County Emergency Services theEmergency Services Deputy Director EMSoversees the countywide EMS system (including valued partners at GM911 franchisees and all fire partners) which provides 24-hour advanced life support ambulance services across Guilford County including the municipalities of Greensboro and High Point and serves as acting Director in the Directors absence and supports recruitment onboarding training wellness initiatives and succession planning to maintain a resilient and sustainable workforce. TheEmergency Services Deputy Director EMSmanages the EMS operating expense budget of approximately $34 million$25 million of which is revenue-offset. The EMS division is part of the larger Emergency Services department which has a total budget of roughly $50 million plus oversight of County Fire Department budgets of an additional $35 million. Additionally the Deputy Director oversees contracts negotiates agreements monitors revenue streams and uses data to guide operational and strategic decisions. Deep EMS experience and clinical credibility are essential including knowledge of field operations paramedic practice system design and quality improvement. Experience within the North Carolina EMS system is preferred to guide both day-to-day operations and long-term system strategy working closely with the North Carolina Office of EMS and the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians.
TheEmergency Services Deputy Director EMSalso leads workforce and leadership development building a cohesive high-performing leadership team that models ethical decision-making and accountability. The position directly supervises five senior stafffour Emergency Services Managers responsible for Training Operations Professional Development and Quality Improvement along with an EMS Quality Specialistand directly oversees 228 personnel.
In addition to operational leadership theEmergency Services Deputy Director EMSmanages day-to-day EMS operations.
Key Position Priorities:
- Strengthen and stabilize the EMS division by developing accountable leaders and reinforcing a culture of collaboration professionalism and shared responsibility across the organization and partner agencies.
- Set and clearly communicate the strategic direction for EMS aligning leadership staff and partners around measurable goals and systemwide priorities.
- Build and sustain strong relationships with county leadership internal teams and external partnersincluding fire law enforcement 9-1-1 hospitals and other stakeholdersto ensure coordinated high-quality service delivery.
- Ensure operational and fiscal sustainability by balancing service demands with staffing and resources routinely evaluating programs and using data to guide informed long-term decisions.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in business accounting public administration political science emergency medical care or a related field and;
- Eight (8) years of progressively responsible supervisory and management experience in the public sector.
- Paramedic (National Registry acceptable to apply but must be able to obtain a NC Paramedic credential ( six months of employment.
- CPR/BCLS ACLS and PALS Provider Certifications are required. PHTLS BTLS ITLS or In-house Trauma Management Course required within one year
- ICSand 300 are required at the time of application and ICS 400 is required within one year of hire.
- Valid North Carolina vehicle operators license or ability to obtain one within60 days.
- Once employed the successful candidate must be able to obtain an NC DMV Class B operators licensewithin one year of employment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Masters degree in emergency services administration Public Administration Business Finance Accounting or Healthcare Administration
The Successful Candidate is:
- A visible approachable and steady leader who inspires trust connects with staff at all levels and builds strong relationships with internal teams and external partnersparticularly during periods of organizational transition marked by retirements and the loss of institutional knowledge;
- Intrinsically motivated by the work itself with a strong sense of purpose and commitment to public service EMS excellence and the long-term success of the system;
- Strategic and forward-thinking capable of developing communicating and executing a clear vision while guiding the organization through change including supporting newly promoted leaders and staff stepping into expanded roles;
- Politically and organizationally astute able to navigate county government advocate effectively for EMS needs manage competing priorities and maintain ethical and fiscal responsibility;
- Skilled in workforce leadership development and succession planning with the ability to recruit retain mentor and support staff preserve institutional knowledge and foster accountability wellness and a high-performing organizational culture;
- An exceptional communicator who listens actively translates complex operational realities into clear messages and communicates effectively across all levelsfrom frontline personnel to county leadership;
- Innovative solutions-oriented and forward-looking capable of anticipating challenges thinking creatively improving processes and ensuring the EMS system remains resilient and sustainable;
- Operationally proficient and highly organized with strong project management skills the ability to multi-task effectively and experience managing budgets contracts revenue streams and complex resources;
- Collaborative and relationship-focused able to coordinate across partner agencies hospitals law enforcement and other stakeholders to ensure seamless service delivery and organizational cohesion; and
- Humble adaptable and open to feedback modeling ethical leadership emotional intelligence and accountability while holding themselves and their teams to high standards.
Additional Information
Salary and Benefits: The hiring range for this position is $94494.40 to $120473.60
. Starting salary is dependent on qualifications and experience. Guilford County offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be foundhere. Position is subject to emergency recall. Must live within 5 miles or 10 minutes of the Guilford County line within one year of hire.
How to Apply:
To applyplease visit click on theDeputy Director of Emergency Services Guilford County NCtitle.
- All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) NOT the organizations employment application portal or any other external website.
- Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
- Applicants should apply byFebruary 9 2026.
- The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to virtual interviews and skill evaluations onMarch 17-18 2026. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
- Directinquiriesto.
Guilford County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates LLC manages the recruitment and selection process.
The recruitment and selection process is being managed by Developmental Associates LLC.
Required Experience:
Director
Key Skills
- Crisis Management
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Fundraising
- Media Relations
- Constant Contact
- Strategic Planning
- Social Media Management
- Team Management
- Public Speaking
- Wordpress
- Writing Skills
