First Responders Engagement Director

## Description **POSITION SUMMARY:** The Director of First Responder & Law Enforcement Relations serves as the organization’s senior relationship leader for law enforcement, fire service, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and other first responder agencies across the service area. This individual will build trust-based partnerships with public safety leaders, represent the organization with credibility and professionalism, and serve as a reliable point of contact who follows through, communicates clearly, and helps connect agencies to meaningful behavioral health, crisis response, and wellness resources. The ideal candidate is a respected relationship builder who understands the culture of first responder environments, can engage confidently with chiefs, sheriffs, command staff, and frontline personnel, and can translate organizational resources into practical support for the field. This role requires executive presence, strong community instincts, excellent communication, and a reputation for responsiveness, consistency, and follow-through. **WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS:** This is a high-visibility leadership role for an individual who can build credibility with law enforcement and first responders, strengthen community trust, and help shape how behavioral health and public safety work together across the region. The person in this role will serve as an important bridge between agencies, leadership teams, and the community—helping ensure strong communication, practical collaboration, and dependable follow-through. For the right candidate, this role offers the opportunity to represent an important mission, influence cross-system partnerships, and have a direct impact on responder wellness, crisis coordination, and community outcomes. It is well-suited for a respected, service-minded professional who values relationships, accountability, and the chance to make a meaningful difference in the field. **IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE:** · A trusted and credible relationship builder who can quickly earn respect with law enforcement, first responder leaders, and community stakeholders. · A confident communicator who is equally effective in executive discussions, community forums, agency briefings, and field-based conversations. · A dependable professional known for responsiveness, follow-through, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive issues with professionalism. · A community-minded leader who understands the culture, pressures, and realities of public safety work and can translate organizational resources into practical support. · A strategic partner who can identify partnership opportunities, remove barriers, and strengthen coordination between first responder agencies and behavioral health services. **EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE:** · Bachelor’s degree in public administration, criminal justice, healthcare administration, behavioral health, communications, business, or related field preferred; equivalent leadership experience in public safety, community engagement, or cross-system partnership roles will be strongly considered. · Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in public safety collaboration, law enforcement relations, first responder engagement, community partnership development, behavioral health outreach, or a closely related field preferred. · Demonstrated experience working with, within, or alongside law enforcement and other first responder agencies, with the ability to quickly establish credibility and trust across public safety settings, strongly preferred. · Exceptional interpersonal, public speaking, and communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently in both formal leadership settings and frontline environments. · Proven ability to engage effectively with sheriffs, chiefs, command staff, frontline personnel, executive leadership, and community stakeholders while maintaining professionalism, responsiveness, and follow-through. · Knowledge of behavioral health systems, crisis re…