Community Responder EMT Coordinator

Position Description

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range:  $52,903 - $70,000 Hours:  Four 10-hour shifts per week on a fixed rotating schedule. Some weekend coverage is required. No overnight shifts.

In 2022, the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) launched four 911 crisis response programs—collectively known as HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams). Please visit our website and dashboard, watch this CNN clip, listen to this NPR segment, or read this piece from The Assembly. In 2025, DCSD has added a new division focused on Stabilization Services. This expansion represents an exciting new phase in DCSD’s development—and a thrilling opportunity to pair alternative response programs with stabilization services that can better support Neighbors . 

DCSD is currently seeking a highly skilled and motivated EMT Coordinator to oversee emergency medical services operations. This individual will conduct ongoing EMT training programs, including skills refreshers, protocol updates, and certification courses. Lead quality assurance initiatives to assess and improve patient care standards. They will also act as a key liaison between DCSD and Durham County EMS, Public Health, Duke Hospital Systems and the Healthcare for the Homeless team. In addition to training and liaison responsibilities the EMT coordinator will also spend a portion of their time as an infield EMT on our Community Response Teams.

DCSD’s approach to work is flexible, highly collaborative, and evidence driven. Our departmental culture prizes equity, care, and the health and safety of our staff. We are looking for candidates who share similar approaches and principles. We envision adding team members who are not only colleagues but partners in this challenging and purpose-driven work.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Develop highly collaborative, trusting, and productive relationships with Durham County EMS, Public Health, and Healthcare for the Homeless teams.
• Coordinate with Shift Supervisors to oversee daily EMS operations, response times, and equipment readiness.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to EMT team, fostering a culture of professionalism and continuous improvement.
• Participate in emergency response as an Provider, assisting with critical patient care as needed.
• Coordinate with DCSD Inventory Specialist to ensure medical equipment and supplies are in proper working order.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables and local, state, and federal policy and requirements.
• Develop and maintain clear, open, timely, cooperative, and collaborative communication and working relations with all staff, clients, and partner agencies.
• Coordinate and track continuing education for EMTs within DCSD.
• Participate in supervision meetings as appropriate, case conferences, staff meetings, in-service training, and other staff development activities.
• Aid in developing and coordinating DCSD’s Continuity of Operations Plan.
• Contribute to strategic planning activities and conversations regarding the performance and direction of the department, particularly in regard to crisis response and departmental culture.
• Demonstrate a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a high crisis and first responder position.
• Candidate may be required to complete Level 1 NC OEMS Instructor Credentialing

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED,
• Completion of a mental health, peer support or equivalent program,
• Four years of experience as an EMT required
• Eligible to function under the auspices of the Durham County Office of Emergency Services, EMS Division, and Medical Director.
• Certification by the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services (NC OEMS) as an EMT Basic required.
• Must have a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if you currently have another state driver's license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire
• Must be able to travel to and from worksite and other locations within Durham
• Must be able to walk/stand up to 75% of any assigned shift. Note: The team will be transported in vans to crisis call locations
• Must be able to lift over 100 lbs occasionally, 50-100 lbs. frequently, or up to 20-50 lbs constantly.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Significant experience with crisis response.
• Crisis Intervention Team certification
• Experience working with Peer Support Specialists or other individuals with lived experience with behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
• Ability to speak two or more languages, with a high priority on Spanish.
• Familiarity with Durham health systems and community resources/services for physical health behavioral and mental health, substance use, Intellectual Developmental Disability, family dynamics, sexual/physical abuse, Veterans' Services, vocational rehabilitation, housing, justice involvement, referral processes, and other services.
• A commitment to and interest in the mission of the department: to enhance public safety through community-centered approaches to prevention and intervention as alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system.
• A commitment to equity, which could include having already attended racial equity trainings.