SENIOR MANAGER - CW

Are you a strategic operations leader ready to make a lasting impact on community safety? The Villages Community Development Districts is seeking an experienced Senior Manager to oversee the operations, resources, and personnel of our Community Watch department. This is a high-visibility leadership role where your decisions directly shape the safety, security, and peace of mind of thousands of residents across one of Florida's most unique communities.

Your Role

As Senior Manager, you'll serve as the right hand to the Community Watch Director, providing operational leadership across all aspects of our 24/7/365 security operations. You'll supervise regional managers, dispatch operations, gate operations, and patrol personnel while managing budgets, and strategic initiatives. When the Director is unavailable, you step into the leadership role-making you a critical part of our emergency response infrastructure.

What Sets This Opportunity Apart

• Comprehensive Leadership Scope: Oversee multiple operational areas including dispatch, gate operations, patrol, training, and communications across The Villages
• Strategic Influence: Shape department policies, procedures, and long-range plans while participating in annual budget development and capital improvement planning
• Emergency Management Role: Serve as on-call administrator 24/7, ready to lead during critical incidents and emergency operations center activations
• Professional Visibility: Represent Community Watch at District Board meetings, public forums, and community events
• Cross-Functional Impact: Collaborate with department heads across The Villages and maintain relationships with local law enforcement agencies

The Ideal Leader

You bring proven management experience, ideally in public safety, public agency settings, or similar operational environments. You're a strategic thinker who can analyze data, manage budgets, and develop policies while remaining hands-on enough to mentor staff and respond to incidents. You excel at building relationships, communicating across all organizational levels, and maintaining composure during high-pressure situations.

Location: The Villages, Florida
Department: Community Watch
Reports To: Director, Community Watch
Classification: Exempt/Salary
Work Schedule: Full-Time with 24/7 on-call availability

Competitive Benefits include:

• Medical Insurance (fully paid for employee single coverage)
• Voluntary health benefits including Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401(a) Retirement Plan, with contributions funded by the District
• 457(b) Retirement Plan, permitting employee pre-tax deferrals
• Flexible Spending programs for both Medical and Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement

JOB SUMMARY

This is a managerial, exempt position which serves under the administrative direction of the Community Watch Director in overseeing operations, resources and personnel of Community Watch. This position is responsible for supervising employees through the chain of command; directing responses within the department district response areas, and performing various administrative duties as required, including assistance in preparing and maintaining the Community Watch budget and reporting activities to the Community Watch Director and Deputy District Manager.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Includes, but not limited to)

Administrative

• Performs duties as assigned by the Division Director.

• Attends meetings and functions outside business hours, conducts weekly staff meetings as directed by the Community Watch Director as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Community Watch Director, including representing the Community Watch Director at District Board meetings, public meetings, staff functions and speaking engagements in the absence of the Community Watch Director.

• Administers Community Watch vendor service to ensure contract requirements are met.
• Assists the Community Watch Director with the development of policies and procedures.
• Researches, assesses, organizes, and implements new programs and services to ensure continuous efforts to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively to provide quality and seamless customer service.
• Interacts with staff to keep abreast of the status of current Operations Section programs to ensure efficiencies and effectiveness of same.
• Participates in planning and conducting staff meetings to successfully educate Operations Section staff regarding policies and procedures with the Community Watch department.
• Assists with the preparation and submits Community Watch Annual Report by December 31st of each year.
• Coordinates, prepares, and oversees the development and issuance of special reports, plans and studies as required by the Community Watch Director.
• Establishing and communicating work priorities with staff and community members.
• Provides direction and oversight to department staff with issues related to purchasing, budget, finance, and technology.
• Supervises departmental purchasing and other financial procedures.
• Provides direct and indirect supervision to Regional Area Managers, Dispatch Supervisors, Dispatchers, Sub Dispatchers, Gate Operations, Sub Gate Operations, Training Coordinators.
• Maintains effective working relationships with VCCDD Department Heads.
• Remains available (24) hours per day, (7) days per week, for Administrative On-Call response, in the absence of the Community Watch Director.

Maintenance

• Participates in the annual budget preparation for Operation Section operations, including gatehouse repairs and enhancements, fleet repair and replacement costs, and Communications costs.
• Maintains a recorded inventory of all equipment assigned to Operations Section. Order supplies as needed.

Budget

• Assists in the development of the department's budget by providing the Community Watch Director with requested Community Watch information within required timeframes and in formats needed during the annual budget preparation to ensure department's timely submittal of same.
• Research and develop business and financial policies and procedures. Assesses the need, applicability and impact of individual policies and procedures relative to Community Watch operations and administration. Evaluates conclusions and recommends alternative strategies to the Community Watch Director.
• Prepares necessary documents within required timeframes and specifications for major operating expenditures within the Community Watch budget.
• Provides financial guidance in the prioritization of Community Watch resources allocation in adherence to CW annual budget and capital improvement plans.
• Participates in the annual budget preparation regarding personnel costs.
• Analyzes budget management through review of revenues and expenditures throughout the year.

Purchasing

• Supervises and participates in the procurement of supplies and equipment needed for Community Watch Operations.
• Evaluates all Community Watch equipment.

General

• Performs general clerical work as required, including but not limited to copying and filing documents, entering and retrieving computer data and answering the telephone.

• Responds to resident concerns, issues and general questions in a timely and professional manner.

• Communicates through a variety of mediums including written, oral, and electronic means.
• Demonstrates knowledge of department policies and procedures.

• Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relations with residents, staff and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the District and to project a positive image.

• Assists in the development of long-range plans.
• Attends periodic training and conferences as directed.
• Maintains a working knowledge of the geography of The Villages.
• Assumes responsibility of Community Watch during the absence of Division Director.

Supervision

• Supervises these positions:
  • Community Watch Regional Area Managers
  • Community Watch Administrative Assistants & Staff Assistants
  • Community Watch Communications Personnel
  • Community Watch Training Coordinators
  • Community Watch Gate Attendants
  • Community Watch Patrol Personnel

Additional

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May be expected to perform additional duties in an emergency.

ESSENTIAL EXPECTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIOR (Includes, but not limited to)

• Models behavior to the District Core Values at all times.
• Cultivates and maintains effective working relations within the department, the District, as well as outside organizations.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Associates degree or equivalent from a two-year College or technical school; six months to one year related experience and /or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience dealing with the public, working in a public agency setting and working in an organization that will have provided applicable knowledge is desired.

MINIMUM CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Valid Florida Driver's License required.
• Required FEMA (ICS) certifications must be completed within six months of hire.
• CPR & AED certification (training provided)
• Fire extinguisher safety (training provided)
• All candidates and employees must successfully pass background check.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (Includes, but not limited to)

Knowledge:

• Knowledge as required to support the Essential Duties and Responsibilities.
• Experience dealing with the public, working in a public agency setting and working in an organization that will have provided applicable knowledge is desired.

Skills:

• Intermediate or better proficiency in personal computer skills, preferably Microsoft Office package involving Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Successfully interact with others to include courtesy, tact and diplomacy as needed to provide/gather information, assign and follow up on work duties.

Abilities:

• Ability to successfully collect, evaluate and analyze data information as needed to conduct research.
• Ability to successfully communicate thoughts and ideas in a logical, cohesive, and comprehensible manner.
• Successfully work under various conditions, inside and outside environments.
• Ability to successfully read and comprehend materials such as statutes, ordinances, regulations, diagrams, technical reports, memos, correspondence, and written orders as needed to ensure work activities are accomplished according to policy and procedure and exchange or acquire information.
• Ability to remain under control in difficult situations, use proper judgment and make appropriate decisions in emergency and non-emergency situations.
• Ability to successfully interact with others to include courtesy, tact and diplomacy as needed to provide/gather information, assign and follow up on work duties.
• Proven ability to provide excellent customer service to our residents.
• Excellent verbal communication skills and professional appearance.
• Ability to work various shifts associated with a 24/7/365-day operation, including holidays.
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality of all information encountered in the performance of assigned responsibilities.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with local law enforcement officials.
• Abilities as required to support the Essential Duties and Responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain knowledge of local and regional geographic information relevant to the position.

EQUIPMENT (Includes, but not limited to)

• Position requires the regular use of all related communications equipment including radio transmitters and receivers, telephone/radio, multi-line telephone systems, computer consoles and data communication terminals. Other equipment includes video/camera monitors.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing the duties of this job the employee will be exposed to the following:

• Position requires the use of telephones, personal computers and productivity software, document imaging scanners, copiers, and other office equipment.
• Department vehicles and radios.
• The employee is exposed to an interior office environment, with moderate change in temperature. The work environment is inside an air-conditioned building.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• There are frequent interruptions from the staff and the general public for information or assistance.
• Work under various conditions, inside and outside environment and work with others in stressful situations.
• May be required to work in adverse weather conditions (i.e. hurricanes, thunderstorms, etc.).
• May be required to work different schedules prior, during and following EOC activations and special events.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the following applies:

• Regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, night vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Regularly required to sit or stand for long periods of time.