Job Description of an EMS Operations Manager

An emergency medical services operations manager is tasked with running a full department on multiple fronts. This person is required to have both business savvy and medical knowledge in working with his staff and other departments. An operations manager's job description includes everything from budget management to daily problem solving and employee training.

Short- and Long-Range Plans

• It is the duty of an EMS operations manager to create and manage both short-term and long-term goals for his department. These goals can include developing more efficient models of operation with the short-term goal of decreasing emergency medical response times coupled with the long-term goal of saving more lives. The operations manager should also help develop training models to assist his staff in meeting these goals.

Develop Resource Requirements

• Staff members often require additional equipment and training materials to reach goals set by the operations manager. It's the job of the operations manager to work with other branches of management and existing requisition staff to develop a needs plan by which it can be determined what the staff will need in terms of equipment and training to accomplish its goals.

Budget Management and Policy Requirements

• An EMS operations manager develops and manages the budget for his department. He monitors expenditures from the department's budget and ensures that the department does not overspend. The EMS operations manager also creates and maintains standards for operation in the field. The operations manager ensures that all his requirements fall within federal, state and local standards for environmental protection and worker safety.

Evaluate Performance and Operational Readiness

• An operations manager must also evaluate the performance of his employees. This is accomplished through individual employee evaluations based on field performance and management observations. Operational readiness is determined through training sessions, drills of important procedures and collaboration with other departments to determine how well staff is integrating with them.

Ongoing Education Requirements

• The operations manager in an EMS department is required to have the latest operational knowledge available to her at all times. This means that the operations manager must maintain an on-going education both in the medical and business realms. This allows her to stay ahead of the learning curve by implementing the most effective strategies designed to minimize risk in the workplace and maximize worker performance.