911 Dispatcher

Polk County (WI); Town of Balsam Lake (WI); On-site; USD 37,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Ongoing training

Team atmosphere

Shift differential pay

Job summary

Polk County Sheriff's Department in Wisconsin is seeking a 911 Communications Officer to handle critical calls and coordinate dispatch of police, fire, and medical teams. You will provide vital instructions to callers and help ensure public safety during emergencies.

The role requires strong communication, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and familiarity with emergency systems. Training and 24/7 shift coverage are part of the job.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to communicate clearly and calmly in emergencies.
• Familiarity with emergency communications systems and protocols.
• Successful completion of pre-employment assessments.

Responsibilities

• Answer 911 calls and prioritize requests for responders.
• Dispatch police, fire, or medical services as needed.
• Provide caller instructions to ensure safety and prevent harm.
• Maintain accurate records in the Emergency Communications Center.
• Support teammates during peak periods and distribute workload.

Skills

Communication skills

Calm under pressure

Emergency communications systems

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate degree or related experience

Job description

Benefits:

• Competitive salary - because saving lives is priceless!
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan – because heroes deserve a secure future too!
• Ongoing training to level up your superhero skills.
• A career with purpose through helping people and giving back to the community!
• Team atmosphere
• Starting pay $26.86 per hour, with and additional $.25 - $.50 shift differential pay (depending on the shift)

Key Responsibilities:

• Answer urgent calls from the public and become the lifeline between help and those in need.
• Swiftly assess emergencies, dispatching the right heroes – police, fire, medical to the rescue!
• Your quick thinking and precise instructions could be the difference between chaos and calm.

Join our team as a 911 Communications Officer and be the lifeline between help and those in need. As a crucial part of our emergency response system, you will receive and prioritize calls, dispatch appropriate services, and provide vital instructions to callers. We’re seeking individuals with strong communication skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and familiarity with emergency communications systems. If you’re ready to make a difference and contribute to community safety, Join us in being the voice of hope in times of crisis.

Essential Duties:

These duties represent the typical duties and responsibilities assigned to this position but are not inclusive of all tasks performed.

• Responsible for comprehensive knowledge of department responsibilities and programs in order to answer general internal and external customer questions; ascertains the appropriate contact within the department or county, or refers to an outside source in an efficient,professional manner
• Efficiently and accurately receive, initiate and document telephone, radio and computer communications
• Create and maintain accurate records providing documentation for all events and occurrences within the Emergency Communications Center
• Enter, verify and remove data from multiple proprietary software systems and national databasesEvaluate, prioritize and disseminate information to proper authorities in an efficient and effective manner
• Recognize and properly respond to multiple and simultaneous events
• Communicate at all times in a professional and courteous manner
• Effectively present information and respond to questions, including ability to testify in court when necessary
• Interpret messages, analyze distance and time periods, and utilize map data to identify addresses and the geographic layout of Polk County
• Adhere to Department's confidentiality policy
• Provide backup to peers during periods of absence and during peak workloads as directed to meet staffing needs of the 24/7 Emergency Communications Center
• Fulfills the department's mission and purpose

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Individual must be able to demonstrate aptitude and skills directly related to this position through computerized, standardized pre-employment assessments.
• Individual must be free of unpardoned felony convictions.
• Individual must pass a standardized psychological screening for Communication Officers

Education/Experience:

• 1. High School Graduate, GED, or HSED.
• 2. Associate degree in a related discipline or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Competency Requirements:

• Integrity/Honesty-Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct, maintains confidentially, and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
• Accountability - Assumes responsibility for successfully accomplishing work objectives and delivering results; setting high standards of performance for self and others.
• Quality Customer Service and Community Relations- Anticipates and strives to meet the needs of both internal and external stakeholders (employees, contracted staff, residents, families, and other internal and external clientele). Delivers high-quality services; is committed to continuous improvement.Communicates/Interacts with members of the public and other key stakeholders in a way that elicits positive response and participation, which on occasion, may include interaction either one-on-one or with several stakeholders at one time to present information and/or represent the facility's interests.
• Communications– delivers clear, effective communication and takes responsibility for understanding others
• Written and Verbal Communication Skills - Recognizes or uses correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Accurately assesses situations, seeks new information if necessary, and applies all available information to reach sound conclusions/formulate effective response.Requires little guidance for responding to a wide range of complex situations with far-reaching and/or enduring consequences.
• Stress Tolerance - Maintains effective performance when under pressure, confronted with opposition or criticism, and/or when the situation is dangerous.Ability to continue performance of duties in times of insufficient staff or resources, fluctuation or uncertainty of direction or role, and times of encountering disagreements or criticism when performing duties.Presentation and defense of position in a public forum, which at times entails facing opposition, may be required.
• Interpersonal Relations - Develops and maintains effective relationships with others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and in different situations; shows understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness.
• Flexibility- Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity.

Certificates, licenses, registrations:

• Must obtain and maintain Basic TIME System Certification
• Must obtain and maintain an Advanced TIME System Certification
• Must obtain and maintain certification in Emergency Medical Dispatch and CPR

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here 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 employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift or move up to or more than 40 pounds. The employee must be able to work any hours assigned without restriction or limitation. The employee must be able to work continuously through peak call volume for as long as necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

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.

• Frequently exposed to intense level of various and simultaneous activities
• Continual work in close quarters in a secure setting, exposed to artificial light and electronic equipment
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION OUTLINE & TIMELINE

The Polk County Sheriff's Department and the Human Resources Department understands that your time is valuable and regardless of the outcome we appreciate the effort that you have invested in this process. We will update applicants directly electronically via the e‑mail address listed on their application regarding the progress of their application, please do not contact our offices directly. The described procedure and outline are subject to modification but serves as a guide to provide the applicant general information relating to the hiring process.

Pre-employment assessments to be completed:

After the job posting closes, the applicants will be invited via email to take a series of online pre-employment assessments to be completed within the specified timeframe.

Any applicant who fails to complete the pre-employment assessments within the allotted timeframe will not be eligible to continue with the next steps of this recruitment process.

Following the completion of the pre-employment assessments, applications will be rated using established criteria including the pre-employment assessment, experience, education, work history, etc. The most desirable applicants will proceed to the interview process. Applicants will be contacted via email throughout the recruitment regarding their status in this process.

Job shadows will be scheduled:

A job shadow experience and panel interview will be scheduled with the top-rated applicants. The job shadow must be scheduled prior to the interview date and the top-rated candidates will be notified via email of the details to self-schedule this step along with the interview. The interviews are consistent with each applicant and fairly formal. The applicant's response to predetermined questions will be rated by the interview panel and by consensus placed into one of two categories: eligible for hire and not eligible for hire. It is anticipated that oral interviews will be at the Polk County Sheriff's Department located at the Polk County Justice Center.

Following the Interviews:

• The interview panel, under the direction of the Sheriff will select the candidate considered to be the most qualified and advantageous to the department's goals and most likely to be consistent with the department's mission.
• The department will conduct a background investigation on the selected candidate.
• A candidate will either be eliminated, or a conditional job offer made to the candidate.
• An offer of employment is made contingent upon the successful completion of a psychological evaluation.
• Provided the candidate satisfies the contingencies a start date will be determined.

The recruitment and selection process often takes several months to complete. Many times, the department must put the process on hold to tend to other business. Your patience is appreciated. We promise that should you be selected to join our department; you will not be disappointed. Polk County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.