911 Emergency Specialist

City of Santa Fe Springs; Conway (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

Long-Term Disability (LTD)

Basic Life Insurance

Vision coverage

Wellness Center access

Paid leave & holidays

Job summary

The position handles emergency call intake and dispatch for police, fire, or medical services in a South Carolina public safety environment. Responsibilities include obtaining precise emergency details, providing caller instructions, and coordinating with field units to ensure rapid and safe response.

Staff use multiple monitors and radios, maintain critical records, and may access NCIC/SC CJIS as part of information management.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of: operating communications systems.
• Knowledge of: emergency medical treatment terminology.
• Knowledge of: documenting emergency situations and calls.
• Knowledge of: emergency terminology across medical, fire, police.
• Knowledge of: dispatching procedures for emergency/nonemergency equipment.
• Knowledge of: communication system advantages/disadvantages.
• Knowledge of: security procedures for information dissemination.
• Knowledge of: emergency management procedures.
• Knowledge of: safety procedures and guidelines.
• Knowledge of: map reading.

Responsibilities

• Receive emergency requests via telephone, radio, or electronic systems.
• Determine location and nature of call; transfer callers to the appropriate agency.
• Record emergency data: location, caller, nature, severity, status.
• Provide pre-arrival medical instructions when responding to medical emergencies.
• Offer precautionary advice to ensure personal safety pending arrival of responders.
• Coordinate dispatch of units and relay information to field units.
• Maintain NCIC/SC CJIS records and respond to inquiries about policies.
• Utilize CAD systems and communication tools; monitor/respond to data.
• Learn and apply regulations and procedures as required.

Skills

Emergency comms

CAD operation

Data entry

Multitasking

Verbal instructions

Tools

CAD system

NCIC access

SC CJIS access

TTY/TDD access

Job description

General Job Description

Under direction, receives and responds to telephone or other electronic requests for emergency assistance, including law enforcement, fire, medical, or other emergency services, and/or dispatches appropriate units to response sites; does related work as required.

Duties for this Position

• Receives telephone, radio, or other electronic requests for emergency assistance.
• Determines the location and nature of the call and may transfer the caller to the appropriate agency upon determining the jurisdiction and/or nature of the call.
• Obtains, verifies, and records the location of the emergency, the name of the caller, the nature, severity, and current status of the emergency, and obtains any other appropriate information needed to secure a complete assessment of the circumstances.
• Receives automatic number identification (ANI), automatic location information (ALI), telecommunications devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (TTY/TDD), or other electronic information to obtain and verify required data; may be required to access a foreign language interpreter service for non-English speaking callers.
• Maintains a reassuring and calming manner with callers to obtain required information; persuades emergency callers to stay on the line.
• In response to medical emergencies, provides pre-arrival instructions to stabilize the medical condition of persons until the arrival of professional medical assistance.
• In nonmedical emergencies, provides precautionary instructions and advice to help assure the personal safety of persons and/or to minimize the loss of property, pending the arrival of fire, police, or other assistance per protocol.
• Refers nonemergency situations to other appropriate public or private agencies, and may dispatch nonemergency personnel or equipment.
• Relays information or instructions to field units via radio, pager, or mobile data terminal.
• Utilizes multiple computer monitors and radio equipment to receive, monitor, record, summarize, and/or transmit data relating to the emergency.
• Determines the appropriate type of agency(s) to respond to the specific emergency or call for assistance through use of the CAD system.
• Utilizes radio, telephone, computerized, or other electronic equipment to dispatch specific law enforcement, fire, or medical assistance units to the scene of an emergency based on pre-established response plans, and seeks guidance from supervisory personnel when circumstances warrant significant deviation from pre-established response plans.
• May assist in locating or contacting individuals needed to staff the response.
• As instructed, coordinates the dispatching of units involving two or more government jurisdictions.
• Maintains and facilitates communication with responding units by receiving and relaying information, including confidential information, to authorized personnel.
• Detects and takes alternative/corrective action when communication system or program errors occur and reports malfunctions in accordance with established procedures.
• Maintains a constant update on the status of emergency units in the field and of on-call personnel.
• May make entries, inquiries, cancellations, and modifications of records in various systems and databases such as the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and its Stolen Vehicle File, Stolen License Plate File, Stolen-Missing Gun File, Stolen Article File, Wanted Person File, Stolen or embezzled or Counterfeited or Missing Securities File, Stolen Boat File, premise hazard databases, and wrecker logs.
• Answers questions about the application of regulations or policies.
• Receives and answers telephone, radio, and video display inquiries of the NCIC and the SC CJIS for law enforcement agencies.
• Maintains and updates NCIC, SC CJIS, and other records and files.
• Activates emergency alert systems, such as pagers and tone-activated devices.
• Required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Position Minimum Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Methods for operating communications systems.
• Procedures used for emergency medical treatment.
• Information required for documenting emergency situations and calls.
• Emergency medical, fire, police, and other emergency terminology.
• The functions of the operating units or departments within the agency or jurisdiction.
• Procedures for dispatching emergency and nonemergency equipment and personnel.
• Organizational lines of communication.
• The types, disadvantages, and advantages of available communication systems.
• Security procedures involved in the dissemination of information.
• Emergency management procedures.
• Established safety procedures and guidelines.
• Map reading and understanding.
• Procedures for investigating and resolving complaints.

Ability to:

• Learn the purpose and operation of various law enforcement and other information systems.
• Answer voice and TTY/TTD (telecommunications devices for the deaf) telephone calls received from the public.
• Operate a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
• Provide clear instructions and guidance to callers in emergency situations.
• Establish goals and set priorities.
• Relay instructions or questions accurately and clearly.
• Comprehend, interpret, and evaluate relevant information from various types of source materials.

Additional Information

• Two (2) years’ experience in the 911 Emergency Specialist or public safety field, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is preferred.
• A criminal background investigation/compliance with NCIC requirements must be met prior to interview. You must submit the authorization form with your application.
• A copy of your birth certificate, a copy of a government-issued ID with a photo, and a copy of your high school diploma, GED, college diploma, or official transcript with seal and signature are required with this application.

Retirement

• Participate in the South Carolina State Retirement System with strong employer contributions (SCRS or PORS).
• Take advantage of optional retirement saving through tax-favored 401(k)/457 accounts to further secure your future.

Health & Insurance

• Employer-funded health and dental insurance, plus employer-funded Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Basic Life Insurance coverage.
• Vision coverage and additional insurance options available for employees and dependents.

Wellness

• Prioritize your well-being with total access to our Wellness Center, free gym, wellness incentives, and employee-family counseling via EAP.

Paid Leave & Holidays

• Benefit from generous paid leave accruals that grow over time, plus 13 paid holidays.