Canton Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher)

City of Canton, Ohio; Canton (OH); On-site; USD 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacations

Paid holidays

Retirement plan

Sick time

Personal holidays

Job summary

City of Canton, Ohio seeks a telecommunicator to handle emergency and routine calls, dispatch police, fire, water, and street services from a centralized communications hub. You will manage radio and telephone communications, logs, and training for new staff.

The role requires clear voice, excellent hearing, the ability to work variable shifts including nights and holidays, and the stamina for long hours in a windowless, high-stress environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required, must be at least 18 years old.
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents eligible for examination.
• Must obtain CPR, Public Safety Telecommunications, and Emergency Medical Dispatch certifications within one year.

Responsibilities

• Answer emergency and non-emergency calls and dispatch services from a central center.
• Dispatch safety personnel and equipment via radio or phone.
• Maintain records, logs, and forms; assist in training new employees.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Clear communication

Observation & recall

Map reading

Office software basics

Stress management

Public safety awareness

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Radio/telephone equipment

Job description

Wage Information

Rate of pay at each step: (+$10 - $20/hour in benefits.)

• $23.76
• $25.37
• $26.96
• $28.78
• $31.60

Employment with the City of Canton comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, paid vacations, paid holidays, a retirement plan, sick time, and personal holidays.

This is an open examination. To be eligible for the position under this examination, all applicants must be U.S. citizens or have a permanent resident card. Applicants must be a High School graduate or possess a G.E.D. and be at least 18 years of age.

Job Description

Job Definition: Performs work involved with emergency and complaint calls directed to the Police, Fire, Water, and Street Divisions and dispatching from a communications center.

Representative Duties

(The following are intended to illustrate typical duties, they are not meant to be all inclusive or restrictive). Receives telephone calls from the public concerning emergency and non-emergency situations. Dispatches all appropriate safety and services personnel and equipment, by radio or phone as required. Maintains records, logs, forms and other materials. Disperses all non-related calls or non-emergency calls by providing the caller with appropriate information or referral. Maintains working area, radio and telephone equipment as required. Assists in training new employees. Performs all necessary related duties as required, or directed.

Distinguishing Features

The responsibility for citizens' health, lives, safety and property protection is with the telecommunicator, which requires a specific and controlled performance behavior on the part of the communications center telecommunicator.

Working Relationships

Relationships are typical with the general public or outside agencies on specialized matters that may include handling difficult relationships or solving minor difficulties.

Working Conditions

Requires long periods of sitting/remaining sedentary, adjusting to changing shifts and days off, exposure to a stressful environment, including a windowless workspace, with little chance for breaks. Forced overtime is not an exception, and is to be expected. Mandatory overtime is an inherent requirement of this position. Employees may be required to work overtime with little or no advance notice based on staffing and operational needs. Mandatory overtime may result in employees being required to work shifts of up to sixteen (16) consecutive hours.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Characteristics

Some knowledge of operations and services normally provided by police, fire, water and street departments. Basic knowledge of the community, including location of streets and highways, important structures such as schools, hospitals and other major facilities. Working knowledge of office equipment and procedures. Working knowledge of business English, spelling, and punctuation. Skill in writing clearly, accurately, concisely, and with appropriate English grammar. Skill in reading and understanding complex technical documents such as laws, ordinances, procedures and training manuals, and public safety reports. Skill in observing, remembering, and recalling facts and details such as those contained in oral and written directives, radio communications, and telephone communications. Skill in communicating orally with people of various educational, ethnic, and social/cultural backgrounds. Skill in organizing and analyzing a variety of information and applying selected knowledge, which will be learned after employment, in order to decide on an appropriate and reasonable course of action. Skill in exercising tact, self-restraint, judgment, and strategy in dealing with a variety of people in various emotional states. Skill in the use of basic computer systems, and ability to type at a minimum of 40 words per minute, to transcribe hand-written copy and/or simultaneous oral communications. Basic map reading skills. The ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public, agencies, and other employees. The ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions. The ability to accurately comprehend auditory inputs, particularly those inputs received via telephone and radio transmissions. The ability to function in a mobile and coordinated manner, requiring frequent manual dexterity. The ability to gain knowledge of various communication and emergency response procedures. The ability to react immediately and precisely to sudden stimuli. Must be able to mentally and physically meet the needs of the job in an efficient manner. Clear, pleasing voice. Excellent hearing. Mental alertness. Willingness to accept work assignments on day, night, or all-night shifts, weekends, and holidays. Be temperamentally suited to the position, and be able to remain alert during periods of inactivity as well as during routine and times of overload.

Special Requirements

Because of the nature of the job, an employee must be able to be reached by telephone. Employment is subject to a background investigation which is conducted by the Police Department. Applicants must not have a record of criminal convictions which would compromise their ability to be granted access to police records information. A hearing test, physical exam, psychological exam, and urine analysis test will be required. This position requires the telecommunicator to be certified in CPR, Public Safety Telecommunications, and Emergency Medical Dispatch. The employee must have the ability to obtain all certifications within one year of hire.

Testing Information

SUBSEQUENT TO THE FILING OF THE APPLICATION, ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES WILL BE INVITED VIA EMAIL TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE TYPING TEST. MUST SCORE 40 WPM TO PASS. THOSE WHO PASS WILL BE INVITED TO TAKE THE NATIONAL DISPATCHER SELECTION TEST (NDST). The NDST Exam date will be announced at a later time. The written examination will consist of questions on the following subjects: reading comprehension, listening, problem-solving, prioritizing, and multi-tasking. A 70% passing score will be used.

Repeating an Exam

Per OAC Rule 123: 1-9-01, an applicant who has competed in a civil service examination cannot repeat that examination or take an examination for the same classification within FOUR MONTHS from the date of original examination, unless an alternative form of examination is given, or unless other standards are specific in the examination announcement.

RATING

Your name will be placed on a list of eligible candidates upon receiving a passing score. Once the list has been established, your name will remain on the list for a period of one (1) year.

Additional Information

• DISCLAIMER* All applicants should receive an email from [e-mail] confirming that their application was received. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact Civil Service at [e-mail] to confirm that your application went through. Once Civil Service processes applications, you will be emailed again within 5 business days. Should you not receive an email, please call our office at 330-489-3360.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO MILITARY MEMBERS

As provided in ORC 124.23C, any person who has completed service in the uniformed services, who have been honorably discharged from the uniformed services or transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service, and who is an Ohio resident and any member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio National Guard, who has completed more than 180 days of active duty service pursuant to an executive order of the President of the United States or an act of Congress of the United States may file with the director a certificate of service or honorable discharge (DD-214 – Long version), and upon this filing, the person shall receive an additional credit of twenty percent (20%) of the person’s total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade.

A member in good standing of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio National Guard, who successfully completes the member’s initial entry-level training shall receive a credit of fifteen percent (15%) of the person’s total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade.

NOTICE OF DRUG TESTING REQUIREMENT

Pursuant to Civil Service Rules applicants are hereby advised that the position of employment being examined for will be subject to a drug test. The results of the drug test may affect the hiring status of any candidate in consideration.

NOTICE OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Be advised that candidates will be subjected to a confidential background investigation, including, but not limited to, a criminal record check and driving record check.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Reasonable accommodation in accordance with ADA Compliance will be made available upon request to those qualified applicants in need of it, in order to achieve the essential job functions as described above.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for appointment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, political affiliation, age, type of disability, or any other non-merit factor.

BY ORDER OF THE CANTON CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

Anna M. Moeglin, Interim Director

City of Canton permanent, full-time employees (working 30 hours per week or more) and their eligible dependents become eligible for comprehensive health benefits on the first day of the month following 60 days of employment. Health benefits include hospitalization, outpatient services, prescription coverage, dental and vision coverage, and group life insurance.

Time off benefits may include paid vacation, paid holidays, and paid sick leave.

Full-time employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. To learn more about the program and how to qualify, visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

All Safety Forces (Police and Fire) become members of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension (OP & F). All other employees become members of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS).

For additional information regarding benefits, contact the Human Resources Department at 330.438.4136.