Canton Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher)

City of Canton, Ohio; Canton (OH); On-site; USD 49,000 - 66,000; 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 is seeking a telecommunicator to handle emergency and non-emergency calls for Police, Fire, Water, and Street Divisions. The role involves dispatching personnel, maintaining records, and guiding callers with accurate information.

Applicants must meet high school or GED requirements, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and pass background checks and a 40 WPM typing test while maintaining composure under stress.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; US citizen or permanent resident.
• Able to pass background investigation and drug testing.
• Excellent hearing and clear, pleasing voice.
• Strong written and spoken English; accurate comprehension of complex directives.
• Ability to work under stress, multi-task, and follow oral/written instructions.

Responsibilities

• Receive calls for emergency and non-emergency situations and dispatch appropriate personnel/equipment.
• Maintain logs, records, and forms for the dispatch center.
• Provide information or referrals to callers and coordinate with public safety agencies.
• Operate and monitor radio/telephone equipment and maintain situational awareness.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Excellent hearing

Mental alertness

Clear voice

Communication skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Typewriter

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 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 of 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, adjusting to changing shifts and days off, exposure to a stressful environment, including a windowless, no-smoking situation, and with minimal breaks.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Characteristics:

Some knowledge of operation and services normally provided by police, fire, water and street departments.

Basic knowledge of the community, including location of streets and highways, and 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 written in English such as laws, ordinances, procedures and training manuals, computer printouts, 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 a typewriter 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 utilize eyes, ears, fingers, arms, and/or torso in a mobile and coordinated manner.

The ability to gain knowledge of various communication and emergency response procedures.

The ability to react immediately and precisely to sudden stimuli.

The ability to perform duties under stress with speed and accuracy.

The ability to sit continuously for long periods in a smoke-free environment with no exterior windows and minimal breaks.

Must be health-free from disabling physical or mental defects that would affect the ability to efficiently handle assigned duties.

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 routines 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. Hearing test will be required.

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 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

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

Rachel A. Bell, Director

Anna M. Moeglin, Assistant 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. Click here to access the benefits flyers.