Communications Officer

City of Cape Girardeau; Cape Girardeau (MO); On-site; Full time

Job summary

The City of Cape Girardeau is seeking a Dispatcher for its Communication Unit, responsible for managing emergency and non-emergency calls. This position requires strong communication, decision-making skills, and ability to handle high-stress situations effectively. The role offers competitive pay and benefits including health insurance and retirement plans.

Benefits

Twelve paid holidays per year

96 hours of vacation accrued yearly

City paid health and dental insurance

Retirement (LAGERS) paid by the City

Qualifications

• Must have certification by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in computer entry.
• No felony convictions are required.

Responsibilities

• Receives and screens emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Monitors and transmits emergency radio traffic.
• Provides information and instructions to the public.

Skills

Communication

Decision Making

Stress Management

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

General Definition of Work

Performs works responsible for receiving, evaluating and disseminating calls for police, fire and emergency medical service through the City of Cape Girardeau’s Communication Unit.

Essential Functions

● Receives, screens and takes appropriate action on all emergency and non-emergency calls. Disseminates between law enforcement, medical and fire response. Determines nature and location of emergency, determines priority and dispatches emergency responders as necessary in accordance with established department policies and procedures. Relays pertinent information to law enforcement and emergency services responders.

● Assists caller in high stress situations, such as but not limited to domestic violence, suicide, hostage situations, homicides and life or death medical situations.

● Answers emergency 911, non-emergency, text and TDD calls for service.

● Monitors and transmits emergency and non-emergency radio traffic for the city, along with monitoring a multi-agency radio system and assisting surrounding agencies with mutual aid requests.

● Provides information, instructions and assistance to the public within the scope of authority; provides detailed call information to first responders as needed; maintains status and awareness of unit locations; monitors message traffic and relays information as required using computer aided dispatch system (CAD).

● Refers citizen with non-law enforcement problems to appropriate agencies.

● Monitors building security and all external city-owned video surveillance via closed circuit camera.

● Monitors jail security via closed circuit camera and audio system; provides back-up jail security via electrical jail door lock.

● Performs other related duties as assigned.

● Employees shall promptly report for duty when assigned to work overtime, special hours or special shifts. Employees may be required to report to work without advanced notice.

Minimum Qualifications

● High School diploma or equivalent.

● No felony convictions

● Certification by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) in computer entry and inquiry is required the first year of employment and re-certification as required by the MSHP.

● Must meet continuing education requirements as established by the State of Missouri.

Preferred Qualifications

●Experience as a public safety communications/dispatcher.

Shifts

● Shifts will be days and evenings.

Salary per hour $18.04, plus a generous benefit package.

• Bi-weekly pay periods.
• Twelve paid holidays per year.
• 96 hours of vacation – accrued throughout the year.
• 96 hours of sick leave – accrued throughout the year.
• 2days of personal leave per fiscal year. Must be employed on July 1 of the fiscal year to receive.
• City paid monthly premiums for health and dental insurance – Employee only.
• City paid monthly life insurance for employee only (1 times annual salary up to $50,000).
• Optional group term life insurance purchased at employee’s expense.
• Optional vision insurance purchased at employee’s expense.
• Voluntary deferred compensation plan – not matched by the City.
• Retirement (LAGERS) paid by the City. Missouri LAGERS – A Secure Retirement for All (molagers.org).
• Total compensation value (Hourly starting rate plus benefits value) for this position is $27.11hourly/$56,387yearly.

Applicants selected to participate in the hiring process will be required to participate in a written exam and interview that is by invitation. Interested candidate will be notified prior to the next exam date and time. Interviews will be held later that same day.

Before final appointment, successful applicant will be required to successfully complete a drug test, background investigation and pre-employment physical.

The City of Cape Girardeau reserves the right to notify only those individuals selected for an interview as to their status of their application for employment. EOE/ADA/M/F/V