EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

City of Owasso; Owasso (OK); On-site; USD 22,264 - 31,709; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable health insurance

Pension and supplemental retirement plans

On-site fitness center

Job summary

The City of Owasso is seeking an Emergency Communications Officer to efficiently handle emergency calls and dispatch services. The role demands quick decision-making, emotional self-control, and the ability to work under pressure.

Qualifications include a high school diploma, two years of experience in emergency services, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. Benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, and an on-site fitness center.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years previous experience in emergency services including police, fire or EMS agencies.
• Ability to type at least 35 words per minute.
• Must maintain a high level of confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Accurately receives and dispatches calls for police, fire, emergency aid/ambulance.
• Responds to multiple time pressures, deadlines, or emergencies.
• Performs housekeeping duties in jail and dispatch areas.

Skills

emotional self-control

multi-tasking

communication skills

Education

High school diploma or GED equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Summary

The Emergency Communications Officer receives requests from the public for police, fire, and emergency medical assistance, and quickly and efficiently dispatches and/or relays calls for service to the appropriate police, fire, and emergency medical agencies or units. Assists emergency service agencies by collecting, retrieving, and disseminating information vital to operations. Also acts as a jailer providing supervision, cleaning duties, meals and phone calls for prisoners. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Dispatch Shift Leader and does not have supervisory responsibilities.

This position is designated as safety sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol screening. As a safety sensitive position, it is exempt from the use of medical marijuana. A pre-employment drug screening, to include marijuana, must be passed to begin employment.

Salary

• $19.59 per hour depending upon qualifications and experience, with the possibility of additional experience-based pay.
• For experienced dispatchers a $500 per year incentive is offered for each full year of emergency dispatch experience (maximum of 5 full years; up to $2,500) payable upon completion of a 6‑month probationary period. Years of experience are approved at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

Benefits

• Affordable health insurance.
• Pension and supplemental retirement plans.
• Wellness initiatives, including $0 copay behavioral health services.
• SmartDollar financial wellness tool.
• On‑site fitness center.

Schedule

• Requires ability to work either day or night shifts in increments of 8–12 hours.
• May include working holidays.
• Subject to emergency call‑ins, shift hold‑over and schedule reassignment for the good of the service.

Essential Functions

• Accurately receives and dispatches calls for police, fire, emergency aid/ambulance and animal control.
• Handles regular, multiple or conflicting demands, time pressures, deadlines or emergencies.
• Views and operates a computer terminal for input and retrieval of records information, including networking with other service agencies and State and National Law enforcement computer systems, sometimes for sustained periods of time.
• Converses by telephone and radio, communicating with and assisting the public, police and fire personnel during emergency and non‑emergency situations.
• Performs housekeeping duties in jail and dispatch areas, including but not limited to sweeping and mopping.
• Requires sustained periods of concentration while performing regular job duties.
• Performs other duties as assigned in a positive manner which supports the vision and strategic objectives of the division/department and the entire organization of the City of Owasso.

Minimum Qualifications, Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Valid OK driver license with no suspensions in the past five years.
• Requires a minimum of two years previous experience in emergency services including police, fire or EMS agencies or private sector high‑volume call center.
• Ability to type at least 35 words per minute.
• Must be skilled or expert in Microsoft Office applications with ability to use efficiently.
• Ability to multi‑task and thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Must have a passion for helping others.
• Possess emotional self‑control in high‑stress volatile work environment.
• Ability to react quickly, efficiently and calmly, and adopt an effective course of action in emergency and routine situations.
• Must maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Demonstrate a high level of accuracy.
• Interest in continued training and learning toward the dispatch field.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background investigation, polygraph exam, psychological exam and drug screening.

Preferred Certifications or the ability to obtain within first year of employment

• OLETS certification.
• Oklahoma State jailer certification.
• CPR and First Aid certification.
• APCO certification.
• EMD certification.

Working Environment and Physical Requirements

Work will be performed indoors in a communications center with regular, multiple or conflicting demands, time pressures, deadlines, or emergencies, and requiring regular sustained concentration. The environment includes exposure to various noises and sounds, and may occasionally include exposure to cleaning solvents as part of the jailer portion of the job.

Tasks typically involve sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods, reaching, repetitive motion, handling, feeling, hearing, and mental and visual acuity, manual dexterity for hand and foot coordination in order to operate required computer software and hardware equipment. Must be able to hear well enough in order to converse on the phone or in person, with ability to tune in to various sounds, and see well enough to operate equipment, view computer screen and fine print, input data, read directions, and inspect work performed for sustained periods of time. The job occasionally requires the ability to lift, push, pull and/or move up to 50 pounds unassisted.

Application Deadline

• Deadline for application: Open until filled.
• Pre‑employment drug screening and background check/investigation required.
• External applicants apply at the City’s employment website at OwassoHires.com.