EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR I

County of Culpeper; Culpeper (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Culpeper is seeking a Public Safety Dispatcher to handle 911 and non-emergency calls for the Culpeper County Public Safety Communications Center. The role requires interviewing callers, recording incident data, prioritizing responses, and coordinating with police, fire, and EMS units.

Candidates must be able to work under stress, operate CAD and radio/phone systems, and follow complex procedures. A high school diploma and background clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Education equivalent to a high school diploma; public safety experience preferred.
• Must complete background investigation and possess valid Virginia driver’s license.
• Willingness to attend and pass required DCJS and related training within specified timeframes.

Responsibilities

• Answer 911 and non-emergency lines for Culpeper County Public Safety Communications Center.
• Interview callers to obtain essential information and record data on incidents.
• Analyze calls for priority level and determine effective courses of action.
• Broadcast calls to field units and dispatch or cancel back-up as needed.
• Enter information into CAD and other computer systems accurately.

Skills

Emergency dispatch

Caller interview

multitasking

Communication under stress

Radio/telephone operation

Policy/procedure adherence

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

CAD system

Radio/phone systems

Job description

Responsible for performing responsible telecommunications work under frequent stressful conditions. Work is in the receipt of emergency and non-emergency calls for service from the public, law enforcement, and fire and rescue communities, as well as maintenance of radio communications with same emergency units.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Answer phone calls on 911 lines and non-emergency lines for the Culpeper County Public Safety Communications Center
• Interview callers to obtain essential information and record data on incidents as they develop
• Analyze calls for priority level of emergency response and take or recommend an effective course of action to protect life and property by applying complex police and fire policies and procedures
• Broadcast calls for service to police/fire field units, order services requested by field units, dispatch and/or cancel field unit back-up assistance and monitor field units for service availability
• Operate sophisticated computer-aided dispatch radio and phone systems and accurately enter information into the computer, including brief descriptions of crimes, incidents, or other emergencies
• Maintain composure and professionalism when dealing with hostile or frightened callers during stressful or rapidly changing situations
• Assist supervisory and directorial staff in various tasks
• Assist in liaison activities with any and all agencies and persons regarding all operations of the Center
• Prepare and maintain records and files; Prepare reports

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provides information and education to the public on EMS, public safety and related topics
• Perform related duties as required

Education and Experience:

Education equivalent to a high school diploma. Public safety experience is preferred.

Special Qualifications:

Must successfully complete criminal history background investigation, including fingerprinting to include no felony convictions, no serious misdemeanor convictions, all convictions shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Must possess a valid Virginia driver’s license. Ability to successfully complete in-house training program within 6 months of employment. Must attend and pass DCJS Communications Basic Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain NCIC/VCIN, CPR, and EMD within one year of employment. Must complete and pass: IC S 100, 200; NIMS 700; PST1; CPR; EMD; Fire Communications; Dispatchers Role in Homeland Security; and DCJS Basic Communications School.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to learn the methods of operating communication systems, radios and teletype procedures
• Ability to operate complex computerized equipment rapidly and accurately while receiving information by telephone
• Ability to work well in emergency situations
• Ability to speak distinctly and learn correct telephone answering techniques
• Ability to hear and distinguish between several voices at the same time while acquiring and retaining information such as names, numbers and locations
• Ability to wear headset
• Ability and willingness to work any shift to which assigned
• Ability and willingness to work assigned weekends and holidays
• Ability to read maps and knowledge of county geographical area, road systems and the locations of landmarks.
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to follow oral and written instructionsAbility to deal courteously with public under stressful conditions including handling irate persons and emotional situations
• Skill in working under pressure of deadlines and establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with employees, officials, other agencies and the general public

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Essential functions are regularly performed in a public safety emergency communications center setting, often under stressful conditions, primarily sitting for extended periods of time at a telecommunications console position utilizing radio, telephone, and computer equipment. Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The employee is primarily scheduled for shift work hours which normally are 2-3 day periods consisting of 12-hour days. Work periods may have permanent or rotating days off, frequently requiring the employee to work holidays, evenings, or nights. The employee in this position is considered essential personnel, and is subject to working overtime, being held over, or called back for disasters, local emergencies, or special events. Frequent contact with the public, police, fire, and emergency services.

Disclaimer

This above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications as required of employees assigned to this job.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Culpeper County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

General Sign-off

The employee is expected to adhere to all County policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.