Public Safety Dispatcher

Akml; Juneau (AK); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring bonus of $10,000

Relocation assistance

Employee wellness program

Access to gym and mental health sessions

Job summary

The City & Borough of Juneau is recruiting for Police & Fire Public Safety Dispatchers. As a dispatcher, you will provide vital services to the public and emergency responders, answering calls and managing radio communications while working in a fast-paced environment. Candidates should have excellent communication skills and enjoy multitasking.

New dispatchers receive approximately seven months of on-the-job training, ensuring they are well-prepared to handle all situations. The role supports not only the community but also offers various wellness programs to assist employees.

Qualifications

• Experience in general administrative and communications work within the last 10 years.
• Experience managing customer service in high-pressure settings.
• Proficient in using computer systems for research and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Answer 911 and non-emergency lines, provide service to the public.
• Manage radio channels and coordinate with emergency responders.
• Perform data entry and record dispatch activities.

Skills

Excellent communication

Calm demeanor in emergencies

Attention to detail

Rapid task switching

Education

High school graduation or equivalent

Job description

$10,000 Hiring Bonus for eligible applicants; inquire with hiring manager

Plus

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE available; inquire with hiring manager

Juneau is recruiting for Police & Fire Public Safety Dispatchers!

For applicants located outside of Juneau, all testing can be completed remotely.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Communicates very well and will provide excellent customer service even in difficult circumstances.
• Remains calm in tense or fast‑paced situations and emergencies.
• Has exceptional attendance, reliability, and dependability.
• Has great attention to detail while summarizing and performing data entry.
• Has excellent recall with ability to switch from one task to another in rapid succession.
• Wants to participate in helping the community from behind the scenes.

THE BENEFITS OF JOINING OUR TEAM

Do you enjoy helping people while working in a fast‑paced environment where multitasking is essential and attention to detail is critical? Working as a Public Safety Dispatcher for the Juneau Police Department is a personally rewarding and challenging career that has a significant positive impact on the community.

New dispatchers receive about 7 months of on‑the‑job training to learn call processing, computer systems, and radio procedures. Dispatchers provide service to the public and to responders over the phone and radio as part of a big team of people who serve the community. We work together through good times and during crises, emergencies, and difficult events. Most days are fun and challenging. Some are stressful and can be emotionally draining. Between your coworkers’ support, structured training and Wellness program, you will develop coping skills that will help you be able to bounce from the tough calls.

On any given day, dispatchers may start with a parking complaint, then give someone CPR instructions, help solve an argument between a caller and their partner, conduct research and data entry, provide general information about city services, and sometimes help to deliver babies over the phone.

The CBJ Health and Wellness Program

• An opportunity to earn a health insurance premium discount of $1300 per year
• An Employee Assistance Program (https://juneau.org/human-resources/employee-assistance-program)
• Wellness Pass Discounts to local and CBJ recreation Facilities
• Health‑related webinars
• Office Ergonomic Assessments

For more information on the CBJ Employee Wellness Program visit: https://juneau.org/human-resources/wellness-program

JPD’s Wellness Program

• 10 free sessions per year with a qualified mental health professional for you and your family
• 10 free group sessions for employees and their families
• Initial and ongoing resiliency training for employees and their significant other
• Annual wellness check‑ins
• Peer support teams dedicated to serving employees and their families
• A chaplain program
• A wellness room
• Yearly wellness‑related events. Employees also have access to an onsite gym.

WORKING HOURS AND LOCATION

This is a full‑time union‑represented position typically working a combination of 8‑hour and 12‑hour shifts for 40+ hours per week. Shifts regularly include work during the evening, overnight, weekends, and holidays. Employees receive extra pay differential when working swing shift (4.5%) and night shift (6.5%). Overtime is paid, and extra leave is granted when working holidays. Work assignments and personal leave are bid and scheduled based on seniority.

The Communications Center is located at the Juneau police station on Alaway Avenue in the Lemon Creek area and has plenty of free, convenient parking available in a secure parking lot.

You will be answering phones, 9‑1‑1 lines, managing radio channels, providing customer service, solving problems, sharing information with the public, and tracking all of this activity in a computer‑aided dispatch system. Duties quickly fluctuate between performing data entry, talking to callers during their times of need, and making critically important decisions in support of the community, Juneau Police Department, and Capital City Fire/Rescue responders. Most calls for service involve either police, community service, fire, EMS, the Mobile Crisis Team or Sobering Center responders, with some calls getting all of the above. It is important to be able to work with considerable independence, use good judgment, and take actions based on policy while taking into account different situations and conditions on the fly. Tasks are constantly prioritized, re‑evaluated, and re‑prioritized. There are times of very heavy workload, and there are also periods of down time when administrative tasks are performed.

Education

High school graduation or the equivalent.

Experience

The required experience listed below may be gained concurrently and must have been obtained within the last ten (10) years.

• 24 months of general administrative, communications or technical work experience requiring gathering, analysis, categorization and documentation of information;
• 12 months of experience using computer systems to input, research, maintain and retrieve information;
• 12 months of customer service, call center, collections, legal office or reception work explaining services, program requirements, procedures, summaries of actions and eliciting information.

Other

At least 18 years of age at the time of appointment.

Special Notes

Appointment to Public Safety Dispatcher positions will be made conditionally pending successful completion of all portions of the background process, psychological evaluation, and pending receipt of verified negative results of pre‑employment testing for controlled substances (this includes: new hires, short term temp, long term temp, transfers from another CBJ department, or former JPD employees who have been separated from JPD employment for more than 30 days). All information provided by the applicant will be verified. Applicants who materially misrepresent any information provided in the employment process will be excluded from consideration or dismissed if already employed.

Audiometric testing shall be performed on each candidate who has received a conditional job offer. This test will detect any physical or medical condition that could adversely affect the candidate’s ability to safely perform all essential job tasks. Audiometric testing will be administered by a licensed physician and will occur prior to employment. Former Juneau Police Department dispatchers are required to submit to this test.

NOTE: Although marijuana usage is legal in Alaska, such drug use is not federally legal. Furthermore, according to departmental policy and Alaska law, an applicant with marijuana use in the past one (1) year will be automatically disqualified.

APSIN NOTIFICATION: Please be aware – this position requires the use of the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN). A security clearance issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is necessary to use APSIN. DPS will deny security clearance for any applicant who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in this state or another jurisdiction, or who may be a fugitive from justice. Additionally, security clearance will be withdrawn if DPS discovers that material information was falsified or omitted at the time of the initial application for security clearance. With written consent (see supplemental document), a criminal history report will be obtained prior to any testing or interviews in order to evaluate a candidate’s suitability in obtaining an APSIN clearance.

Physical Requirements

See well enough to quickly read fine print, charts, graphs, maps, VDTs and to see fine detail with no color deficiencies; hear well enough to understand radio and telephone transmissions through headsets, handsets, and speakers, sometimes with interference, static and background noises, such as with others talking in the room, audible radio noise and telephones ringing; hear others whether or not they are in view; discern various tones, rhythms and series of "beeps" through a headset and over a speaker; speak in a clear, understandable voice with sufficient volume and tone quality to project effectively over the radio, telephone, and in person; stamina to sit for long periods; use of fingers and hands to write, operate computer keyboards and radio computer equipment.

Department Requirements

Ability and willingness to work shifts, holidays, weekends, scheduled and emergency overtime, and be available for required on‑call duty; attend local and out of area training courses as authorized and required; willingness to wear a uniform and comply with department grooming standards; maintain minimum unscheduled absences and a high rate of attendance; maintain a positive attitude and be flexible to change.

Hiring Manager Contact Info

Communications Center Supervisor: Celeste Lopez

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Vacancies

We have 4 vacancies to fill.

Special Notice - Sign On Bonus

The sign on bonus will be paid in two equal installments, less mandatory deductions. Employees will be eligible for the first installment at the time of appointment. Employees will be eligible for the second and final installment after completion of the training program. For additional information please contact the hiring manager listed above.