Public Safety Telecommunicator I

Santa Rosa County, FL; Milton (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Rosa County, Florida, is seeking a Public Safety Telecommunicator I to operate in the county's primary Public Safety Answering Point, handling emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatching EMS and Fire units, and relaying vital information to responders. The role emphasizes strong communication, accurate documentation, and the ability to work rotating shifts.

A mandatory drug testing policy applies, and pre-employment requirements include background checks and certifications as outlined

Qualifications

• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.
• Experience in 911 dispatch preferred.
• Must meet minimum attendance standards and be willing to work shifts including nights, weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Answer emergency 911 calls, verify caller information, determine nature and priority of emergencies.
• Dispatch EMS, Fire Rescue units to incidents.
• Monitor and support responder safety with clear, concise communication.
• Accurately document incident details in CAD and other systems.
• Provide pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions to callers.

Skills

911 call handling

Emergency dispatch

Documentation in CAD

Interpersonal communication

Typing 35 wpm

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

CAD system

Multi-line telephone

Radio equipment

Job description

Public Safety Telecommunicator I performs communications work in the County's primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Telecommunicators are a vital link between the public and first responders. This position is responsible for incoming calls for fire, medical, and other emergency assistance and requires one to dispatch emergency units, relay information, and monitor the status and location of all emergency response units.

This is a “Mandatory Testing” position that requires Drug Testing.

Essential functions are fundamental job duties. They do not include marginal tasks which are also performed but are incidental to the primary functions. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, nor does every position allocated to the class necessarily perform every duty listed. Personal characteristics required of all employees, such as honesty, industry, sobriety, and the ability to get along with others, are presumed qualities and may not be listed specifically.

• Answer emergency 911 calls, verify caller information, determine the nature and priority of emergencies promptly and accurately.
• Answer non-emergency administrative calls, including after-hours calls.
• Dispatch appropriate Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire Rescue units to emergency incidents.
• Monitor and support responder safety through clear, concise, and continuous communication providing updated scene and patient information.
• Accurately document incident details, call information, and unit status in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and other reporting systems.
• Provide callers with pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions, including CPR, bleeding control, airway management, childbirth, Heimlich maneuver, and scene safety guidance.
• Select the closest and most appropriate units to respond, ensuring proper resource coverage across the county.
• Follow established operational protocols and standard operating guidelines while adapting to evolving incidents.
• Coordinate mutual aid requests, including air transport, including notifications to hospitals for critical patients.
• Monitor dispatch systems, county building and site alarms.
• Initiate Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG’s) during escalating events and notify appropriate county staff.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information in compliance with laws, regulations, statutes and agency policy.
• Activates emergency management and search and rescue personnel as needed.
• Maintain situational awareness of local, regional, state and national emergencies, weather events, mutual aid status, significant events, planned events etc.
• Provides secondary services to other public safety agencies as needed.
• Operates instant playback and twenty-four-hour recording equipment.
• Research maps, directories, and other reference materials for accurate information for use by emergency response personnel.
• Monitors and tests communications equipment and reports problems to appropriate personnel.
• Operates telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY); text to 911 and relay services.
• Updates lifeguard and water condition information on website.
• Participates in the department’s training program by assisting with the instruction, mentoring, and support of Public Safety Telecommunicator trainees, as assigned.
• May be required to work in remote communications command post areas.
• Interacts with the public in an effective and courteous manner.
• Must demonstrate commitment to our mission, vision, values, and goals and represent the County in a professional, dignified manner at all times both in actions and appearance.
• May have a role in the County’s disaster preparation and/or disaster recovery efforts, as designated in the County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan; may be required to work before, during and/or after an emergency.
• Must be able to meet minimum attendance standards; required to be on-call and work shifts to include nights, weekends and holidays.
• Performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL, VISUAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

The physical requirements are that of sedentary work and include exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required occasionally. Requires repetitive motion of the wrists, hands and/or fingers. Requires fingering to include picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Required to operate a motor vehicle to travel to remote sites. Requires the ability to successfully pass pre-employment and periodic audiometric testing to ensure the ability to accurately receive and distinguish voice and radio communications essential to emergency dispatch operations. Requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures. Transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes. Requires the ability to differentiate between colors or shades of color. Requires the expression or exchange of ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly. Requires perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make the discriminations in sound. Required ability to receive auditory information from citizens and other public safety entities requesting public safety services or assistance as well as providing telephone support. Required to have both active and passive listening to process phone or radio requests, recognize incoming calls, intercoms, alarms, and other interactions with other employees and general happenings in the communications center. Position requires successful completion of pre-employment audiometric (hearing) testing and the ability to meet the minimum hearing standards required to safely perform dispatch and radio communications duties throughout employment.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The work environment involves moderate risks or discomforts that require special safety precautions and/or is exposed to one or more disagreeable conditions such as irate customers, outdoor weather conditions, excessive noise, extreme temperatures, odor, dust, etc. at least 25% but less than 50% of the work time. The worker is exposed to emergency and stressful situations for long periods of time.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of the geographical layout of Santa Rosa County including major streets and roads, subdivisions, apartment complexes, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and shopping centers; proper procedures of dispatching; FCC Rules and Regulations for public safety agencies; operations of local fire departments, emergency medical services, emergency management and search and rescue. Required to operate a personal computer and computer-aided dispatch system; operate multi-line telephone and multi-channel radio equipment. Required to read and comprehend maps; quickly and calmly in emergency situations; work long shifts over extended periods of time during the threat and recovery of an emergency situation; make quick and accurate decisions; wear a headset for extended periods of time; express ideas effectively both orally and in writing; establish and maintain working relationships with employees and public. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent. 911 dispatch experience is preferred. Must be computer literate. Requires a minimum typing speed of 35 cwpm. May be required to pass additional background screening and/or fingerprinting for related functions at Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP’s).

LICENSURE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS:

Requires a valid driver license at the date of hire and maintain said license while employed in this position. Requires CPR certification or Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification within (3) months of employment. Requires successful completion of TTY/TDD certification within six (6) months of employment. Requires successful completion of the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch certification within one (1) year of employment. Requires successful completion of the Florida 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator certification within one (1) year of employment. Requires completion of the Criminal Justice Information Services Training. All certifications must be current.

Applicants must have at least the minimum educational documentation and/or certifications (requested within the job description) uploaded with their application to be eligible for consideration. Documentation may be uploaded at the time of application, scanned and emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered.

NOTE:

The information given on your application will be evaluated against the minimum qualifications of the job description. After all applications are evaluated, your name will be placed on the employment list and sent to appropriate hiring authority for consideration.

The online application and complete job descriptions can be viewed at www.santarosa.fl.gov Complete job descriptions may also be obtained at the Human Resources office located at 6495 Caroline Street, Suite H Milton, FL 32570.

Candidates may be asked to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to the position during the interview process.

A Drug Free Workplace/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER /Veteran's Preference will be given in accordance with Florida Statutes.