Telecommunicator

Johnston County, NC; North Carolina; On-site; USD 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Overtime

Paid holidays

No experience earnings

Vacation accrual

Job summary

The Johnston County Communications Department is hiring a full-time 911 Telecommunicator (Dispatcher) to handle emergency and routine calls, dispatch responders, and maintain unit contact until resolution. The position requires calm, decisive action under stress and strong communication skills.

Preferred candidates have experience with DCI, EMD, EFD and/or EPD certifications. Starting pay is $56,908.80 annually ($27.36 hourly) with additional experience-based compensation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Preferred 911 dispatch experience.
• Emergency medical, fire and police dispatch certifications preferred.
• Ability to multitask and work under pressure.
• Strong communication and data-entry skills.

Responsibilities

• Answer 911 emergency and administrative lines and dispatch law enforcement, fire and EMS.
• Dispatch deputies and respond to requests for assistance via two-way radio.
• Maintain contact with units until incidents are resolved and generate reports.
• Operate the DCI terminal to access criminal history and NCIC data.
• Provide information to the public and maintain detailed logs and reports.

Skills

Communication skills

Multitasking

Calm under pressure

Typing

Clear speech

Education

High school diploma

Emergency dispatch certification

Certified Telecommunicator within 12 months

Tools

DCI terminal

Job description

The Johnston County Communications Department has a full-time 911 Telecommunicator (Dispatcher) position available.

The employees receive incoming routine and emergency calls related to the fire departments, law enforcement departments, rescue squads, emergency management, Red Cross, highway patrol, and animal control. Employees dispatch the proper personnel for assistance and maintain contact with units until the incident is resolved. Work also involves assisting the public with directions and general information. Work involves frequent public contact which requires tact, firmness and decisiveness in obtaining necessary information from people who are under extreme stress. Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and state and federal law, supplemented with specific directions from sworn personnel. Work is often performed under stressful emergency conditions. The employee must be alert and possess the ability to make split second critical decisions regarding citizens lives and property. The employees are subject to inside environmental conditions. Work is evaluated through observation, discussion and review of reports by the Telecommunications Supervisor through feedback from officers and emergency management personnel.

Preferred applicant is highly experienced and trained with DCI, EMD, EFD and/or EPD certifications. Certifications will be reviewed. Preference will be given to applicants who have prior 911 Telecommunication experience.

Starting rate for this position is $56,908.80/$27.36 with additional compensation based on relevant experience.

• 2hrs/wk of Built-In Overtime (when released from Training Academy)
• 12 Paid County Holidays
• Potential Earnings w/No Experience: $63,486.37
• Monthly Accrual of Sick & Vacation Time

• Position is responsible for answering 911 emergency phone and administrative phone lines, dispatching law enforcement, fire and EMS to emergency and non-emergency situations by two-way radio.
• Receives routine and emergency telephone calls and personal request for assistance concerning crimes, fire, animal control, home health, or general information concerning addresses and nature of problems.
• Operates equipment to maintain contact with law enforcement personnel and other law enforcement units; dispatches deputies to answer requests for assistance; receives and transmits information and messages.
• Operates equipment to maintain contact with various personnel in dispatching fire departments, rescue squads, police departments, social services, juvenile officers, wrecker services, Red Cross, highway patrol, and emergency management personnel.
• Operates Division of Criminal Information (DCI) terminal to send and receive messages regarding criminal histories, vehicle identification, NCIC hot files, missing persons, license plate records, driver histories, and query system for pawn shop transactions, and related work.
• Maintains an in-house computer database and communications logs and reports including the nature of calls, actions taken and the times involved; and generates reports for recovered or stolen property, missing persons, and residence checks.

Additional Duties

• Provides information to the public in person and over the telephone concerning a variety of County services.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Successful candidate must possess good computer skills, ability to multitask and work under pressure.
• Ability to work a rotating 12 hour shift.
• Prior 911 dispatch experience and certifications highly preferred.
• Considerable knowledge of the operation of a law enforcement and emergency communications system and related Federal Communications Commission regulations.
• Considerable knowledge of the geographic layout of the County, and the locations of streets, important buildings, and other landmarks.
• Working knowledge of the functions, practices and procedures of the Sheriff's Department.
• Working knowledge of various emergency situations in order to provide standing order advice to victims.
• Ability to accurately receive and transmit radio communications.
• Ability to assess people and situations, to apply sound judgment, to remain calm under stressful conditions and to elicit sufficient and essential information for dispatching and assisting field personnel.
• Ability to type.
• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

• Graduation from high school and some related communications, dispatching or reception work experience preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Candidates must possess or obtain certification in emergency medical, emergency fire and emergency police dispatch.

Special Requirements

• Certification or ability to obtain, within 12 months, the Certified Telecommunicator certification required by the North Carolina Department of Justice.
• Certification or ability to obtain certification by the State of North Carolina as a DCI operator.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, talking, hearing, and perform repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform light work exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and 10pounds of force frequently.
• Must possess the visual acuity to perform extensive reading and computer terminal work.
• Must possess the auditory ability to quickly and accurately receive and process auditory information in an environment that includes various background noises such as telephone ringing, multiple frequency radio traffic, and general conversation.