Public Safety Emergency Telecommunicator I

Public Safety Emergency Telecommunicator I

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The Department of Emergency Communications and Citizen Service is looking for motivated individuals to provide exceptional emergency communications support to the citizens of Virginia Beach. This is an entry-level position working under supervision and will include receiving, processing, and relaying requests for police, fire, or emergency medical services working on an assigned/rotating shift and working overtime when operations necessitate. Selected candidates will be expected to attend and successfully complete the Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS) 911 academy and on-the-job training. This will include achievement of certifications and progression to the Telecommunicator IV position throughout the employee's tenure with the department.

Please note: This role requires a structured training period and consistent attendance, therefore no planned or pre-approved leave will be granted during the first six (6) months of employment, except in verified emergency situations.

This position is designated as Alpha I: Employees are subject to immediate recall during major and/or emergency situations.

Public Safety Emergency Telecommunicator I duties may include the following:

• Handling emergency and non-emergency calls for police, fire, and emergency medical services using telephone and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) equipment
• Quickly assessing both emergency and non-emergency situations and providing appropriate assistance to citizens
• Utilizing good judgement in applying policies and procedures while functioning in a stressful environment
• Communicating and carrying out instructions and coordinating calls for service between citizens and service providers
• Often multitasking, prioritizing, and making quick decisions.

Up to a $5,000 sign-on bonus is being offered for this position. The sign-on bonuses shall only be for new hires of original employment or re-employment as defined in Human Resources Policy No. 2.01 and within the bonus guidelines as set forth in Human Resources Policy 5.0.

The first installment, $2500, will be awarded upon successful completion of Call Taker and Dispatch Support Training or Police Radio training, whichever occurs first. The second and final installment, $2500, will be awarded upon mastering all-training phases to include Call Taker and Police, Fire, and EMS radios AND receiving a rating of "meets expectations" on the one-year probationary performance appraisal. Both installments are contingent upon acceptable performance as evaluated by the department.

PLEASE NOTE this position has AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS as specified below:

• Criminal History: Conviction of any felony.
• Conviction of any offense involving moral turpitude (lying, cheating, stealing), or gross misconduct (generally crimes against a person) or any derivation of these types of crimes.
• Conviction of any Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor (excluding traffic violations which are discussed separately) or Virginia State Law. (Note: Some minor offenses are classified as Class 1 misdemeanors (e.g., littering) but would not result in automatic disqualification. Convictions of this nature would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in the context of the full investigation/review.)
• Adult commission of undetected crimes of a serious or repetitive nature.

• Traffic Violations: Two or more convictions of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• Drugs: (NOTE: Illegal drug is defined as set forth in the Federal Controlled Substance Act, 21 U.S.C. 800 et al, and by the Code of Virginia.)
• Conviction or admission of illegal possession (touched), use, sale, manufacture, distribution, or intent to sell/distribute illegal drugs and/or controlled substances, including but not limited to heroin, cocaine hallucinogens, methamphetamine, etc., or any derivative thereof (except marijuana which is discussed separately).
• Conviction or admission of illegal possession (touched) and/or use of marijuana or a derivative thereof within the previous 12 months.

• Others: Any punitive discharge from the military, including Bad Conduct and Dishonorable discharge; from any military service.
• Untruthfulness and/or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position. Examples of intentional withholding of information would include deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements.
• Intentional failure to follow the directions outlined in the testing process or relying on others to complete any portion of this testing process.

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications: Must be at least 18 years old and have a High School Diploma or GED. Must be a United States citizen or have been a lawful resident of the United States for the past 10 consecutive years. Special Requirements: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies. Must be able to work rotating shifts (days/evenings/midnights) including weekends and holidays and be available to work overtime when required to meet operational needs. Successful completion of skills testing, including passing written test requirements. Pass criminal history check. Complete Academy training program. Manual dexterity to operate communication equipment including telephone equipment and a multi-screen computer console. Vision to operate communication equipment including telephone equipment and a multi-screen computer console. Hearing to respond to verbal requests for police, fire, or emergency medical services and for information from callers, co-workers, and supervisors, and to respond to alarms and signals, etc. This is a safety sensitive position and is subject to mandatory drug testing. Positive drug test results may result in counseling and/or discipline, up to and including, termination. Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the City's operational status and may be subject to immediate recall during major and/or emergency situations.

Skills: Customer Support, Emergency Communications, Emergency Medical Dispatching, Emergency Radio Communications

Working Conditions: Per HR Policy 6.19, Americans with Disabilities, the City follows the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all hiring and employment decisions. The City shall not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring and employment practices. The City shall make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability upon request unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the City's business. The Working Conditions Summary is intended to provide a general overview of the environmental conditions inherent in the job setting, as well as the physical, mental, and sensory requirements necessary to perform the essential functions of the position in the noted job profile. Please copy and paste the URL below into your web browser to view the Working Conditions Summary for this position.

Official Job Descriptions: To browse official job descriptions, please access this link -

VRS Contribution: All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

Drug Free Workplace: The City of Virginia Beach maintains a drug free workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: The City of Virginia Beach is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status as defined by applicable law.