Communication Officer - Wilmington, DE

Your success is a train ride away!

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

Acts as a public safety telecommunicator for the Amtrak Police Department nationwide handling emergency, and non-emergency calls for police and emergency service requests as well as providing customer service. In addition, communications officers handle all radio communications for the Amtrak Police Department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Receives calls for assistance and dispatches appropriate services.
• Operates the Police Department’s computer-aided dispatch system, alarm system, and a voice-over IP radio system.
• Operates the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and other relative computer systems inthe Communications Center.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Skill in reading map.
• Skill in Operating communication equipment.
• Skill in receiving, prioritizing and dispatching emergency calls.
• Skill in performing multiple tasks in a high stress, high security communication dispatch/call-taking center.
• Be able to successfully complete all mandatory training.
• Be able to successfully pass a thorough background investigation.
• Be able to type a minimum of 35 WPM.
• Be able to think clearly and perform during crisis situations.
• Be able to multi-task in a complex and high-pressure work environment.
• Be able to work in a complex, high-pressure work environment for up to 16 hours.
• Be able to work all shifts to include nights, weekends, and holidays and during inclement weather conditions asCommunications Officers are considered “key personnel” and are required to report regardless of weatherconditions.
• Have a desire to work in the field of public safety and transportation helping people and emergency services duringcritical situations.
• Be able to carry out day-to-day operations in accordance with all communication center written directives andpolicies.
• Acquire through training and maintain job-related certifications which include, but are not limited to, Associations ofPublic Safety Communications Officials (APCO), Public Safety Telecommunicator, and Commonwealth LawEnforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) or applicable system.
• Maintain good attitude and ability to work in a team environment.
• Be able to work a variety of rotating shifts in a 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week operation with diverse work schedules,such as day shift, swing shift, graveyard and other variations, that include irregular hours, weekends, holidays,mandatory overtime, required reporting regardless of weather conditions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous experience and training as a public safety telecommunicator or telecommunicator 40-hour coursecertification.
• Computer-aided dispatch experience and basic computer operations.

COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Interested candidates should be free from the following offenses: felony convictions; serious criminal or motor
vehicle violations; active warrant or capias; active Protection from Abuse Order or Protection Order against
them, etc.

The hourly range is $27.43 - $30.44 (with opportunity for increases, as per the applicable collective bargaining agreement, after beginning employment). Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental and vision plans; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan; life insurance; paid time off; reimbursement of education; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Some benefits are subject to the collective bargaining agreement. Learn more about our benefits here .

Requisition ID: 165516
Posting Location(s): Delaware
Job Family/Function: Safety & Security 
Relocation Offered: No 
Travel Requirements: 0 - 5% 

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions. 

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen. 

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses. 

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.