Communications Officer

Communications Officer

The City of Colonial Heights is currently recruiting for a highly responsible, technical, dispatching position in the Emergency Communications Center of the Fire & EMS Department. Must be available to work 12-hour shifts, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, on-call, and required overtime. Must successfully complete all state mandated certification classes within allotted time. Applicants with DCJS Basic Dispatch and VCIN/NCIC Level A certifications with experience in computer-aided dispatch system and enhanced 911 is desirable.

Qualified applicants must be able to make quick, independent decisions, to handle simultaneous tasks under pressure, to learn the geography and street systems of the City of Colonial Heights and neighboring jurisdictions, to speak distinctly on the telephone and radio and be able to accurately enter orally supplied information into a computer are important in this job.

Examples Of Duties

• Serves as primary point of contact for reporting all 9-1-1 emergencies along with all non-emergency calls in the City of Colonial Heights.
• Represents the City and Department in a professional manner and with a high level of customer service.
• Provides information or directions to callers, police, fire & rescue/EMS and other public safety agencies, adhering to CHECC, Police, Sheriff, Fire & Rescue department policies and procedures governing the dissemination of information.
• Operates a sophisticated work station comprised of multiple computer systems including 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency telephone system, geographical mapping tools (GIS and aerial photography), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), and other repositories of critical information, etc. to answer, triage and process incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for service from the general public or other public safety agencies for the protection of life and property.
• During a life-threatening emergency, establishes communications with the caller, provide safety/life-saving instructions, and maintains control of the conversation until units arrive on the scene.
• Interacts with callers who may be injured, distressed, distraught and/or emotional, and also public safety field personnel on the telephone and radio to accurately communicate information and instructions in all situations.
• Gathers, classifies, and supplements pertinent information obtained from the caller and enters it into the CAD system, consistent with appropriate protocols.
• Establishes communications with hearing impaired callers through the TTY application of the telephone system.
• Enter and update information in statewide and national databases and review for completeness and accuracy.
• Performs clerical duties; and other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

Applicants must :

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent with at least 3 years of experience.
• Be a US citizen.
• Have no felony convictions.
• Type 50 wpm.
• Be able to speak clearly.
• Have the ability to hear and make quick decisions while working in highly stressful situations.
• Must possess or obtain VCIN/NCIC Level A certification and maintain certification throughout employment.
• Must possess or obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and CPR/AED certifications, and maintain certifications throughout employment.
• Successfully pass all phases of our Communications Officer selection process, which will include a written test, panel interview, background investigation, proof of typing speed, medical and drug screening.
• Must be available to work 12-hour shifts, which includes any combination of days, nights, weekends, holidays, on-call, and required overtime.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The work is generally performed in an office environment. Typically, the employee may sit to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, stooping, carrying of light items such as papers, books, or small parts, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions. Use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals are minimally required.