Public Safety Dispatcher

Summary

About the Position: Serves as a Public Safety Dispatcher in the Directorate of Emergency Services, Fort Greely, Alaska, providing emergency response dispatching of law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services to the public by answering emergency 911 calls and responding with appropriate personnel and equipment.

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Duties

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• Provide emergency services to the public by answering emergency 911 calls and responding with appropriate personnel and equipment.
• Provide initial incident command support until responding emergency units arrive on scene.
• Responsible for caller interrogation to determine the problem and the nature of the call.
• Identify nature of emergency, level of response required based on local protocols, and provide any additional information to the responding units.
• Transfer caller to proper agency as determined or dispatches a variety of emergency equipment to include police, fire, ambulance, rescue or hazardous materials units.
• Maintain an accurate status of all emergency response equipment and personnel to ensure prompt and accurate response.
• Operate Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) system, telephones, radios, and station alert systems.
• Provide emergency medical dispatching assistance to callers with medical emergencies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Temporary duty (TDY) travel is required up to 10% of the time.
• Incumbent is required to work (mission essential) regardless of weather conditions or base closure and to report to the duty station at the regularly scheduled time. The work is performed in a highly stressful, restricted office environment.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain (within 1 year of employment) certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Medical Dispatch certification.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain (withing 1 year of employment) Department of Defense Telecommunicator I and II; Department of Defense HAZMAT Awareness certification and Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) Full User certification.
• Must be able to work shifts, overtime, weekends, or holidays as required.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Minimum Qualifications - GS-05

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes operating emergency dispatching or communications equipment to assist with dispatching public service assistance such as police, fire, or medical services. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

OR

Education: Four years of education above the high school level obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60. Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications - GS-06

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1) Assisting with answering/assessing 911 emergency calls to determine appropriate course of action; 2) Operating telecommunications equipment such as computer aided dispatch systems, 911 emergency telephone equipment and radio systems to dispatch public service assistance (i.e., police, fire or medical services); and 3) Operating office automation software to input, retrieve, or maintain data pertinent to emergency dispatch operations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

Minimum Qualifications - GS-07

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1) Assisting with answering/assessing 911 emergency calls to determine appropriate course of action; 2) Operating telecommunications equipment such as computer aided dispatch systems, 911 emergency telephone equipment and radio systems to dispatch public service assistance (i.e., police, fire or medical services); 3) Operating automated systems, emergency dispatching and communications equipment and 4) Assisting with providing pre-arrival instructions to 911 callers until appropriate emergency units arrive on scene. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements for the GS-05 grade level, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Note: For this job you must meet the qualification requirements using experience alone at the GS-06 and GS-07 grade levels - no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is Career Program and Field (24) - Transportation and Distribution Management position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• Recruitment and relocation incentives MAY be authorized.
• Student loan repayment MAY be authorized.
• Salary negotiations for those candidates who are new to Federal service MAY be authorized.
• Credit for Prior Non-Federal Work Experience and Certain Military Service for Determining Annual Leave Accrual Rate MAY be authorized.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.