Communications Officer

Department: Executive Administration Classification: Emergency Coordinator 1 Job Category: Classified Staff Job Type: Full-Time Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk) Location: Fairfax, VA Workplace Type: On Site Required Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visasponsorship Pay Band: 03 Salary: Salary commensurate with education andexperience Criminal Background Check: Yes Financial Background Check: Yes Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes Works with Minors check: Yes About the Department: The primary purpose/objective/mission of the University Police Department is to provide a safe and secure environment for all university employees, students, and guests. Embracing the principles of community policing, the department works collaboratively with academic and administrative units, individuals, and organizations in furtherance of the mission of the university. The department delivers a comprehensive program in law enforcement to provide the highest level of safety, security, and service for the students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the university, as they pursue their daily work and study activities, consistent with the laws of the commonwealth, and the policies of the university. About the Position: The Communications Officer provides first responder services and performs a variety of communications and operational tasks in support of public safety, security and law enforcement operations, linking those in need of assistance to those who render assistance. The job is considered Essential/Designated personnel and will be required to work a variety of schedules in a 24-hour, 7 day a week configuration which includes nights, weekends, holidays, and during and following natural disasters and emergency situations. Responsibilities: Provides first responder care to the public and other firstresponders; Through call taking and radio dispatching, provides protectionand preservation of life, property, evidence, and theenvironment.; Triages phone calls, teletypes, and other messages from thepublic and public safety departments for emergency response;creates records in the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system andprovides life-saving instructions; Answers radio transmissions and phone calls promptly andcompetently and provides law enforcement pre-arrival instructionsand coordinates responses with fire, medical, or mental healthcrisis response services; Triages and prioritizes calls for service and job tasksaccording to Policies and Procedures; Maintains familiarity with street, building, and landmarkgeography within jurisdiction and immediately adjacentproperties.; Requests emergency phone pings from cell phone carriers whenlife threatening emergencies exist; Demonstrates advanced situational assessment skills and soundjudgment, strong public and internal relations, teamwork andadvanced multitasking skills; Performs specialized tactical-communication dispatch,monitoring and response to situations requiring it. Communicateseffectively and decisively with people in great distress, harm,fear, or injury, while employing experience and training to obtainand disseminate critical information efficiently; Monitors and operates emergency communications equipment; Receive and transmit radio messages using codes and signals asrequired by the FCC regulations. Operates MCC-7500E radio consoleon regional radio network, in compliance with GMU and FairfaxCounty policies, assigning use of encrypted and non-encryptedchannels when necessary; Monitors and/or controls all GMUPD assigned channels, regionalinteroperability channels, and PMARS. Follows equipment outage andnotification procedures, troubleshoots technical issues as anend-user. Speaks clearly and articulately, maintaining familiaritywith incident protocols and required procedures for relayingconfidential or sensitive information via radio; Operates multi-line phone system effectively ensuring bothemergency and non-emergency calls are addressed and/or transferredwhen required; Operates Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records ManagementSystem (RMS), and Mobile Data Terminal interface in accordance withcurrent department, state, and federal policies and procedures.Obtains, organizes, and enters, and retrieves a variety of datainto and from computerized data systems. Records and maintainsdetailed records in CAD/RMS system for each call for service.; Ensures call records document requests for anonymity incompliance with FOIA laws; Receives, processes, and documents Crime Solvers Tips acceptedvia email or phone. Advises patrol supervisor(s) of crime tips whenreceived; Monitor panic, burglar, door, fire and BRL security alarmsystems, CCTV security systems, and headquarters building accesscontrol. Monitors and promptly interacts with systems/applicationsto include, but not limited to, RAVE Guardian system, Mason Alertsystem, and First Due. Dispatch response personnel in accordancewith established procedures; Access, operate, and monitor criminal justice and otherconfidential information databases; Ensures continuous 24/7, uninterrupted operation of NCIC/VCINterminal in compliance with Virginia State Police and FBIregulations. Keeps logs of NCIC/VCIN transactions, retainingrecords in accordance with state and federal requirements. Entersand maintains custody of warrant, protective order, missing person,stolen property, and other law enforcement sensitive records.; Ensures highest level of confidentiality and standards of careare maintained in handling criminal justice records and access ofsecure databases; Maintains VCIN Full Access certification, taking requiredtraining in accordance with Virginia State Police mandates. Enterstime sensitive records into NCIC/VCIN in compliance with state andfederal laws; Disseminates law enforcement BOLO information received viateletype to patrol in a timely manner in accordance with StandardOperating Procedures; Maintains required training as a certified LInX end-user.Accesses, retrieves, disseminates, and documents LInX records incompliance with LInX-governed policies; Accesses university and student record databases with highstandards of care and confidentiality. Shreds/destroys criminaljustice information and confidential records in accordance withNCIC/VCIN and department policies; Participates in university mandated training in compliance withFERPA and Title IX; Provides public services and assistance to community members.Provides assistance to the community by utilizing sound decisionmaking and customer service practices. Ensures that the public isdealt with in a courteous and professional manner, displays nobias, and works to overcome communication barriers; Displays appropriate compassion and empathy, providing publicsafety services with a high standard of care. Looks beyond theinitial problem and seeks opportunities to provide exceptionalcustomer service. Demonstrates competency and employs proper safetyprocedures with handling a variety of customer service issues withtact and diplomacy in a confidential manner; Through problem solving methodologies, provides solutions orthe resources to solve any problem confronting the public.Exercises sound judgement; decisions take into considerationdepartment and university policy, law, and fact; Renders aid and assistance to citizens, law enforcementofficers, and other public safety partners; Responsive to requests for mutual aid; Maintains a professional working relationship with theUniversity Administration, University Life, and the Universitycommunity and other public safety partners to render assistance tovictims, witnesses, and persons in need of resources or services.Provides assistance to crime victims by rendering sensitive andcaring support. Recognizes situations and incidents requiringcrisis intervention and/or mental health resources and utilizingavailable resources, to include 988, when appropriate. FollowsMarcus Alert law through triaging calls and assigning appropriateresponse level and coordinating response resources with 988/CrisisCenter when required. Dispatches law enforcement assistance tomental health crisis/behavioral health responders whenrequired; Practices personal accountability and follows code of conduct,laws, policies, and procedures and is in compliance with trainingand certification required of position; Performs other duties asassigned; Reviews, follows, and maintains a working knowledge of alllaws, state, university, and department policies. Complies withFBI, VCIN, and CJIS policies safeguarding confidential/criminaljustice information; Follows department’s professional standards and code ofconduct. Maintains a professional appearance in compliance withgrooming, hygiene, body art, and uniform standards; Maintains all certifications and qualifications for theposition of Communications Officer; Complies with state, university, and department leave policies;submits written leave requests with reasonable notice, utilizingleave only as approved by supervisor/ department, and for thepurpose of which it is intended; Demonstrates punctuality and reports on time for assignedshifts, court, training, and other duties. Follows assigned workschedule, requests, enrolls in, and attends training, obtainsapproval to work overtime from supervisor, complies with requeststo work overtime, and reports to work during emergencies/call-backas an essential/designated employee; Promotes a positive, professional image and practices personalaccountability and responsibility; demonstrating energy,enthusiasm, and commitment; Devotes full effort to job responsibilities during work hoursperforming assigned duties and responsibilities with the highestdegree of public trust; Conducts themselves at all times in a manner that supports themission of their agency and the performance of their duties; Reports circumstances or concerns that may affect satisfactorywork performance to management, including any inappropriate(fraudulent, illegal, unethical) activities of otheremployees; Works cooperatively to achieve work unit and agency goals andobjectives; Demonstrates respect for the agency and toward agencycoworkers, supervisors, managers, subordinates, residentialclients, students, and customers. Demonstrates professional andethical conduct, honesty, and truthfulness at all times; Meets or exceeds established job performance expectations;and Performs other duties as assigned. Required Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent; Experience in the operation of computers to include Windows andvaried software applications; Experience working with the public; Knowledge and skills in managing and prioritizing emergencycommunication incidents; Knowledge of basic public safety communications concepts andfundamentals; Possess good working knowledge of all available resourceinformation located in the Communications Center or at theuniversity; Excellent judgment and decision-making skills; Excellent interpersonal, problem solving, and verbal/writtencommunication skills; Excellent public relations/customer service skills; Ability to pass rigid background check; Ability to pass a psychological examination; Ability to perform well under stress in a calm, efficientmanner; Ability to successfully complete dispatcher’s certificationcourse at an accredited academy; Ability to analyze all emergency situations to determine courseof action and solve problems; Ability to communicate verbally with adequate radio voice withno speech limitations; Ability to provide professional/caring community-orientedservice; Ability to communicate respectfully to internal and externalcustomers, appreciate diversity and respects differences, maintainconfidentiality; Ability to work with teams or independently with minimalsupervision at times; Ability to be compliant with Virginia State Police/FBI/CriminalJustice Information Services (CJIS) policies; Other attributes include having a dependable work ethic, have ahigh level of integrity, honesty, and accountability; Valid driver's license: must currently possess an appropriate,active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all ofGMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment underMason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 The Officeof Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’slicenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidatesselected with employment contingent upon a favorable review; Must be able to obtain/maintain NCIC/VCIN Full Accesscertification within 30 days of hire; and Required to obtain and maintain NCIC/VCIN operatorcertification in compliance with Virginia State Police and FBIregulations. Required to maintain dispatcher certification regulated by VirginiaDCJS. Preferred Qualifications Associate’s degree in related field; Previous experience working in a public safety field, emergencymanagement, or emergency communications center is preferred; Knowledge of law enforcement/public safety emergencycommunications; Public speaking skills and abilities; and Strong abilities working with varied computer softwareapplications. Posting Open Date: August 7, 2026 For Full Consideration, Apply by: August 21, 2026 Open Until Filled: Yes Mason Ad Statement George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 researchuniversity committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperousworld. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largestand most diverse public research university in Virginia, offeringdegree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,along with certificates and credentials. George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment forstudents, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. Webelieve in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancingour mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; andwe believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity oforigin, identity, circumstance, and thought. Equity Statement George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative actionemployer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in itscommunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration foremployment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability orveteran status, or any characteristic protected by law. Campus Safety Information Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at #J-18808-Ljbffr The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.