911 Dispatcher

911 Communications Officer

Benefits:

• Competitive salary - because saving lives is priceless!
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan – because heroes deserve a secure future too!
• Ongoing training to level up your superhero skills.
• A career with purpose through helping people and giving back to the community!
• Team atmosphere
• Starting pay $26.86 per hour, with an additional $.25 - $.50 shift differential pay (depending on the shift)

Key Responsibilities:

• Answer urgent calls from the public and become the lifeline between help and those in need.
• Swiftly assess emergencies, dispatching the right heroes – police, fire, medical to the rescue!
• Your quick thinking and precise instructions could be the difference between chaos and calm.

Join our team as a 911 Communications Officer and be the lifeline between help and those in need. As a crucial part of our emergency response system, you will receive and prioritize calls, dispatch appropriate services, and provide vital instructions to callers. We're seeking individuals with strong communication skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and familiarity with emergency communications systems. If you're ready to make a difference and contribute to community safety, apply now! Join us in being the voice of hope in times of crisis.

Essential Duties:

These duties represent the typical duties and responsibilities assigned to this position but are not inclusive of all tasks performed.

• Responsible for comprehensive knowledge of department responsibilities and programs in order to answer general internal and external customer questions; ascertains the appropriate contact within the department or county, or refers to an outside source in an efficient, professional manner
• Efficiently and accurately receive, initiate and document telephone, radio and computer communications
• Create and maintain accurate records providing documentation for all events and occurrences within the Emergency Communications Center
• Enter, verify and remove data from multiple proprietary software systems and national databases
• Evaluate, prioritize and disseminate information to proper authorities in an efficient and effective manner
• Recognize and properly respond to multiple and simultaneous events
• Communicate at all times in a professional and courteous manner
• Effectively present information and respond to questions, including ability to testify in court when necessary
• Interpret messages, analyze distance and time periods, and utilize map data to identify addresses and the geographic layout of Polk County
• Adhere to Department's confidentiality policy
• Provide backup to peers during periods of absence and during peak workloads as directed to meet staffing needs of the 24/7 Emergency Communications Center
• Fulfills the department's mission and purpose

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Individual must be able to demonstrate aptitude and skills directly related to this position through computerized, standardized pre-employment assessments.
• Individual must be free of unpardoned felony convictions.
• Individual must pass a standardized psychological screening for Communication Officers

Education/Experience: 1. High School Graduate, GED, or HSED. 2. Associate degree in a related discipline or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Competency Requirements:

• Integrity/Honesty - Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct, maintains confidentially, and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
• Accountability - Assumes responsibility for successfully accomplishing work objectives and delivering results; setting high standards of performance for self and others.
• Quality Customer Service and Community Relations - Anticipates and strives to meet the needs of both internal and external stakeholders (employees, contracted staff, residents, families, and other internal and external clientele). Delivers high-quality services; is committed to continuous improvement.
• Communicates/Interacts with members of the public and other key stakeholders in a way that elicits positive response and participation, which on occasion, may include interaction either one-on-one or with several stakeholders at one time to present information and/or represent the facility's interests.
• Communications – delivers clear, effective communication and takes responsibility for understanding others
• Written and Verbal Communication Skills - Recognizes or uses correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Accurately assesses situations, seeks new information if necessary, and applies all available information to reach sound conclusions/formulate effective response. Requires little guidance for responding to a wide range of complex situations with far-reaching and/or enduring consequences.
• Stress Tolerance - Maintains effective performance when under pressure, confronted with opposition or criticism, and/or when the situation is dangerous. Ability to continue performance of duties in times of insufficient staff or resources, fluctuation or uncertainty of direction or role, and times of encountering disagreements or criticism when performing duties. Presentation and defense of position in a public forum, which at times entails facing opposition, may be required.
• Interpersonal Relations - Develops and maintains effective relationships with others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and in different situations; shows understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness.
• Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity.

Certificates, licenses, registrations: Training for certification will be provided during initial employment with Polk County, however, employee must:

• Must obtain and maintain Basic TIME System Certification
• Must obtain and maintain an Advanced TIME System Certification
• Must obtain and maintain certification in Emergency Medical Dispatch and CPR

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift or move up to or more than 40 pounds. The employee must be able to work any hours assigned without restriction or limitation. The employee must be able to work continuously through peak call volume for as long as necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to:

• Frequently exposed to intense level of various and simultaneous activities
• Continual work in close quarters in a secure setting, exposed to artificial light and electronic equipment
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.