PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST

(911 Dispatcher)/Police Department

Full-time Regular Position

Posted: May 6, 2008

Essential Duties: These are responsible, comprehensive positions performing highly technical monitoring of multiple telephones, radio channels, and computers, to assure prompt and efficient dispatch of all public safety personnel in emergency and routine circumstances for the Provo City Police and Fire Departments. The individuals appointed to these positions will be required to perform the following duties: assist in administering the operations of the Provo City Public Safety Communications Center, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; receive routine and emergency assistance calls from the public, public safety personnel via radio, enhanced 911 lines, direct phone lines and TDD’s, teletypes, and other agencies; perform as the “first link” in channeling requests for all facets of the public safety system (i.e., law enforcement, emergency medical, and/or fire service), and various other City services; analyze the nature and severity of an incident; confirm location, determine priority, and promptly dispatch appropriate personnel efficiently and accurately in accordance with established policy and procedure; maintain radio contact, current status and location of all law enforcement, emergency medical, and fire units in the field; use interactive interrogation skills to elicit specific pertinent and often times crucial information from individuals who are emotionally distraught, frightened, abusive, irate, or threatening; log vehicle impounds for both police related calls and private property; maintain computer and hard copy Rolodex information for after-hours business contacts; perform various record keeping, filing, indexing, and other general clerical work; maintain on-call notification lists for emergency call-outs; coordinate after-hours transient assistance; assist other staff members as needed, and perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements: High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent. Experience with video display terminals and keyboarding preferred. The applicants appointed to these positions must obtain BCI terminal, EMD, CPR certification and POST Dispatch certification during 6 month probationary period. New hire probationary period will be one (1) year.

Preferences: Preference given to applicants with experience in data input and typing ability of 40 wpm. Typing scores will be considered if submitted by the closing date. Typing scores will be accepted from any service or software that provides a printed result. However, all typing skills will be subject to verification.

Schedule: Days, graves, and swing shifts (schedule is bid approximately every 3 months). Applicant must be able to work various shifts. Employee is also required to work holidays and weekends. Current schedule is four 10-hour shifts per week. Schedule is subject to change.

Salary: $1,038 - $1,406 biweekly (range 16) plus full benefits package. Salary will normally begin at the first step of the salary range and payment will be made by direct deposit. Any overtime will normally be accrued as compensatory time. Benefits include: medical, dental, life, and LTD insurance plans, retirement plans, employee assistance and wellness programs, and sick, vacation, and holiday leaves. Optional plans available include: reimbursable medical and child care accounts, a health reimbursement account, vision and AD&D insurance, and deferred compensation (457 & 401k) plans. [NOTE: This position is the first level of a two-tier career series. Appointment or advancement to a higher level of the series is based on the recommendation of the department director and completion of the associated requirements. If appointed directly at higher than the entry level, applicant must satisfactorily demonstrate the required proficiencies during the probationary period.]

Selection Factors: Knowledge of: standard and emergency operating procedures for Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical, and Fire Services; computer operation, data entry, and retrieval; and two-way radio operations and transmission procedures. Skill in performing duties in a manner that demonstrates respect, integrity, courtesy, and kindness towards fellow workers, customers, and the general public. Ability to: assess and prioritize routine and emergency or life-threatening situations; respond calmly, quickly, and accurately to instructions and requests; work under frequent pressure exercising good judgment and making sound decisions; handle multiple emergencies simultaneously; type at a speed necessary for job performance; communicate tactfully and effectively with the public, public safety personnel, and administration both orally and in writing; and extract pertinent details from conversations and written materials.

Screening: Based on meeting the minimum requirements and job-related experience, skills, knowledge, and education. Selection may be based largely upon an oral interview. Criminal background checks are conducted on all City positions. Non-disclosure may result in dismissal.

Physical/Environmental Factors: This work requires: sitting at a video display terminal in a confined work area for extended periods of time; and using a radio/phone earpiece and headset during shift. Work location is primarily inside with potential on scene call-outs of the mobile emergency operations van and team. Routinely undertakes risks that may affect his/her psychological or physiological health based on the stressful nature and scope of circumstances that typically surround public safety service.

Pre-employment Testing: Prior to appointment, applicant will be required to successfully pass a drug screening and background investigation. Individuals with unsatisfactory drug screening results will be ineligible for appointment or application to any Provo City position for a minimum period of six (6) months.

To Apply: All applications must be filed with the Provo City Department of Human Resources located at 351 West Center, Provo, UT 84601 before 6:00 p.m. on the closing date.

Closing Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008

Please click here to obtain an electronic employment application form.  

PROVO CITY CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER