911 Dispatcher

City of Minneapolis•Minneapolis, MN

20h•Onsite

About The Position

911 Dispatchers for the City of Minneapolis answer emergency calls involving Police, Fire, or EMS, as well as other public service requests. They prioritize and dispatch calls received at the Minneapolis Emergency Communication Center (MECC), serving as a critical link in the City's Police, Fire, and EMS delivery system and as an important first point of contact for people seeking help. MECC is a well-equipped, 24-hour dispatch center and one of the busiest facilities of its kind in the Midwest outside of Chicago. The position involves rotating shift assignments during the first year based on staffing and coverage needs, with no guarantee of a specific shift. Employees should expect to work a high percentage of weekends and holidays. Continued employment is contingent on satisfactorily completing extensive simulation and on-the-job training in Fire, Police, and EMS procedures and computer-assisted dispatch operations.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least two years of Dispatch/Call Taker experience in a fast-paced 911 environment.
Ability to obtain and maintain Minnesota Criminal Justice Data Network Certification, or pass the CJIS Competency Exam within six months of employment; certification is required to continue employment.
Ability to type 45 words per minute or a keystroke equivalent and pass the typing test and computer skills assessment.
Pass the required selection-process tests and obtain a passing score to proceed through the hiring process.
Satisfactorily pass the extensive simulation and on-the-job training program in Fire, Police, and EMS procedures and computer-assisted dispatch operations after hire.
Complete FEMA incident systems courses 100, 144, 200, 700, and 800.
Good knowledge of 911 Call Center procedures and operations, including dispatching procedures.
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
Good knowledge of Minneapolis geography and a base of knowledge of City government and operations.
Good knowledge of services provided by city, county, state, and federal emergency response and law enforcement agencies.
Knowledge of police and fire field operations and procedures.
Strong verbal communication and listening skills, including the ability to handle emergency situations.
Ability to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment.
Ability to assist in training others in dispatching and phone-answering techniques and to mentor coworkers and new employees.

Responsibilities

Answer and process emergency and non-emergency requests for service using 911 telephone and Computer-Aided-Dispatch (CAD) systems, classifying requests according to department procedures and policies.
Dispatch Police, Animal Control, BCR, and Fire units according to MECC policy.
Provide real-time updates to responding field personnel and monitor updates to calls and responder status.
Alert supervisory personnel when necessary.
Initiate emergency phone tracing using special procedures for landlines and cellphones.
Contact other emergency service organizations, public works crews, utility companies, and others as necessary.
Assist with training, monitoring, testing, and evaluating new MECC Call Takers; provide classroom training, coaching, and performance advice as needed.
Host visitors and observers and explain MECC operations.
Attend community meetings and represent MECC on internal and external committees and special projects as required.
Maintain necessary records.