911 Telecommunicator Trainee

Columbia County•911 Communications Center, FL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Trainee is an entry training-level position for individuals with little or no comparable public safety dispatching experience. Under close, direct supervision, trainees receive extensive training, on-the-job instruction, and hands-on experience in public safety call taking for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other services. Trainees are expected to progressively develop the ability to apply complex rules, procedures, and policies and, by the end of training and orientation, demonstrate and maintain competence across law enforcement, fire, and medical call-taking functions. Successful completion of the training program and orientation leads to advancement to 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator, the initial full-working level. Trainees must obtain the State of Florida DOH 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Certificate, FCIC/NCIC Full Access Certification, 40-Hour Basic Telecommunicator Course Certification, Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification, Emergency Fire Dispatch Certification, and CPR Certification. Applicants with substantially comparable public safety telecommunications experience and specified existing certifications may be hired as a PST. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency by the end of the initial orientation period and have at least six months of recent PST communications and dispatch experience. Work is performed indoors in an open-space, stationary environment, surrounded by computerized control panels and communications equipment. The role involves extensive keyboarding, seated work, and limited movement, along with regular reaching, stretching, and lifting of standard dispatch supplies. Trainees handle stressful and sensitive interactions with the public and must act quickly and remain alert in emergency and potentially life-threatening situations. Shifts may be long or irregular, including 12-hour shifts as staffing requires, occasional extended shifts, and mandatory overtime. Work is required during a locally declared state of emergency.

Requirements

Be at least 18 years old at the time of hire.
Be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Have a high school diploma or GED Certificate of Completion.
Have at least one year of continuous work experience.
Successfully complete recruitment and selection components, including a criminal-history background check meeting Florida Department of Law Enforcement standards for NCIC/FCIC operators and all pre-employment screenings.
Successfully complete pre-employment testing.
Successfully complete each progressive training phase and demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities during training and orientation.
Successfully obtain the State of Florida DOH 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Certificate, FCIC/NCIC Full Access Certification, Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification, and Emergency Fire Dispatch Certification, and complete a CPR course.
Perform extensive data entry and retrieval from visual and/or audio sources; understand and execute complex oral and written instructions.
React quickly and correctly to emergencies, prioritize calls, assess caller emotions, and apply judgment, discretion, and initiative.
Learn and correctly apply detailed procedures and policies, including in non-routine situations requiring independent judgment and critical thinking.
Learn, retain, and use knowledge of Columbia County geography.
Operate computerized equipment, including computer-aided dispatch (CAD), enhanced 911 (ANI/ALI), and automatic vehicle location (AVL) programs.
Accept regular feedback and constructive criticism without becoming defensive.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the public, coworkers, supervisors, managers, user-agency stakeholders, and officials from other jurisdictions and agencies.
Perform effectively under stressful or emotional conditions and in a loud, multitasking environment.
Work any assigned shift, including day, swing, or graveyard, and work all days of the week, including weekends and holidays.
Work mandatory overtime as needed and assigned.
Meet the physical and communication demands of the position, including hearing and speaking clearly, reading and seeing information on equipment and screens, extensive keyboarding and manual dexterity, and sitting for extended periods.
Lift, stretch, or reach for objects or materials weighing up to 10 pounds.
Work long shifts, including 12-hour shifts as required by staffing levels and occasional extended shifts.

Nice To Haves

Additional language aptitude is desirable.
Applicants with substantially comparable public safety telecommunications experience, a State of Florida DOH 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Certificate and CPR Certification, and at least one of EMD Certification, EFD Certification, or NCIC/FCIC Full Access Certification may be hired as a PST; they must also have at least six months of recent PST communications and dispatch experience.

Responsibilities

Receive and transmit emergency and non-emergency calls, complaints, and inquiries by telephone and radio.
Assess callers’ emotional states and respond appropriately.
Evaluate and prioritize calls according to urgency.
Respond to requests from emergency response personnel.
Operate multi-line telephone and teletype systems, computers, data communications terminals, and other communications equipment to access and relay information.
Record the nature and source of incoming and outgoing telephone messages.
Study and maintain familiarity with major roads, streets, industrial plants, buildings, and other local geography.
Dispatch public safety personnel and equipment safely, quickly, and efficiently; relay messages exactly as received.
Apply procedures and policies in routine and non-routine situations, using judgment and initiative as appropriate.
Perform other related tasks and duties as required or assigned by a supervisor.
Work during a locally declared state of emergency.