Airport Communications Specialist

TUCSON AIRPORT AUTHORITY•Tucson, AZ

49d•$45,990 - $67,604•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision and administrative direction, this role is responsible for providing public safety dispatch for emergency and non-emergency events for the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) Airport Communications Center (ACC). This includes monitoring security and alarms, communicating with individuals and entities that request or require support services from Police, Fire, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and/or airport support services at Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Ryan Airfield (RYN). The position supports and advocates for TAA’s Mission, Vision, Guiding Principles and acts as a champion and role-model of TAA’s Cultural Fundamentals. The specialist will act in multiple Public Safety Communication roles, including Call Taker, 9-1-1 Operator, Fire Dispatcher, Police Dispatcher, Data Entry Operator, Central Station Monitor, Central Station Dispatcher, Operations Dispatcher, Maintenance Call Taker, and Work Dispatcher. They will manage emergency and non-emergency contacts via radio and telephone, liaising with TAA departments, FAA, ATCT, TSA, local agencies, and other airport operators. The role involves answering administrative and non-emergency lines, as well as emergency calls transferred from the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and the City of Tucson. Responsibilities include querying callers to determine the nature and location of situations, extracting and recording essential information, and dispatching emergency management communications in accordance with standard operating protocols. This includes aircraft alerts to ARFF and airport operations personnel, security-related calls for service to law enforcement, and medical calls for service to EMS personnel. The specialist must comply with FCC regulations and department policies for radio communications, monitor dispatched units, and maintain strict compliance with regulations governing ACJIS criminal justice data and TSA-regulated Sensitive Security Information (SSI). They will retrieve and relay information to law enforcement, enter incident data into CAD, ACJIS, and NCIC systems, maintain logs, and provide operational reports. The role also involves managing and monitoring the TAA Access Control System, CCTV system, and other security and fire alarm systems, as well as operating and monitoring the Emergency Notification System (ENS). Additional duties include answering the TAA main telephone line, providing airport information and paging services, preparing operational reports, and responding to airport emergencies. The specialist will utilize Incident Management System (ICS)/National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocols and procedures and coordinate or participate in after-action emergency de-briefings. Job duties may be adjusted by management based on changing needs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
U.S. Citizenship.
1 year experience in the operation of radio dispatch communication equipment in a police, fire, or medical environment.
1 year of customer service experience.
Knowledge of practices and procedures of a communications dispatch center environment; local, state, and national communications standards; effective transmissions to Police, Fire, EMS, and airport support services during emergency and non-emergency events.
Knowledge of practices and procedures in an airport environment, including Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 139 – Airport Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Part 1542; ARFF; law enforcement; TAA jurisdiction, local agencies and Mutual Aid relationships.
Knowledge of principles and practices of customer service.
Knowledge of manual call recording and dispatch systems; telephone console, radio console, teletype, alarms, CCTV, Access Control Systems, ENS, and other public safety communications systems.
Skill in organization; oral, listening, and written communications.
Skill in independent decision-making; critical thinking, multitasking, problem solving.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective and positive working relationships with department personnel and other TAA personnel.
Ability to perform tasks with a high degree of accuracy, confidentiality, attention to detail, and take independent action relative to work problems requiring immediate solutions.
Ability to exercise mental and sound judgment in responding to calls, both emergent / non-emergent in nature, dispatching first responders, responding to security events, and coordinating airport operational responses.
Ability to be proficient with a variety of computer-based systems including CAD, emergency notification systems, audio and visual systems, and radio/telephone communications systems.
Ability to multi-task, monitor and listen to multiple radio channels, simultaneously take phone calls, and maintain ACC awareness as to what is occurring at other positions in the ACC that may have relevance to what is occurring at their position.
Ability to work under constant time constraints that require fast, efficient, and professional abilities to receive and communicate information accurately.
Ability to assertively control conversations quickly and accurately, gather pertinent information, and be able to communicate this information professionally and precisely to the proper recipient.
Ability to detach from the caller’s emotions yet project an image of empathy.
Ability to remain focused in situations where extreme stress may be involved.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information, exercising discretion and professionalism at all times.
Ability to safeguard confidential information in accordance with organizational policies and legal requirements.
Ability to actively listen to others; be able to understand their needs; be able to effectively address their issues.
Must possess sufficient hearing ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to understand callers, monitor radio traffic, and recognize audible alerts in accordance with the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards and agency requirements.
Ability to communicate clearly via telephone and radio, with sufficient clarity to be understood by others on the telephone, radio, or in person.
Ability to read, write, and speak the English language in an articulate, fluent manner.
Achieve and maintain State of Arizona Certification for Level A Terminal Operator ACJIS within the first (6) months of assuming the position.
Must obtain and maintain access to the Security Identification Display Area (SIDA).
Must successfully complete or show proof of successful completion of the NIMS 100, 200, 700, and 800 course requirements and certification within the first six (6) months of assuming the position.
Must successfully complete the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Basic Telecommunicator Course within one year of assuming the position.

Nice To Haves

Certified telephonic interpretation services.

Responsibilities

Provide public safety dispatch for emergency and non-emergency events for the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) Airport Communications Center (ACC).
Monitor security and alarms.
Communicate with individuals and entities requesting support services from Police, Fire, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and/or airport support services.
Act in multiple Public Safety Communication roles: Call Taker, 9-1-1 Operator, Fire Dispatcher, Police Dispatcher, Data Entry Operator, Central Station Monitor, Central Station Dispatcher, Operations Dispatcher, Maintenance Call Taker, and Work Dispatcher.
Manage emergency and non-emergency contacts, including radio and telephone communications, with TAA departments, FAA, ATCT, TSA, local agencies, and other airport operators.
Answer administrative and non-emergency telephone lines, as well as emergency calls transferred from the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and the City of Tucson.
Query callers to determine the nature and location of the situation; extract and record essential information.
Dispatch all emergency management communications in accordance with standard operating protocols and procedures, including aircraft alerts, security-related calls for service, and medical calls for service.
Comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and department policies/procedures in the transmission of all radio communications.
Monitor the activities of dispatched units; and receive and transmit updated information as it is received.
Maintain strict compliance with all regulations governing the handling of ACJIS criminal justice data and TSA-regulated Sensitive Security Information (SSI).
Retrieve and accurately relay information to law enforcement field units.
Enter all incident data into the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, Arizona Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS), National Crime Information Center (NCIC); maintain various automated and manual logs; record and file information related to call-taking and dispatching activities; and, provide operational reports.
Retrieve and accurately relay information to TAA Airside Operations, TAA Maintenance and other non-public safety units/departments.
Manage and monitor the TAA Access Control System; monitor the TAA Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system and perform CCTV related tasks; and monitor other TAA security and fire alarm systems.
Operate and monitor Emergency Notification System (ENS); test system; make proper notification(s) to airport management and defined user groups.
Operate and test communications equipment in accordance with routine procedures.
Answer the TAA main telephone line and provide airport information and paging services; provide general information and referrals for ground transportation services, airlines, and tenant contact information.
Prepare various operational reports.
Be responsive to airport emergencies and situations that may involve loss of human life or property; support public safety and operational response to emergencies; utilize Incident Management System (ICS)/National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocols and procedures; coordinate and/or participate in after-action emergency de-briefing with appropriate departments and stakeholders.