Communications Officer

Colonial Heights, City of•City of Colonial Heights, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Colonial Heights is currently recruiting for a highly responsible, technical, dispatching position in the Emergency Communications Center of the Fire & EMS Department. This role requires availability for 12-hour shifts, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, on-call, and required overtime. The successful candidate must complete all state-mandated certification classes within the allotted time. This position involves serving as the primary point of contact for all 9-1-1 emergencies and non-emergency calls within the City of Colonial Heights, representing the City and Department professionally with a high level of customer service. The role requires operating a sophisticated workstation with multiple computer systems, including emergency and non-emergency telephone systems, geographical mapping tools, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), and other critical information repositories. The Communications Officer must be able to handle life-threatening emergencies, provide life-saving instructions, interact with distressed callers and public safety personnel, and accurately enter information into the CAD system. Additionally, the role involves establishing communication with hearing-impaired callers, entering and updating information in statewide and national databases, and performing clerical duties.

Requirements

Be at least 18 years of age.
Possess a high school diploma or equivalent with at least 3 years of experience.
Be a US citizen.
Have no felony convictions.
Type 50 wpm.
Be able to speak clearly.
Have the ability to hear and make quick decisions while working in highly stressful situations.
Must possess or obtain VCIN/NCIC Level A certification and maintain certification throughout employment.
Must possess or obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and CPR/AED certifications, and maintain certifications throughout employment.
Successfully pass all phases of our Communications Officer selection process, which will include a written test, panel interview, background investigation, proof of typing speed, medical and drug screening.
Must be available to work 12-hour shifts, which includes any combination of days, nights, weekends, holidays, on-call, and required overtime.

Nice To Haves

DCJS Basic Dispatch and VCIN/NCIC Level A certifications with experience in computer-aided dispatch system and enhanced 911 is desirable.

Responsibilities

Serves as primary point of contact for reporting all 9-1-1 emergencies along with all non-emergency calls in the City of Colonial Heights.
Represents the City and Department in a professional manner and with a high level of customer service.
Provides information or directions to callers, police, fire & rescue/EMS and other public safety agencies, adhering to CHECC, Police, Sheriff, Fire & Rescue department policies and procedures governing the dissemination of information.
Operates a sophisticated work station comprised of multiple computer systems including 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency telephone system, geographical mapping tools (GIS and aerial photography), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), and other repositories of critical information, etc. to answer, triage and process incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for service from the general public or other public safety agencies for the protection of life and property.
During a life-threatening emergency, establishes communications with the caller, provide safety/life-saving instructions, and maintains control of the conversation until units arrive on the scene.
Interacts with callers who may be injured, distressed, distraught and/or emotional, and also public safety field personnel on the telephone and radio to accurately communicate information and instructions in all situations.
Gathers, classifies, and supplements pertinent information obtained from the caller and enters it into the CAD system, consistent with appropriate protocols.
Establishes communications with hearing impaired callers through the TTY application of the telephone system.
Enter and update information in statewide and national databases and review for completeness and accuracy.
Performs clerical duties; and other duties as assigned.