Dispatcher-Seasonal

United Planning Organization•Washington, DC

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The United Planning Organization (UPO) is seeking to hire three (3) Seasonal Dispatchers for the Shelter Hotline Program/Community Health Division. This role is crucial for managing the coordination and dispatching of UPO drivers to provide essential outreach and transportation services for District residents in need of emergency shelter. The Dispatcher will also serve as the primary point of contact for individuals, families, service providers, and other agencies regarding persons identified as at-risk or requiring services due to environmental hazards from inclement weather.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED or equivalent.
Two (2) years of experience in a dispatcher position.
Two-way radio experience is required.
Possess ability to accurately perform routine math problems, i.e., basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Geographic knowledge of the DC area is a must.
Possess strong interpersonal, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to use a computer system to retrieve schedule information.
Ability to reference materials to quickly and accurately determine the best method to assist clients.
Ability to complete a variety of daily reports and clerical duties.
Ability to manage emergency situations for vehicle drivers and act as a liaison between the drivers and emergency services.
Ability to work a varied schedule, including nights, holidays, and weekends during all types of weather.
Must be able to work well under extreme pressure and be sensitive to the needs of callers.
Must be able to work sensitively and effectively with individuals of diverse educational, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

First-Aid & CPR certification.
Bilingual/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Answer phones, log all calls, and provide customers with requested information and referrals to appropriate resources, including shelters.
Dispatch drivers to designated locations for client pick-ups using a two-way radio system.
Facilitate the transportation of homeless clients to and from approved destinations across the city.
Communicate with shelters to maintain a daily census of bed vacancies throughout the shelter system.
Complete required documentation relating to call logs, manifest logs, and shift activities.
Contact shelters when Homeland Security/Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) calls "alerts" on or off due to severe weather conditions (heat or cold).
Work closely with Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), Mental Health, and HSEMA to assist clients experiencing emergencies/crises.
Coordinate the linkage of families to Virginia Williams Family Resource Center (VWFRC) and transportation to designated shelter placements.
Furnish callers with approved information on facilities, resources, and service providers.
Issue informational materials to drivers for distribution to the homeless population.
Manage the coordination and dispatching of UPO drivers to provide outreaches and transportation services for District residents needing emergency shelter.
Act as the first point of contact for individuals, families, service providers, and other agencies as it relates to persons identified as at-risk or requiring services to combat environmental hazards due to inclement weather.
Coordinate linkage of families to Virginia Williams Family Resource Center (VWFRC) and transportation to designated shelter placements.
Manage and improve daily service by reviewing route performance and other daily tasks.