Public Safety Dispatcher

National Park Service • Denali Park, AK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety Dispatcher serves in the Alaska Region Communications Center, coordinating initial emergency responses and handling emergency calls for public safety agencies. The role involves evaluating incidents, gathering critical information, and applying judgment according to interagency guides, protocols, and pre-plans. Communications centers vary by park location and may handle multi-jurisdictional, all-risk incidents or collaborate with federal, state, county, and local agencies.

At the GS-08 full-performance level, the dispatcher may serve as the senior dispatcher on staff, providing orientation, training, and leadership to new or lower-graded dispatchers. The position also involves troubleshooting issues and reviewing operating procedures to recommend improvements. Duties are developmental when the position is filled below the full-performance level; promotion to GS-08 is not guaranteed.

The announcement covers permanent and permanent career-seasonal appointments. Career-seasonal employees work approximately nine months per year and are in non-pay status for the remainder of the year. The dispatcher is an essential employee and may work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, rotating shifts, and uncommon tours of duty. The work is performed in a confined, secure communications center and is sedentary but stressful, with extended periods of focused communication and monitoring. Travel overnight may be required up to two nights per month, and field familiarization may include accompanying law enforcement personnel in patrol vehicles.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
• Successful background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Participation in Direct Deposit is required.
• Successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Pass a pre-employment drug test and be subject to random illegal-drug testing.
• Serve a one-year probationary period, subject to agency evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• May be required to complete a statement regarding physical ability.
• May be required to travel overnight away from home up to two nights per month.
• Obtain a government charge card for travel and complete required training; maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• For GS-06: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05, such as public-safety dispatch or call taking, preparing records of significant events, or operating dispatch-related computer systems.
• For GS-07: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-06, including dispatch and call taking in a complex public-safety environment, coordinating incident responses, and operating dispatch-related computer systems.
• For GS-08: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, including dispatch and call taking in a complex public-safety environment, coordinating incident responses, operating dispatch systems to interpret information and document communications, reviewing procedures and recommending improvements, and providing technical guidance, orientation, and training.
• Applicants must state full-time or part-time work and hours per week in their resumes for experience to be credited.
• Education cannot be substituted for experience.
• Ability to function efficiently in a confined space for extended periods and remain in the communications center until relieved by another qualified dispatcher.
• Clear, understandable vocal communication for extended periods; ability to hear and distinguish multiple communications and signals simultaneously.
• Ability to read critical information quickly and accurately from computer screens, fax, and written logs.
• Manual dexterity to operate keyboards and related equipment and maintain written logs.
• Ability to occasionally lift boxes and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Volunteer experience, including service through National Service programs or other organizations, may be credited when it provides qualifying experience.
• Eligibility for the Department of the Interior EXPLORE Act Veteran Hiring Pilot Program.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate initial emergency responses by evaluating incidents, gathering necessary information, and applying interagency guides, protocols, and pre-plans.
• Receive and evaluate emergency calls and gather information needed to initiate an appropriate response from emergency services personnel.
• Obtain critical information from the public and public safety agencies concerning law enforcement, fire, medical, and search-and-rescue incidents.
• Use specialized computer systems, including NCIC, NLETS, and CAD, to perform dispatch duties, run queries, interpret information, and document communications.
• Coordinate responses by initiating deployment of personnel and equipment and providing communication and logistical support to responders.
• At the full-performance level, serve as senior dispatcher and provide orientation, training, and leadership to new or lower-graded dispatchers.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and review procedures and systems to recommend improvements.
• Maintain written logs and records of significant events and communications.
• During training or other assignments, accompany field law enforcement personnel in patrol vehicles to learn field procedures and jurisdictional boundaries.

Benefits

• Permanent career-seasonal appointments include the same benefits as permanent appointments.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package, subject to position eligibility.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered to eligible and qualified candidates on a case-by-case basis; it is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed