Public Safety Dispatcher

National Park Service • Homestead, FL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the National Park Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied. Positions may be filled at one or more of the duty locations included in this announcement. Duties The following duties are listed at the full performance GS-08 grade level: Coordinate initial emergency response, evaluating incidents, soliciting all necessary information, and applying judgment according to interagency guides, protocols and pre-plans. Receive and evaluate emergency calls, soliciting information to initiate an appropriate response of emergency services personnel, acquiring critical information (law enforcement, fire, medical search and rescue, etc.) from the public and other public safety agencies. Use a variety of specialized computer programs such as NCIC (National Criminal Information Center), NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System), and CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) in the performance of dispatch duties. Complexity of communication center will vary by park location. Centers may perform multi-jurisdictional all-risk incidents (law enforcement, wildland fire, structural fire, aviation, intelligence, medical, search and rescue, and other emergency services), and/or serve at an interagency level (collaborate with federal, state, county, and local agencies). Serve as the senior dispatcher on staff, providing orientation, training, and leadership for lower graded or new dispatchers. At this level, dispatchers are expected to be able to troubleshoot issues and contribute to more efficient operations by reviewing and making recommendations for improvement of operating procedures. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until . The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be, with subsequent cut-off dates of every 15 days. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Initial consideration will be given to candidates whose applications have been received before the first cut-off date. Qualification and/or time-in-grade requirements must be met for those applications submitted by the first cut-off date. Some positions are career seasonal. The nature of seasonal work may vary from year to year, which is generally based on budget, workload, and/or weather. A career seasonal work schedule provides for at least 26 weeks (13 pay periods) of full-time work, and as many as 26 weeks (13 pay period) of non-duty/non-pay time per year as determined by management. The non-pay time for these positions may be two weeks to six months but is expected to be two consecutive weeks between (ex. October and December). See locations below for non-pay time. You will have the option to continue your health coverage while in non-pay status. Positions may be filled in the following duty locations: Everglades NP - Homestead, FL, 1 position, GS-05/06/07, Perm FT, Required Occupancy, for additional info contact Davy Duca Great Smokey Mountains NP - Gatlinburg, TN, 1 position, GS-07/08, Perm FT, PCS Offered, for additional info contact Doraliz Heemstra Lake Mead NRA - Boulder City, NV, 6 positions, GS-05/06/07/08, Perm FT, PCS Offered, for additional info contact Kristin Lewis Mount Rushmore NM - Keystone, SD, 1 position, GS-05/06, Perm FT, for additional info contact Todd Grabow National Capital Region Communications Center - Harpers Ferry, WV, 4 positions, GS-05/06/07 and GS-07/08, Perm FT, for additional info contact Robin Thomas Although the positions identified above may be listed as Permanent Full-time, these locations may also fill Permanent Career-Seasonal positions from this announcement.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment.
• In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/31/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
• To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
• Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.
• For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214(s) or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
• For the GS-05 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-04 grade level; OR A Bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (You must provide transcripts if qualifying based on education); OR Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester hours) and specialized experience.
• Examples of specialized experience are: Performing work that provides familiarity with public safety policies and procedures such as but not limited to working as a security guard, law enforcement officer, or emergency responder (medical or search and rescue); Relaying information from callers using a multi-line telephone or multi-frequency radio system to initiate a response; Serving as a dispatcher for safety or non-safety services (i.e. perform dispatch functions on a fire, construction site, other).
• For the GS-06 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level.
• For the GS-07 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level.
• For the GS-08 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level.
• Incumbent must function efficiently in a confined space for extended periods with no breaks and no opportunity to leave the confines of the Communications Center.
• The dispatcher is considered an "essential employee," meaning he/she is required to work most holidays, report for duty during adverse weather conditions, and be expected to work for long hours exceeding normally scheduled shifts in case of emergencies.
• Position is sedentary with high amounts of stress.
• Incumbent is subject to shift work, rotating shift work, and uncommon tours of duty.
• Work requires use of the voice in vocal communications for periods of hours at a time. Voice must be clear, audible, and tone effective with words plainly spoken and understandable.
• Incumbent must be able to hear clearly and discern a variety of audible communications and signals simultaneously.
• Incumbent must be able to read critical information from multiple sources, including computer screen, fax, and written log quickly and accurately.
• The work is of an emergency nature and is emotionally stressful.
• Incumbent must possess manual dexterity sufficient to operate computer terminals/keyboards and related equipment and to maintain written logs.
• Work involves occasional lifting of boxes and supplies up to weights of 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate initial emergency response, evaluating incidents, soliciting all necessary information, and applying judgment according to interagency guides, protocols and pre-plans.
• Receive and evaluate emergency calls, soliciting information to initiate an appropriate response of emergency services personnel, acquiring critical information (law enforcement, fire, medical search and rescue, etc.) from the public and other public safety agencies.
• Use a variety of specialized computer programs such as NCIC (National Criminal Information Center), NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System), and CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) in the performance of dispatch duties.
• Serve as the senior dispatcher on staff, providing orientation, training, and leadership for lower graded or new dispatchers.
• Troubleshoot issues and contribute to more efficient operations by reviewing and making recommendations for improvement of operating procedures.
• Provide dispatch and/or call taking services, related to public safety (medical, law enforcement, search and rescue, fire or other emergencies/public safety related).
• Operate computer systems such as but not limited to National Criminal Information Network (NCIC), National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), or similar systems that aid in public safety dispatching to run queries and document communications.
• Provide dispatch and call taking services in a communications center that provides public safety (medical, law enforcement, search and rescue, fire or other emergencies/public safety related) dispatch operation, in a complex environment (i.e. remote/urban environment, wildland fire, or other complex environments or situations).
• Coordinate responses to emergency incidents by initiating response of personnel and equipment according to agency protocols and providing communication and logistical support to responders.
• Interpret information, run queries and document communications.
• Reviewing internal operating procedures and systems related to public safety to make recommendations for improvement.
• Provide technical guidance, orientation, and training to new employees or lower level dispatchers.

Benefits

• You will have the option to continue your health coverage while in non-pay status.
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level