Public Safety Telecommunicator

Prince William County Government • Woodbridge, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Telecommunicator, you will provide service and assistance to residents, visitors, and public safety partners. You will be responsible for promptly receiving and prioritizing emergency and non-emergency calls from the public. This includes gathering essential information and details from callers to assess the nature of the situation accurately and dispatching the appropriate resources and public safety personnel. You will have a unique responsibility in a fast-paced environment that requires careful attention to detail, multi-tasking, and good communication skills. After you have completed training and are released to solo duty, there are many opportunities for upward growth and promotion as a Telecommunicator II (Police or Fire dispatcher) and a Telecommunicator III (Police and Fire dispatcher), with each step including a 10% increase in salary.

Requirements

• High school diploma or General Education Requirement (G.E.D.)
• Be 18 years of age at date of hire
• Be a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States and eligible for naturalization
• Type 30 words per minute
• Successfully pass full background investigation to include polygraph, psychological evaluation, drug test and software-based application skills test.
• Pass a software-based application skills test
• Pass a polygraph, drug testing, criminal history check, a physical, hearing test and a psychological examination
• While in training, must obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), and CPR certification

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience as a 911 operator or in a high-volume call center
• Certifications in CPR, Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and basic telecommunicator class (e.g., APCO)
• Foreign language translation skills
• Experience providing instructions over the phone and dealing with the public in stressful situations
• Basic knowledge of computers and software (e.g., Computer Aided Dispatch, Records Management System and Microsoft Office, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Receive and prioritize emergency and non-emergency calls from the public.
• Gather essential information and details from callers to assess the nature of the situation accurately.
• Dispatch the appropriate resources and public safety personnel.
• Provide service and assistance to residents, visitors, and public safety partners.

Benefits

• Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• 401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans
• Paid Annual Leave
• Paid Personal Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans
• Optional Group Life Insurance
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Career Development Opportunities
• Full-time positions with Prince William County Government qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED