Public Safety Telecommunicator - University Police Department

Carnegie Mellon University•Pittsburgh, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Carnegie Mellon University’s Police Department is seeking a Public Safety Telecommunicator to receive and dispatch emergency calls and other information between the campus community and on-duty university police and security officers. The role also maintains accurate records and performs office duties while managing emergency communications. The telecommunicator oversees the communications center and dispatch desk during an assigned shift. Duties include monitoring alarms, university security video feeds, and outside agency channels; providing university information; receiving requests for assistance through phones, walk-ins, and two-way radio; and dispatching police, security, traffic-monitoring, and Student EMS personnel. The role may transfer medical calls to City EMS and notify city medical, police, or fire departments as needed. It also handles shuttle and escort radio communications and routes emergency building-maintenance calls to the appropriate departments and on-call personnel. During campus-wide emergencies, the telecommunicator makes and coordinates notifications, summons mutual aid, and prioritizes communications-center traffic. The position maintains detailed dispatch logs and records, prepares and distributes reports, processes requests for incident-report copies, monitors campus email, and assists with general office duties. This is a full-time position based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The employee must be willing to work flexible shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and to work mandated overtime or continue beyond a regular tour of duty. As an essential employee, the telecommunicator may be required to remain on duty or report without prior notice due to emergencies or staffing shortages.

Requirements

High school graduate, GED, or equivalent combination of training and experience.
Ability to obtain authorization to access FBI/NCIC criminal history information through the PA CLEAN system within 30 days of hire.
Ability to recognize the full-color spectrum.
Ability to hear and communicate using telephones and two-way radios, as well as face-to-face.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to work independently and prioritize work and emergency calls.
Proficient computer skills.
Willingness to work a flexible shift schedule, including weekend, evening, and holiday shifts, mandated overtime, and continuation of a regular tour of duty.
Willingness to join the Carnegie Mellon University Campus Police Association.
Must be able to remain on duty beyond a normal shift or be available to report for duty without prior notice during emergencies or staffing shortages.
Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Successful completion of Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) screening.
Successful completion of pre-employment drug and alcohol screening.
Must be currently legally authorized to work in the United States; CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position.

Nice To Haves

One or more years of experience as a public safety communications dispatcher in a 911 emergency operations center, police department, or emergency medical services organization.

Responsibilities

Oversee communications-center and dispatch-desk operations during an assigned shift, ensuring calls and visitors are handled promptly and appropriately.
Monitor alarms, university security surveillance video feeds, and outside-agency channels for calls near campus.
Provide general university information to callers and walk-in customers.
Receive requests for assistance by phone, walk-in, two-way radio, and other means, and dispatch them to the appropriate police officer, guard, or traffic monitor.
Dispatch Student EMS to on-campus medical calls, transfer some medical calls to City EMS according to protocol, and notify city medical, police, or fire departments as needed.
Serve as a point of contact for shuttle and escort radio communications.
Receive emergency building-maintenance calls and notify appropriate departments and on-call personnel according to established protocols.
During campus-wide emergencies, make and coordinate notifications, summon mutual aid, and prioritize communications-center traffic.
Maintain accurate, detailed logs and records of dispatch activity; type, distribute, and file reports; and process requests for incident-report copies.
Monitor campus email and reply or forward messages as necessary.
Assist with general office duties.