Radio Dispatcher Entry and Laterals

Lake County•Libertyville, IL

About The Position

Lake County Government is hiring 911 Telecommunicators to handle emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance and information and provide dispatch and communication support for law enforcement, fire, and related public safety services. Telecommunicators work under supervision and perform critical communication and dispatch functions that support the safety of personnel and the community. The position is part of the FOP Union. The current starting rate for entry-level candidates is $34.15 per hour. Candidates with prior experience and training may qualify for a starting rate of up to $47.78 per hour based on a review of credentials; wages may change as collective bargaining negotiations are underway. Lateral candidates must be currently employed as a telecommunicators, have at least two years of telecommunicator experience, and be in good standing with their current agency. This is a 24/7 work environment. Employees must be available to work weekends, holidays, and all shifts as required. Overtime may be required, and shift selection takes place annually through seniority-based shift bidding.

Requirements

Completion of a standard high school diploma program or equivalent.
Must meet all State qualifications and pass and maintain all required certifications.
Ability to type at least 30 words per minute, with errors subtracted from the total.
Must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years of age.
Must successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, and post-offer medical screening.
Knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and safety practices.
Ability to provide professional and courteous customer service.
Ability to multitask while operating radio communications, emergency and non-emergency telephone systems, teletype operations, and computerized databases.
Knowledge of dispatch codes, standard abbreviations, and terminology used by law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services.
Knowledge of Lake County geography, including jurisdictional boundaries, major roadways, landmarks, public buildings, and waterways.
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and representatives of other agencies.
Ability to use logic and reasoning to analyze situations and develop appropriate solutions.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and make effective decisions when evaluating situations, setting priorities, and resolving issues.
Ability to think quickly and remain calm in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments, and work effectively under stress while maintaining accuracy and professionalism.
Ability to actively listen and communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing.
Ability to follow verbal and written instructions accurately and consistently.
Ability to accurately document, enter, and retrieve information in computer-aided dispatch systems, records management systems, and other agency databases, with strong attention to detail.
Availability to work weekends, holidays, and all shifts as required; overtime may be required.

Responsibilities

Operate a multi-line telephone console system, alerting system, and TDD system for people who are deaf or hearing impaired.
Handle emergency and non-emergency questions, complaints, and service requests by gathering information, determining appropriate resources and priority, and entering information into a computer-aided dispatch application.
Interpret and analyze callers’ situations, collect information relevant to responder safety, dispatch additional emergency services, refer callers to other departments, and provide pre-arrival instructions as appropriate.
Receive, transmit, and monitor radio traffic.
Perform filing duties as required during the shift.
Send and receive teletype messages to and from other agencies and mobile units via computer terminal.
Retrieve, interpret, enter, and modify confidential public safety data in local, state, and national databases.
Perform other related duties as assigned.