9-1-1 Telecommunicator

Salary: $29.18 - $37.25 Hourly
Location : City of Corvallis, OR
Job Type: Full time regular employee
Job Number: 01141
Department: Corvallis Police Department
Opening Date: 01/18/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Summary
Member of the Corvallis Regional 9-1-1 Communications Center (CRCC) team within the City of Corvallis Police Department Professional Standards and Support Division. Provide call answering and public safety dispatch services for ten (10) public safety agencies throughout Benton County. Answer emergency and non-emergency telephone calls and requests for public safety services; determine the nature of the call and deploy the appropriate personnel and equipment; operate computer-aided dispatch system and various mission-critical communications equipment. Coordinate inter-agency and multi-agency public safety responses, ensure responder safety, and respond to needs of community members to safeguard live and property, and to promote community livability. Adhere to a Telecommunicator Code of Ethics, maintain proficiency in established policies, procedures, telecommunications equipment and geography of area served.
Full-time 40 hours per week, CRCCA represented
12-month probationary period
The Corvallis Regional 9-1-1 Communications Center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including holidays and weekends.
Work rotating shift work and/or compressed work schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Work mandatory overtime with no notice and/or respond to the workplace when emergency situations warrant including buy not limited to times of civil unrest, natural disasters, and inclement weather.
Telecommunicators work 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. Our Shifts include days, swings and nights. Schedules rotate every three months according to our association's shift bidding process and operational needs.
During the training period a trainee can expect to work all shifts (days, swings, and nights) while learning the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Cert Pay: DPSST Intermediate 4.5% DPSST Advanced 8.0%
Lateral applicants may start at a higher wage depending on experience.
Proposed Recruitment Timeline for Multiple Positions
January 18, 2024Recruitment OpensJanuary 29, 2024Initial review & Criticall testing invitations sent; then on-goingFebruary 5, 2024Initial test completion deadline; then on-goingOn-goingOral Boards & Final InterviewsOn-goingBackground/Medical/Drug Screen/PsychAnticipated appointment for positions will be as appropriate
Essential Functions
Answers emergency and non-emergency phone calls via multi-line telephones, assesses needs of caller and dispatches police, fire and/or medical response teams and equipment. Gives emergency instructions to the caller while responding units are in transit, including emergency medical pre-arrival instructions.
Processes calls to determine the incident location, nature of the incident, severity (priority), and other information pertinent to the appropriate and safe response to the situation.
Manages callers; calms and controls callers, communicates with special needs callers, and communicates with callers from diverse demographic backgrounds while providing professional, excellent service as required by policies and procedures.
Provides instructions to callers to help guard their safety as well as others at the scene. Remains on the phone with callers as situations require.
Provides instructions to the caller to render medical aid to the sick and injured until the arrival of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Dispatches the appropriate police, fire, EMS and Emergency Management Agency using radio tone paging, Mobile Data Terminal (MDT), CAD text messaging, VHF or 700 MHz radio system, telephone, or other telecommunications devices and software as needed.
Appropriately transfers or routes calls for service in outside jurisdictions to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
Enters accurate and orderly information into computer systems to generate calls for service; listens and talks to callers while typing information into the Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD), or recording information on a manual call card. Ensures public safety responders have accurate and updated call for service information.
Processes multiple phone calls, tracks/talks to responders over multiple radio frequencies, updates CAD, tracks /changes field unit status in CAD, runs data base checks, maintains awareness of field situations and what is transpiring in the communications center, assists co-workers when needed and processing requests from field units.
Maintains working knowledge of geography of 9-1-1 service area; utilizes various electronic or paper maps, determines appropriate emergency response type, jurisdiction, and closest appropriate public safety apparatus (units) to deploy to various situations.
Maintains knowledge of various mutual aid and automatic aid agreements between 9-1-1 User Agencies and deploys public safety resources as required.
Maintains "situational awareness," thinks ahead and anticipates needs for resources and/or information to ensure effective, efficient, and timely assistance to public safety responders and the community.
Monitors and tracks the status of public safety responders; monitors and responds to internal unit tracking and emergency radio ID alarms to ensure responder safety. Coordinates and tracks interagency and multi-agency public safety responses.
Monitors and responds to government entity panic alarms; monitors public safety premise security video cameras.
Correctly perform various computer operations to access sensitive and restricted law enforcement information systems; correctly disseminate the information.
Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties.
Obtains and maintains all required certifications for the position. Abides by the Oregon Telecommunicator Code of Ethics.
Works overtime without advance notice and/or responds back to the work place during emergencies and/or to ensure adequate staffing in the 9-1-1 Center to provide efficient, effective service to the public and agencies served.
Arrives to work, meetings, and other work-related functions on time and maintains regular job attendance.
Acts ethically and honestly; applies ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities and interactions. Builds confidence in the City through own actions.
Conforms with all safety rules and performs work in a safe manner.
Maintains effective work relationships.
Adheres to all City and Department policies.
Qualifications and Skills
Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent.
Communications centered customer service work experience preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ability to learn the geographic area, community, agency resources, standard operating procedures, and mutual aid agreements by the end of the probationary period.
Ability to accurately read maps and use various GIS/mapping software to determine appropriate public safety responses and to assist public safety responders locate calls for service.
Excellent listening skills and the ability to communicate clearly and elicit needed information from emotionally stressed and otherwise challenging callers; ability to adapt and communicate effectively with diverse public.
Ability to change quickly between essential tasks: process all telephone calls and accurately type pertinent call for service information into CAD while talking to/reassuring caller, simultaneously dispatching and communicating with public safety responders by radio, communicating with/helping co-workers and being aware of what other activities are occurring in the 9-1-1 Communications Center.
Ability to use text-telephones (TTY) to communicate with speech or hearing impaired callers.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, all 9-1-1 User Agency members and the public.
Ability to function as an effective member of a close working team.
Ability to remain calm in emergency situations and relay that composure to callers and field personnel.
Ability to process, assess, and react to large amounts of information quickly; and to concentrate during periods of high stress.
Ability to make accurate, logical decisions during various emergency and non-emergency situations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion and judgment in dealing with sensitive or confidential information.
Ability to learn to use a computer to perform the essential functions of the position in a timely and accurate manner.
Ability to keyboard by touch quickly enough to keep up with the demands of the job. Efficiently utilize computers in the performance of the essential functions of the position. Ability to learn to use required computer systems, software, and various communications equipment necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Ability to troubleshoot and resolve simple computer and equipment issues.
Special Requirements
Ability to obtain and maintain all required state certificates and licenses by the end of the probationary period including:

• Certification as Department of Public Safety and Training (DPSST) Basic Telecommunicator and Emergency Medical Dispatch
• LEDS Update/Inquiry level certification
• CPR and First Aid certification

Ability to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and the Department of Public Safety and Training (DPSST) medical examination that includes vision and hearing tests and a psychological examination.
Ability to successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation including criminal history check and obtain an Oregon State Police Criminal Justice Information Systems clearance.
Demonstrable commitment to sustainability.
Demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion.
Ability to work rotating shift work and/or compressed work schedule, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Ability to work mandatory overtime with no notice and/or respond to the workplace from home when emergency situations warrant, including but not limited to: times of civil unrest, natural disasters and inclement weather.
The individual shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others in the workplace.
How to Apply
Qualified applicants must submit an online application located on the (click on "Apply" above).
This recruitment is continuous for multiple positions. Applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter and resume with the online application; however,resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online applicationLate or incomplete applications will not be accepted/considered.
Applicants may reapply and test in Criticall multiple times. Test scores are applicable for up to one year. Applicants that fail the Oral Board or Final Interview must wait one year to be eligible to reapply in the current recruitment process.
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer in Compliance with ADA.
The City of Corvallis offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents.
This position is represented by the