Communications Dispatcher Trainee

Clackamas County is seeking Communications Dispatcher Trainees who (in a training capacity) will respond to emergency and non-emergency calls; and, dispatch law enforcement, fire, medical and other emergency services.

Competitive candidates for the Communications Dispatcher Trainee position will possess outstanding communication skills, especially with distraught, impaired, or irate customers or callers and will possess the ability to determine priorities and make critical decisions promptly. As a trainee you will learn and perform dispatching for police, fire and medical units. Emergency work is frequently intense and demanding, requiring working weekends, holidays and rotating evening, night, and day work schedules. Trainees must progress satisfactorily through the training program and advance to the journey level Communications Dispatcher 1.

PLEASE NOTE:
The center’s schedule is based upon a standard seven-day work week with dispatchers working 4 days on and 3 days off.

Incumbents in the Communications Dispatcher Trainee classification who successfully meet the established training timelines and demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities will advance to the Communications Dispatcher 1 classification. The hourly salary range for Communications Dispatcher 1 is $29.36 – $36.99.

This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility list of qualified candidates to fill vacancies in the CCOM 911 Department over the life of the eligibility list, which typically is about six (6) months.

IMPORTANT

This is a two-step application process. If either one of the two parts is not completed and/or received by 5:00 PM (PST) on the recruitment close date, your application will be inactivated.

Step 1: Complete the Online Employment Application

Step 2: Complete the Statement of Personal History (SPH) that can be downloaded at: http://www.clackamas911.org/jobs/. (The file contains instructions on where to submit the completed Statement of Personal History packet.) PLEASE NOTE: you must indicate on the SPH form which position you are applying for (i.e. Communications Dispatcher Trainee, Communications Dispatcher 1 or both).

The online application and the SPH packet must be completed and received by 5:00 PM (Pacific Time) on the recruitment close date or your application will be inactivated. (Please DO NOT wait until the last minute to complete this form. This is a comprehensive document that will take some time to complete. Post-marked mail is not accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify SPH packet is received.)

Please refer to the OTHER INFORMATION section for detailed information about completing the SPH packet, as well as the testing and selection process steps and schedule. We encourage you to print out this job posting for your reference throughout the process.

Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills: *

Must be at least 18 years of age as of the close date of this recruitment process (5:00 PM (PST) on Monday, May 15, 2017)

Must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate of high school equivalency

Corrected vision shall be at least 20/30 in each eye. Depth perception shall be sufficient to demonstrate stereopsis adequate to perform the essential tasks of the job. Visual Field Performance shall be 140 degrees in the horizontal meridian combined.

Hearing in both ears must be sufficient enough to perform essential tasks without posing a direct threat to themselves or others. Applicant may not have an average loss of hearing greater than 25 decibels (dB) at the 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and 6,000-Hertz (Hz) levels in either ear or single ear hearing loss in excess of 25 dB Hz.

Typing speed of 35 Words per Minute (WPM)

Must be willing to work weekends, holidays and rotating day, evening and night work schedules

Must be free from criminal convictions, other than minor traffic violations

Must pass an extensive background investigation, including national fingerprint records check

Must pass a pre-employment drug test

Must pass a post-offer physical assessment. Accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation.

Possession of a valid driver’s license or an acceptable alternative method of transportation. Accommodation requests for an acceptable alternative method of transportation will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation or based on the Communications Department business needs. Specific information on the County’s driving policy can be found at Driving and Vehicle Policy (EPP 52).

Please Note: Anyone hired into the Communications Dispatcher Trainee position will be required to have the ability to arrive at any primary or alternate worksite at any time of the day or night, regardless of the weather conditions.

Other Requirements:
Ability to meet Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) various preconditions for Dispatcher certification, including but not limited to education and age requirements listed above under Required Minimum Qualifications.

Possession of or ability to obtain within established training timelines (currently set at 1300 training hours):

Law Enforcement Data System (L.E.D.S.) certification

Department of Public Safety Standards and Training certification as a Telecommunicator and Emergency Medical Dispatcher (E.M.D.)

Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.) certification

Other certifications required by statute

Accurately following precise protocols and procedures in stressful situations

Strong organization, multitasking and prioritization skills

Good judgment and problem solving skills

Ability to handle a wide range of situations and circumstances effectively, positively and professionally

Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to quickly determine the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where” and “why” within a conversation

Preferred Special Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills: *

Experience in a public safety setting

• For Veterans qualified for Veteran’s Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position.

PAY INFORMATION

Job Title: Communications Dispatcher Trainee

Job Code: 352

Salary Plan/Grade: CCM/11

Salary Range:
Annual: $53,163 – $55,662

Hourly: $25.56 – $26.76

Hours per Week: 40

Union Representation: American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

BENEFITS

In addition to competitive wages, Clackamas County offers an attractive benefits package for employees in regular status positions.

Health Plan Options: Most employees are eligible to start most benefits the first of the month after two full months of continuous employment. Note: This summary is general in nature. Specific terms of benefits are contained in insurance policies, the Personnel Ordinance, County Employment Policies and Practices and the appropriate collective bargaining agreement.

THE FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PROGRAM OFFERS:
A Choice of Medical Plans with Vision and Prescription Drug Coverage

Chiropractic Coverage and Alternative Care Benefit

A Choice of Dental Plans

Wellness and Employee Assistance Program

Paid Leave: (Vacation, Holidays, Sick Leave, Bereavement Leave, Military Leave)

Group Term Life Insurance

Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance with Optional Salary Buy-Up Program

A Choice of Full Benefits or Lesser Benefits with Flex Cash

Optional Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Optional Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Optional Health Reimbursement Arrangement

Optional Dependent Term Life Insurance

Optional Group Universal Life Insurance

Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

Optional Long Term Care Insurance

Optional Voluntary Benefits through AFLAC, Liberty Mutual and Hyatt Legal

Retirement: PERS/OPSRP Retirement Contributions

Optional Deferred Compensation (457)

Longevity Pay

Learn more about Employee Benefits.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position works in a County department that is open 7-days a week, 365-days a year. Shifts for this position include evenings, weekends and holidays. The center’s schedule is based upon a standard seven-day work week with dispatchers working 4 days on and 3 days off. Specific hours of work will be discussed with the candidate selected for the position at the time an offer of employment is extended.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Clackamas County Department of Communications, also known as C-COM (pronounced see-COM), provides 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency call taking service to the public. C-COM also provides radio dispatch services to 6 law enforcement agencies and 8 fire districts and departments.

Learn more about Clackamas County C-COM

RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
Answers 9-1-1 and ten digit emergency and non-emergency telephone lines for law enforcement, fire and medical assistance; collects required information quickly and accurately; enters information onto dispatch computer through keyboard; routes information to appropriate dispatch personnel.

Learns to and operates and monitors two-way radio communications equipment and radio paging systems in order to dispatch law enforcement, fire, medical/E.M.S. and other emergency units; monitors other agencies’ law enforcement and fire radios to coordinate emergency services.

Learns to and determines priorities of calls; gathers and transmits information to assigned field units and determines if follow-up action is necessary.

Provides assistance and reassurance to callers; communicates with callers until responders arrive at scene; learns to and handles emergency and routine requests from law enforcement and fire units; under direction, relays emergency medical and other crisis handling instructions.

Performs checks on persons, vehicles and property; records and transmits computerized information.

Prepares records of events and actions taken; types information into computer system; learns to prepare summaries of activities occurring during each shift.

Maintains good relations with the public and public safety agencies; provides public service information.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of: Computerized data retrieval; Basic English, spelling, grammar and composition; basic math; recordkeeping techniques.

Skill to: Read and interpret County/City street maps; locate building and street addresses; complete and maintain clear and accurate records; perform constant keyboarding; perform and prioritize multiple simultaneous tasks; function courteously, effectively and with a high degree of accuracy in stressful situations; make prompt and appropriate decisions based on available information; dispatch information accurately to reflect situational detail; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; understand and follow verbal and written instructions; maintain effective working relationships with County staff, public safety agencies and the public.

APPLICATION/SELECTION PROCESS

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Clackamas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer valuing diversity and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and will be requesting accommodation, the request must be made to the Department of Human Resources no later than the recruitment close date.