Communications Specialist​/Trainee - NY HELPS

Position: Communications Specialist 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS (4 Positions)
Duties Description Working under direct supervision of the DEC Division of Law Enforcement, serve as dispatchers for emergency and non-emergency calls from officers and the general public. Most calls are primarily directed to the mission of the DEC. Additionally, obtain necessary information from callers in order to initiate assistance; serve as radio dispatchers of police resources; perform clerical, administrative and other duties related to the dispatch center service.

Candidates must be able to communicate and work well with other dispatchers and the public.

Work conditions include: sitting or standing for extended periods of time with headset on while monitoring computer screens; entering information using a computer keyboard; coordinating eye/hand movements while handling calls for the efficient use of radios and computers; speaking calmly and clearly in order to elicit information and giving instructions to a continuous flow of callers under stress; listening carefully to clearly understand caller information;

making responsible judgments where timing is critical; and working within hearing distance of other dispatchers working under similar conditions.

Minimum Qualifications Communications Specialist Trainee 1, NS=Grade 8:
High school graduation or possession of high school equivalency diploma.

Communications Specialist Trainee 2, NS=Grade 10:
Satisfactory completion of one year of service as a Communications Specialist Trainee 1; or high school graduation or possession of high school equivalency diploma and one year of experience as follows:

• police, emergency services, or public safety dispatcher; or

• member of a fire company or emergency medical services squad; or

• radio dispatcher of a mobile fleet; or

• traffic management center; or

• search and rescue position; or

• active-duty service and an honorable discharge under conditions in the NYS Restoration of Honor Act from the United States military, or active deployed service in the US Army Reserve or National Guard.

Communications Specialist 1, Grade 12:
Satisfactory completion of one year of service as Communications Specialist Trainee 2; or high school graduation or possession of high school equivalency diploma and completion of all necessary trainings and certifications (40 hour telecommunicator or equivalent and Emergency Medical Dispatch through an accredited program) and two years of experience as follows:

• police, emergency services, or public safety dispatcher; or

• member of a fire company or emergency medical services squad; or

• radio dispatcher of a mobile fleet; or

• traffic management center; or

• search and rescue position; or

• active-duty service and an honorable discharge under conditions in the NYS Restoration of Honor Act from the United States military, or active deployed service in the US Army Reserve or National Guard.

*** Candidates who believe they meet the minimum qualifications for the Communications Specialist Trainee 1, Communications Specialist Trainee 2, or Communications Specialist 1 level must provide on their resume the total number of hours spent performing the duties of the qualifying experience. Candidates with prior public safety dispatch experience must provide a comprehensive list of any trainings/certificiations received during their employment that would qualify them for Communications Specialist 1**
* Additional Comments

Central Dispatch is split into three shifts providing 24/7-365 coverage, with 3-4 Communications Specialists per shift, each with different days off. The shifts are as follows:

A Line - 11:00 pm - 7:00 am
B Line - 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
C Line - 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Weekend and holiday work are required, overtime may be mandated if require coverage isn't obtained on a volunteer basis.

Actual work hours and days off will not be known until after hiring as newly opened shifts are bid on and awared by seniority.

Inconvenience pay (shift differential) is an additional $3,200 per year for those who work from 3:00 pm
-11:00 pm and $4,000 per year for those who work from 11:00 pm - 7:00 am.

Candidates must undergo a background investigation and are required to pay fingerprint fee.

Additional Comments…