Communications Officer

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a stronginstitutional commitment to inclusive excellence andnondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance thegoal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of thenation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore Collegeis global in outlook and draws students from around the nation andworld.

The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete withgardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails inthe Crum Woods.

The Public Safety Communication Officer (CO) is a key role in Department responsibility for the safety and well-being of Swarthmore College students, campus property, community members,and visitors. The Communication Officer will be responsible forcourteous and active engagement with the community, through effective verbal and written communication. As a Communication Officer, you are the first contact for internal and externalinteractions and incidents involving the College and you will be expected to service routine and emergency calls related to the College.

You will receive initial information and take appropriate action to resolve or address the situation. You will manage the functions of the Communication Center as well as respond to radiotransmissions and in person requests for assistance. You will alsoneed to be able to have clear communication, verbally and written,for making reports on incidents and investigations.

In this role, the primary duties of the Communications Officer areto assure a continuity of practices and effective communicationservice to/for the Swarthmore College Department of Public Safety Communications Center (SCDPSCC), the College community, and locallaw enforcement agencies. This position requires a high degree of community engagement, cultural competency, and ability to navigate complex protocol for effective decision making based upon Department and College guidelines.

The ability to provide clear communication, often under pressure, in a multifacetedcommunication center is required and it is comfort in navigating avariety of technology is necessary. Personnel in this position are considered “essential” in that they support a 24 hour, 7 day perweek Communication Center operation. This position would be working the third shift, 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.

The PSCO provides information and assistance by telephone, radio orin person to faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The dispatchof internal communications, monitoring of CCTV, Access Control andboth fire and intrusion alarms, as well as key control of organizations’ keys are all integral functions of the position.

Duties including, but not limited to, the following:

• Receives both non-emergency and emergency requests (including
  911 calls) for police/fire protection, medical, or emergency services; obtains relevant information, evaluates and prioritizescalls for service and dispatches appropriate personnel and equipment, and documents thoroughly (30%).
• Using a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system, monitors and updates public safety and, when applicable, police unit location and status in order to coordinate emergency field operations;documents and provides backup support and information, as necessary, by operating a two-way radio; requests additional assistance from other agencies as necessary; and obtainscomputerized campus information as well as applicable law enforcement information from local, state, and federal data banksthrough telecommunications terminal.
  
  (35%)
• Performs data entry,…