Emergency Communications Officer; Certified Lateral

Emergency Communications Officer (Certified Lateral)

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA

Serve with honor, where public safety begins!

Starting Salary: $54,400 - $81,519 DOQ

Full-Time | 42

Hours/Week

Benefits

Start a Stable, Essential Career Serving Your Community!

Persons applying should be interested in a full-time position that significantly impacts the safety of the general public and responding agency personnel. Under general supervision, a Communications Officer receives incoming emergency and non-emergency phone calls to the Emergency Operations Center, dispatches police, fire, and EMS personnel, performs a variety of administrative functions for the Police and Fire Departments, and performs related tasks as required including extensive computer work.

This position will involve shift work to include nights, weekends, and holidays, so a flexible schedule is required.

• Receive, process, and prioritize emergency and non-emergency requests for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services.
• Utilize extensive customer service skills and techniques to guide callers through high-stress situations while obtaining information necessary to ensure an effective public safety response.
• Provide appropriate pre-arrival instructions and lifesaving guidance in accordance with established protocols.

• Dispatch law enforcement, fire and emergency medical resources based on the nature and priority of incidents.
• Maintain continuous radio communication with field personnel on multiple radio channels and accurately document unit status and activity.
• Provide responders with timely, accurate, and safety-critical information throughout incidents.

• Monitor responder activity and maintain awareness of responder locations, assignments, and status.
• Maintain calm, professional and efficient radio communications during emergency conditions.
• Use industry standard calming techniques to separate parties and de-escalate situations prior to the arrival of responders.

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the public and emergency services.
• Communicate with callers professionally, respectfully, and compassionately, particularly during stressful or traumatic situations.
• Participate in Department Community Outreach events.

• Facilitate communication with law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, emergency management, and other public safety partners.
• Obtain additional resources and coordinate mutual aid when necessary, to support a safe and effective emergency response.
• Civilian staff are permitted to serve on authorized special teams such as Crisis Negotiation, Drones, Incident Management and Peer Support.

• Participate in required training and maintain applicable certifications and qualifications.
• Assist with projects, special events, emergency operations, public education, recruitment, instructing, and other agency initiatives.
• Experienced personnel may be approved to serve in specialized roles such as Communications Training Officer, General Instructor, and instructor for a variety of specialized programs.

Join a dynamic team where collaboration, creativity, and professional growth are valued, and where you can make a meaningful impact every day.

The City provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental coverage, paid leave, paid training, a one-for-one service credit, and participation in the Virginia Retirement System.