Public Safety Telecommunicator

Public Safety Telecommunicator I

Public Safety Telecommunicator I performs communications work in the County's primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Telecommunicators are a vital link between the public and first responders. This position is responsible for incoming calls for fire, medical, and other emergency assistance and requires one to dispatch emergency units, relay information, and monitor the status and location of all emergency response units.

This is a "Mandatory Testing" position that requires Drug Testing.

Essential functions are fundamental job duties. They do not include marginal tasks which are also performed but are incidental to the primary functions. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, nor does every position allocated to the class necessarily perform every duty listed.

Personal characteristics required of all employees, such as honesty, industry, sobriety, and the ability to get along with others, are presumed qualities and may not be listed specifically.

Answer emergency 911 calls, verify caller information, determine the nature and priority of emergencies promptly and accurately.

Answer non-emergency administrative calls, including after-hours calls.

Dispatch appropriate Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire Rescue units to emergency incidents.

Monitor and support responder safety through clear, concise, and continuous communication providing updated scene and patient information.

Accurately document incident details, call information, and unit status in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and other reporting systems.

Provide callers with pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions, including CPR, bleeding control, airway management, childbirth, Heimlich maneuver, and scene safety guidance.

Select the closest and most appropriate units to respond, ensuring proper resource coverage across the county.

Follow established operational protocols and standard operating guidelines while adapting to evolving incidents.

Coordinate mutual aid requests, including air transport, including notifications to hospitals for critical patients.

Monitor dispatch systems, county building and site alarms.

Initiate Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG's) during escalating events and notify appropriate county staff.

Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information in compliance with laws, regulations, statues and agency policy.

Activates emergency management and search and rescue personnel as needed.

Maintain situational awareness of local, regional, state and national emergencies, weather events, mutual aid status, significant events, planned events etc.

Provides secondary services to other public safety agencies as needed.

Operates instant playback and twenty-four-hour recording equipment.

Research maps, directories, and other reference materials for accurate information for use by emergency response personnel.

Monitors and tests communications equipment and reports problems to appropriate personnel.

Operates telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY); text to 911 and relay services.

Updates lifeguard and water condition information on website.

Participates in the department's training program by assisting with the instruction, mentoring, and support of Public Safety Telecommunicator trainees, as assigned.

May be required to work in remote communications command post areas.

Interacts with the public in an effective and courteous manner.

Must demonstrate commitment to our mission, vision, values, and goals and represent the County in a professional, dignified manner at all times both in actions and appearance.

May have a role in the County's disaster preparation and/or disaster recovery efforts, as designated in the County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan; may be required to work before, during and/or after an emergency.

Must be able to meet minimum attendance standards; required to be on-call and work shifts to include nights, weekends and holidays.

Performs related duties as required.

The physical requirements are that of sedentary work and include exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required occasionally. Requires repetitive motion of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

Requires fingering to include picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Required to operate a motor vehicle to travel to remote sites. Requires the ability to successfully pass pre-employment and periodic audiometric testing to ensure the ability to accurately receive and distinguish voice and radio communications essential to emergency dispatch operations.

Requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data…