Emergency Communication Specialist

This position is in-office at WestCO Dispatch, 1140 N. Grand Avenue, Montrose, CO

This position is eligible for hiring and retention bonuses totaling $3,000.00 ($1,500.00 following completion of training and $1,500.00 paid out after the one (1) year anniversary date of hire.)

An Emergency Communications Specialist (ECS) performs a variety of functions involved in receiving, processing, relaying, and dispatching calls for emergency and non-emergency public safety assistance via radio, telephone, text messaging, and other multi-media means. The ECS will appropriately assess situations, make critical decisions involving life‑threatening situations and multi‑tasking skills, and accurately process requests for assistance; operate a variety of telecommunications equipment including telephone, texting systems, computer‑aided dispatch systems, radios, GIS and mapping solutions, and other office equipment utilized within an emergency communications center (ECC).

Also responsible for entering, maintaining, retrieving, and accurately relaying information contained in CJIS Databases to law enforcement.

ECS perform all the duties of an (ECS1) with the additional responsibility of radio dispatching law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel. This includes; entering call and first‑responder data/records, maintaining call/response logs, and compiling call‑related statistics. ECS must enter, maintain, retrieve, and accurately relay information contained in the CJIS databases to law enforcement. This is a safety‑sensitive position that handles confidential information.

Work is performed primarily in a secure emergency communications center. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Reasonable accommodation in the work environment may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary duties. The work level can fluctuate from minimal to fast‑paced and high volume. The ECS deals with crisis situations that require them to quickly make major decisions involving people, resources, and property with frequently limited direction.

The ECS may be asked to work scheduled shifts at any time of the day, on weekends, and holidays. Must be able to cope in a safe manner with stressful situations, emotional callers, irate responders, and unprofessional contacts.

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting for long periods of time at the same workstation. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. The following physical activities are very or extremely important in accomplishing the job's purpose and/or performed on a daily basis:
While performing the duties of this job, the ECS is required to sit or stand for prolonged periods. The ECS is regularly required to see, hear, talk, stand, twist, and use repetitive motions in the conduct of work. The ECS is also required to perform light lifting. The ECS is required to stay calm during stressful situations.

• Receive and prioritize emergency and non-emergency calls and digital requests for help from the public requesting police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services; gather, analyze, and report critical information during life-or-death situations such as crimes in progress, medical emergencies, and fire/rescue incidents, and dispatch units according to policy.
• Administer care by providing pre-arrival medical instruction or directing callers through procedures such as CPR, childbirth, or controlling of blood loss while emergency medical services are en route.
• Operate a variety of public safety communications equipment including a multi-channel radio, 911 emergency telephone equipment, text-to-911 equipment, advanced location systems, computer-aided dispatch systems, instant recall recorders and paging and intercom systems.
• Read/interpret maps for the public, field personnel, and other agencies in order to assist in locating certain…