911 Dispatcher

Summary

Support the Mission of the Department of Emergency Services (DES); to promote and assist in providing safety and security to Chester County citizens so they can work, live, and grow in a healthy and safe community. The Telecommunicator I is the initial point of contact with the public and makes decisions based on established policies and procedures. This position relays information to a Telecommunicator II or Telecommunicator III, and the appropriate help is dispatched to the caller with an emergency. The Telecommunicator I position involves dispatching and clerical work.

The class begins on April 21, 2025. The first 8 weeks' schedule is Monday - Thursday 0730 - 1730. When class is complete the schedule changes to 12-hour shifts when you will continue the on-the-job training (OJT). The rotation will be 2-day shifts: 0700 - 1900, & 2-night shifts 1900 – 0700; then 4 days off. This is considered an 8-day cycle. There will be built in overtime, due to the rotating schedule. Hours worked over 40 per week will be paid at an overtime rate, this also applies to working on holidays.

This position requires availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Essential Duties

• Handle and process emergency calls in a timely and professional manner.
• Input emergency calls for dispatch to the appropriate responders.
• Maintain certification requirements.
• Assist with quality improvement programs.
• Maintain continuing education requirements.
• Train new personnel.
• Provide emergency medical instructions.
• Review and submit caller location data corrections.
• Review and submit Computer Aided Dispatch data corrections.
• Assist with procedural updates.
• Assist with public education and responder education.
• Assist with Emergency Operations Center activations and drills, as needed.
• Perform other duties, tasks and special projects, as assigned.

Qualifications/Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• Ability to complete the three months of job-related training.
• Must be able to clearly speak, read and write English.
• Knowledge of other languages a plus.
• Must be able to communicate accurately in verbal and written form.
• Excellent listening and communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task with minimal direction.
• Ability to perform efficiently under extreme pressure.
• APCO Basic Telecommunication certification or ability to achieve certification.
• CPR/ TDD/ HAZMAT awareness or ability to learn CPR/TDD/HAZMAT awareness
• APCO EMD certification or ability to obtain certification.
• Pennsylvania call-taker certification or ability to obtain certification.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Familiar with alarm notification.
• Familiar with ANI / ALI correction forms.
• Ability to carry out orders with precision and speed.
• Ability to make decisions quickly and accurately.
• Ability to speak clearly and concisely.
• Ability to deal with the public in a courteous and tactful manner.

Additional Information

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Basic word processing skills (20 words per minute)
• Basic OutLook skills (Email and Calendar)
• General computer skills

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. Occasionally, the employee is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and twist or bend at the waist.

The special vision requirements are:

• Close and distance vision.
• Color vision.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may become loud in certain circumstances.
• Will work inside 100% of the time.
• Will need to sit for extended periods of time (12-hour shifts).
• This can be a very stressful job due to the nature of the calls and/or emergencies.

Other:

• Rotating 12-hour shifts (two days/two nights, then four days off).
• Consistently monitoring radio messages and various computer screens.

All duties must be performed with close to 100% accuracy in extremely short time limits. The person holding this position saves lives on a daily basis.