9-1-1 Call Taker

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

Our mission is to provide prompt assistance in a caring, resourceful and professional manner to those we serve. The Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District became a consolidated public safety dispatching agency in 1988, taking all calls for police, fire, and medical service assistance in Deschutes County. The District dispatches for 15 police and fire/emergency medical services (EMS) agencies and works closely with the U.S. Forest Service, AirLink, Life Flight, Oregon State Police, and other State and Federal entities. 

Are you interested in joining a talented team and serving your community? If so, we invite you to review additional information by clicking HERE.

ABOUT THE COUNTY:

We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,250 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.  

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

ABOUT THE JOB:

The 9-1-1 Call Taker is the first person that talks to a person in an emergency.  They are the critical decision maker in properly assessing the situation, interviewing the caller and getting the information entered into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system to be dispatched out to police, fire or medical. 

The 9-1-1 Call Taker provides computer-aided emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for all local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services agencies within Deschutes County. Dispatchers operate complex communications equipment, multi-line telephone systems and computer terminals to access and input information. This position requires the ability to maintain accuracy and speed while performing job duties, often under stressful situations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Receives and processes incoming telephone calls, and texts, often during high-call volume periods, from people requesting emergency and non-emergency police, fire, and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) assistance in a courteous, accurate, efficient, and timely manner.
• Enters information into a computer aided dispatch system in an accurate and timely manner.
• Makes effective, immediate decisions regarding life-threatening situations based on highly complex rules, regulations, and procedures.  

What You Will Bring: 
Knowledge of or experience with:

• Strong emotional intelligence with a history of honest and ethical decision-making. 
• Interpersonal skills to discern callers' situations and assure an accurate, appropriate, and timely response by responders.
• A minimum basic knowledge of geography or the ability to learn geography in a timely manner. 
• Excellent listening skills and the ability to communicate clearly.
• Ability to adapt and communicate effectively with diverse public.
• Ability to manage your time and assignments.

Skill in:

• Thinking quickly and independently in emergency situations that require multiple decisions for action.
• Coordinating computer systems to access and enhance information provided to responders. 
• Operation of multiple and complex telephone, radio, and computer equipment/systems.

*This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but rather constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function.
 
Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status.
 
Review the full job description by clicking HERE.$4,586.49 to $5,853.58 per month for a 173.33 hour work month, during initial training period. $4,829.13 to $6,163.26 for a 182.5 hour work month, once released from training.  
 
Hourly rate is increased to $30.6317 upon completion of police dispatch training (about 6-12 months, Public Safety Dispatcher I); and $32.1634 upon completion of fire dispatch training (which usually occurs within the first two years of employment, Public Safety Dispatcher II). Dispatchers may also earn up to an additional 6% of their base salary when they obtain their intermediate certification and 11% of their base salary when they obtain their advanced certification through DPSST. At the top step with possession of an advanced certification, a Public Safety Dispatcher II can expect to earn over $99,000.00 per year.
 
For those currently possessing DPSST Certification as a Telecommunicator, certificate pay begins upon hire date and will receive an additional:

• 6% - for Intermediate certification.
• 11% - for Advanced certification.
• Out of State Certified applicants will receive certification pay as soon as certification is granted by DPSST.

Lateral certified applicants with 36 months or more experience begin at pay step 2 - $27.7837 per hour.
 
Hours will increase to 182.50 per month after the initial training period.
 
Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This position is available immediately. This is a union represented position, for additional information, please click HERE.

BENEFITS:
Our robust health plan is offered at a minimal cost of $95 per month for employee only or $116 per month for employee plus dependents, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities. Please click HERE for full benefit details.

• High school diploma or GED equivalent;
• Must be 18 years of age by hire date;
• Must accurately type a minimum of 42 words per minute.

To qualify for employment with the 9-1-1 Service District, candidates must:

• Pass a drug screening; a hearing and vision exam; a thorough background, employment, and criminal history investigation; and a psychological examination.
• Meet the requirements as outlined in Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008-0300 
• Possess or obtain all required state certificates and licenses within the probationary period, and maintain thereafter.
  • Certification as an Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Basic Telecommunicator, Emergency Medical Dispatcher and Emergency Fire Dispatcher.
  • CPR and First Aid certification.
  • Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS) certification.

Steps in the Process:

• Submit Application
• CritiCall and Assess Testing – This is remote testing.
• Telephone Interview
• Sit Along with a 9-1-1 Call Taker and Dispatcher.  In person testing (about 2.5 hours total)
• Panel Interview
• Statement of Personal History - A successful candidate will complete a full Statement of Personal History investigation prior to receiving a conditional job offer. The psychological and medical evaluations will require completion after the conditional job offer.

Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire date. The employment offer will be contingent upon presentation of an acceptable and verifiable driver's license, pre-employment screening for criminal history, driving history, and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). This screening must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.
 
Must pass a driving record review and criminal history background. 

• A current driver's license, state of issue, date of birth, and a list of states previously lived in (if applicable)  are required. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must include an accurate driver's license number, state of origin, date of birth, and a list of states previously lived in in the Supplemental Question portion of the application.

 Physical Requirements:  Must meet the physical requirements as outlined in Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008-0011. Most work in this classification series occurs under a stressful, high activity office environment where concentration and focus are required for long periods of time. There is often little opportunity to talk to co-workers. Work is performed in an area with moderate noise and lighting fluctuations with restrictions to the workstation.

Salary : $99,000