Public Safety Dispatcher

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Duties

Major Duties Include:

• Answer 9-1-1 telephone calls, determine priority, send appropriate response, all while being calm and professional.
• Perform all risk dispatching duties to include law enforcement, wildland fire, search and rescue, maintenance, and structure fire.
• Ability to communicate clearly in English and writing/typing skills are timely, organized, and create a full understanding of what occurred.
• Ability to multi-task. Office is fast paced, can be loud and confusing with multiple radio transmissions and telephone calls received. Must make determination of priorities and focus on highest.
  
  

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Promotion Potential: Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

Telework: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are NOT suitable for telework.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
• You will be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• You may occasionally be required to travel overnight away from home. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
  
  

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/22/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40 hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To Qualify For This Position At The GS-05 Grade Level, You Must Possess One Of The Following Minimum Qualifications By Close Of The Announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following work such as: (1) utilizing phones and/or radios to organize operations; (2) assisting with emergencies; (3) a general understanding of computer software platforms to send and receive information; (4) writing clear and concise reports. You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

• OR-
  
  

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 full years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. You must include transcripts.

• OR- Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. You must include transcripts.
  
  

To Qualify For This Position At The GS-06 Grade Level, You Must Possess The Following Minimum Qualifications By Close Of The Announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: providing communications support (e.g., radios, telephones, frequency monitors, computer networks, etc.) to coordinate emergency units (e.g., law enforcement, emergency medical, search and rescue, fire) during routine and emergency operations This can include assisting with public safety dispatching (e.g. law enforcement, emergency medical, search and rescue, and fire) and answering 9 11 calls. You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

To Qualify For This Position At The GS-07 Grade Level, You Must Possess The Following Minimum Qualifications By Close Of The Announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Independently performing public safety dispatching (law enforcement, emergency medical, search and rescue, and fire) work using personal computers and software programs (NCIC/CJIS/ACJIS/NCJIS). Public Safety dispatching includes: Monitoring and responding to radio communications and 9-1-1 calls and other emergency reporting systems; receiving requests for service; receiving, evaluating, and summarizing complaints prior to dispatching the information; keeping track of field unit safety and welfare of employees, complaints, and incidents; dispatching appropriate field units/personnel for emergency services; querying and updating law enforcement data bases; recordkeeping such as incident reports; referencing and updating resource materials; advising the public and other law enforcement agencies regarding the emergency; receiving requests for service; receiving, evaluating, and summarizing complaints prior to dispatching the information; and communicating with difficult callers. You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

To Qualify For This Position At The GS-08 Grade Level, You Must Possess The Following Minimum Qualifications By Close Of The Announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: independently performing public safety dispatching (law enforcement, emergency medical, search and rescue, and fire) work using personal computers and software programs (NCIC/CJIS/ACJIS/NCJIS). Public Safety dispatching includes: Monitoring and responding to radio communications and 9-1-1 calls and other emergency reporting systems; receiving requests for service; receiving, evaluating, and summarizing complaints prior to dispatching the information; keeping track of field unit safety and welfare of employees, complaints, and incidents; dispatching appropriate field units/personnel for emergency services; querying and updating law enforcement data bases; recordkeeping such as incident reports; referencing and updating resource materials; advising the public and other law enforcement agencies regarding the emergency; receiving requests for service; receiving, evaluating, and summarizing complaints prior to dispatching the information; and communicating with difficult callers. Apply in-depth knowledge of dispatch operating systems, databases, equipment, policies and past practices to isolate and solve unusual and difficult technical problems. You must include hours per week worked on your resume.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

CTAP/ICTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-06/07/08 grade level(s) of this announcement.

Additional information

For More Information About These Positions, Please Contact:

Chrissy Mitchell, Emergency Communications Center Manager, Yosemite National Park

Christine_Mitchell@nps.gov

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR

• 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
  
  

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Physical Demands: Incumbent must function efficiently in a confined space for extended periods with no breaks and no opportunity to leave the confines of the Communications Center. The dispatcher is considered an "essential employee," meaning he/she is required to work most holidays, report for duty during adverse weather conditions, and be expected to work for long hours exceeding normally scheduled shifts in case of emergencies. Position is sedentary with high amounts of stress. Incumbent is subject to shift work, rotating shift work, and uncommon tours of duty. Work requires use of the voice in vocal communications for periods of hours at a time. Voice must be clear, audible, and tone effective with words plainly spoken and understandable. Incumbent must be able to hear clearly and discern a variety of audible communications and signals simultaneously. Incumbent must be able to read critical information from multiple sources, including computer screen, fax, and written log quickly and accurately. The work is of an emergency nature and is emotionally stressful. Incumbent must possess manual dexterity sufficient to operate computer terminals/keyboards and related equipment and to maintain written logs. Work involves occasional lifting of boxes and supplies up to weights of 50 pounds.

Working Conditions: The work is normally performed in a well-lighted and temperature controlled room. Noise levels are routinely high due to electronic equipment, telephones, radios, and other discussions ongoing in the performance of duties. The setting is typically confined and secure, and entrance and egress is controlled. During the training period and/or on other occasions, the incumbent will be assigned to accompany field law enforcement personnel in patrol vehicles to learn or gain a more detailed familiarization with agency field operating procedures and jurisdictional boundaries. Incumbent may not leave the center unless relieved by another qualified dispatcher.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates Will Be Rated And Ranked Using Category Rating Procedures. These Procedures Place Candidates With Veteran's Preference Above Non-preference Eligibles Within Each Category. Veterans With a Service-connected Disability Of At Least 10 Percent Are Listed In The Highest Quality Category, Except When The Position Being Filled Is Scientific Or Professional At The GS-09 Grade Level Or Higher. Under Category Rating, Candidates Will Be Rated And Ranked Into One Of Three Categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
  
  

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Database Administration
• Interpersonal Skills
• Technical Competence
• Telecommunications
• Telecommunications
• Written Communication
  
  

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of an additional assessment, which will be a panel resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.