Communications Operator (911 Dispatch) bei City of Sioux City, IA

About the Department

The Woodbury County Communications Center is seeking a Communications Operator (911 Dispatch).

This position involves working in a busy 911 dispatch center answering 911 and non-emergency calls for service & dispatching police, fire, medical and general service providers using radio and computer dispatching equipment.  Candidate must have excellent communication skills, computer entry skills, able to handle high stress situations, able to prioritize, think quickly and make decisions, have a clear speaking voice, excellent customer service skills and able to handle multiple tasks at once.
Please read the following link to help you understand the Communication Operator testing process:

https://www.sioux-city.org/home/showpublisheddocument/34155/637895865614953286

We value our employees by providing them the peace of mind through our exceptional compensation and benefits package to protect our most valuable asset. We are committed to the well-being of our employees and their families. Our employees enjoy our competitive benefits which include but not limited to medical and dental coverage, life and cafeteria plan options, generous paid leave time and Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS). 

The WCICC/Communications Center operates 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. Must be available to work varying hours, days, nights, weekends, and holidays.  

Joining the Woodbury County 911 Communications center means you'll never stop growing, learning, and improving.  You will work in a fast paced, challenging, and exciting environment.  Most of all you can make a real and positive difference in people’s lives.  

Come join our team!

Position Duties

• Receives, screens, and promptly takes appropriate action on emergency 911 calls received by telephone or text from the public requesting law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services and relays pertinent call information to emergency responders.
•  Receives and fulfills non-emergency requests for assistance from citizens, public safety personnel and officials.
• Operates a computerized system to dispatch law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel in accordance with established guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Operates multiple computerized systems to access criminal justice information.
• Operates the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Computer System in compliance with regulations and guidance for system usage.
• Assists in filing and verifying protection orders according to established guidelines.
• Makes determinations in assigning priority among calls.
• Receives fire and intrusion alarms and determines alarm types and appropriate responses.
• Operates security and traffic safety cameras.
• May be required to operate the backup system in the event of malfunction in the primary system.
• Monitors the National Weather Service warnings for all types of severe weather emergencies.
• Operates the telecommunications device for the deaf to communicate with the hearing impaired.
• Provides pre-arrival medical instructions following established guidelines. 
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with officials, other agencies, fellow employees, and the general public.
• Maintains good public relations through courteous and prompt attention to all citizen requests for services.
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance and working hours. When the interests of the Communications Center so require, at times you may be required to work outside established work hours to include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Expected to temporarily perform duties outside of normal classification in the event of a declared emergency.  In the event that an employee is excused from work other than being sick, they will be required to report to work in a state of declared emergency.

Minimum Qualifications

Cognitive Demands, Skills and Abilities:  Ability to hear and differentiate speech at various intensity levels which is commonly communicated over the emergency communication system; ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense; ability to tell when something is wrong or is like to go wrong; ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing; ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted; ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events); ability to accept criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations; ability to be careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks;  ability to analyze information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems; ability to be sensitive to others’ needs and feeling about and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Job Knowledge:  Requires a thorough and complete knowledge of data entry systems and procedures; ability to apply current office technology, resources and services to assist officers, officials and the general public and to direct the work of others; knowledge of basic NCIC regulations, city ordinances; inter-personal relations and the ability to use the English language effectively;  ability to work independently and to exercise good judgment in making decisions in accordance with regulations, ordinances and laws, and to efficiently process complex data, records and reports regarding Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Service operations and services; ability to remain calm, professional and rational in stressful situations; knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services; this includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication:   Requires effective communication skills and the ability to provide assistance to Public Safety personnel and the general public via radio and telephone.  Requires the ability to speak clearly, distinctly and effectively; read in English and compare similarities and differences between words and series of numbers; apply common sense understanding to the work process, procedures, programs and services; and follow verbal and written instructions. Ability to establish and maintain an effective working rapport with City officials, fellow employees and the general public.

Physical Requirements:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hand to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; manual dexterity is required to operate communication equipment including telephone equipment and a multi-screen computer console; talk or hear; occasionally required to stand; walk; climb; or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. In addition, must be able to see and read multiple computer screens in order to track public safety response personnel at all times, and see and read updated information as it appears on the computer screen to ensure providers are given the updated information If the hearing loss or vision is greater than required for the position, the individual must attempt to correct the hearing or vision to the minimum standards through glasses/contact or hearing aids, etc. to assist with hearing/vision; vision is required to operate communication equipment including telephone equipment and a multi-screen computer console; ability to hear and understand sound sources coming through a communications headset and/or standard telephone receiver, including the ability to hear and understand other outside sound sources while wearing a communications headset; ability to hear and differentiate speech at various intensity levels.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds regularly and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Work Environment:  Ninety percent of work is normally performed in a normal inside office environment with appropriate heating and cooling and is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards other than those normally associated with general public contact, dust, or odors.

Other Qualifications

Graduation from High School or GED;

or

Any combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.