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Public Safety Communications Officer II

Employer
City Of Alexandria Virginia
Location
Alexandria, VA
Salary
$44,538.52 - $73,207.80 Annually
Closing date
Apr 12, 2019

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Job Details

Public Safety Communications Officer II

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia, and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for a position as a Public Safety Communications Officer II (PSCO II).

An Overview
A PSCO II performs all work tasks of a Public Safety Communications Officer I, dispatching all emergency and police non-emergency calls utilizing proper dispatch format, and coordinates and monitors responses of the Police or Fire/EMS units. This work requires operating assigned radio and related equipment, including primary and secondary radio channels, and maintaining control of channel(s) at all times. An employee in this class makes proper notifications, documents events with all pertinent information received, and relays messages completely, accurately and in a timely manner. This work differs from the Public Safety Communication Officer I class which is an entry level call taker. This work is performed under the lead supervision of a Public Safety Communications Squad Supervisor. Public Safety Communications Officer II's must be available to work days, evening, weekends and holidays.

What You Should Bring
Strong, clear and efficient verbal and written communication skills are fundamental to this position. You should have the outstanding ability to work with the public and maintain excellent relationships within the department and City. Because PSCOs operate Computer-Aided Dispatch software, a thorough understanding of technology is necessary for this job. A strong knowledge of the city's geography and the ability to read maps well can also serve as extremely helpful skills for the PSCO. These public safety professionals need a thorough understanding of police terminology, policies, regulations and procedures, much of which will be learned upon hiring via thorough department-provided training.

The Opportunity
  • Coordinates and monitors the response of Police or Fire/EMS units, including dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls utilizing proper dispatch formats, response plans;
  • Operates assigned radio channels, including primary and secondary;
  • Practices proper radio techniques, and makes notifications where appropriate;
  • Documents events with all pertinent information received;
  • Determines type and amount of emergency aid needed;
  • Relays messages completely and accurately;
  • Updates and documents event types based on additional information obtained;
  • Maintains control of radio channel (s) at all times, and operates back-up systems during primary system failures;
  • Contributes to team training efforts, including the development and evaluation of new personnel;
  • Maintains work environment and equipment in a safe and clean condition at all times;
  • Assists with training activities, logs, reports and data analysis;
  • Performs related work as assigned.


About The Department of Emergency Communications
The Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) ensures the effective delivery of routine and emergency calls for service to the City of Alexandria public safety departments. Our highly trained staff of professionals always strives to provide the best service possible to the public. Our employees are the most dedicated you will find anywhere, going above and beyond the call of duty to serve.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

High School Diploma or GED and one year of experience as an emergency communications operator in a 911 call center environment; a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States (The Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) requires all persons defined as a terminal operator to be a United States citizen or have been a lawful resident of the United States for the past ten (10) consecutive years prior to applying for certification).

Preferred Qualifications

A performance rating of Satisfactory or above on all performance factors for the last evaluation period; certification of completion as recommended by the Communication Training Officer (CTO) and PSC Supervisor as a Fire/EMS or Police Dispatcher or equivalent public safety certifications; completion of the department Emergency Medical Dispatcher training; completion of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, 200, 700 and 800, Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) operations; completion of Mutual Interoperability Radio System training.

Notes

This position will close May 2, 2019 or once 300 applications have been received, whichever comes first.

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment checks and medical testing including but not limited to a criminal history records check, fingerprinting, drug screening, vision and hearing exam, psychological and polygraph testing, as well as position-specific competency and aptitude screening.

Company

The City of Alexandria is an award-winning, innovative, and progressive local government that brings together elected leaders, residents, businesses, and staff to foster a thriving community.  We are an independent, full-service city, providing the services typically operated by both counties and cities in areas such as public safety, transportation, human services, parks and recreation, planning, and administration. We offer a wide range of exciting career opportunities in a variety of fields, with the resources and expertise to succeed.  In Alexandria, employees are our most important asset, and we work hard to create and support a culture that delivers excellence through the shared values of respect, integrity, teamwork and continuous improvement.

Our employees have access to excellent medical, dental, vision, life insurance and other benefits.  Alexandria provides a defined-benefit pension and offers six weeks of paid parental leave to employees who become parents through birth, adoption or foster care.

We offer a robust wellness program, interdepartmental rotation program, tuition assistance funding and professional development program that helps employees obtain the knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience to enhance their professional and personal growth.

With a population of approximately 160,000 and a land area of 16 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located on the Potomac River across from Washington, D.C., Alexandria is known for its beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture, charming waterfront, high-tech economy, vibrant retail and restaurant corridors and diverse neighborhoods. We are a unique and historic community, and we continue to innovate for the 21st century.

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