The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Emergency Services Dispatcher.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: Work involves monitoring, dispatching, and coordinating a variety of emergency services (fire, rescue and ambulance, law enforcement, child protection services, disaster preparedness, etc.). Duties also include maintaining communications with road patrol officers to dispatch back-up assistance when requested. Incumbents monitor numerous telephone systems, alarm systems and radio frequencies simultaneously in a fast-paced high-stress work environment and must exercise sound independent judgment in prioritizing calls and dispatching appropriate services to emergency situations as quickly as possible. Ability to remain calm and courteous when dealing with upset, potentially angry and abusive, callers is essential, as is maintenance of accurate records of all calls placed and received, in accordance with established procedures. Mandatory work assignments include both day and night shifts. Work is performed under general supervision of higher-level Bureau of Emergency Services staff. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Receives calls from the public in need of fire, rescue, emergency medical, law enforcement or other emergency services and dispatches appropriate emergency personnel;
• Queries the caller in a calm, systematic manner to determine the seriousness and nature of the situation, the location, the services needed, and other information necessary to evaluate the situation;
• Exercises sound independent judgment in dispatching services and coordinating the participation of various emergency personnel/equipment to the scene;
• Maintains a continuous log of all telephone and radio calls sent out or received, records all fire and emergency equipment that is in service in the county, and logs equipment that is out of service;
• Operates telephone communications equipment and inputs data into computer aided dispatch systems utilizing a computer terminal keyboard;
• Utilizes computerized databases to access and record data and information;
• Acts as a secondary radio dispatcher for other agencies such as child protection services, medical examinations, investigators; etc.;
• Receives and answers radio calls for various agencies and transfers calls to appropriate personnel;
• Receives and relays intra-county mutual aid calls;
• Gives instructions to callers and provides emergency medical instructions to callers using standard accepted medical guidelines;
• Receives and records in log, location of fire alarms and emergency calls;
• May operate communications vehicles in emergencies and/or during scheduled events;
• Performs filing, typing, and other clerical duties as needed;
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

a) Associates degree or higher in Criminal Justice, Emergency Medical Services Management, Fire Protection Technology or closely related field; or

b) High school diploma or its equivalent with one (1) year of experience as a dispatcher in an emergency services organization; or

c) High school diploma or its equivalent with two (2) years paid or volunteer experience as an active member of an emergency services organization, i.e., firefighter in an organized fire department, emergency medical personnel for an ambulance service, or closely-related position; or

d) An equivalent combination of experience as defined by the limits of a), b) and c) above.

Within six (6) months of appointment, successful completion of

• APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator 40-hour Dispatch Training Program;
• Powerphone Emergency Medical Dispatch, Emergency Fire Dispatch, Law Enforcement Dispatch Training Program.
• Within twelve (12) months of appointment, successful completion of Emergency Services Dispatch Training Evaluation Program (ESDTEP) as outlined by the New York State 911 Board.
• Possession of a current valid New York State Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

PLEASE NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

911 Performance Test: Candidates interviewed must pass a qualifying performance test.

The test will be administered on a computer and will test a candidate’s ability to enter the kinds of information that dispatchers and related personnel must process for fire, police and emergency medical services. In order to pass, a candidate must enter the data at a rate of at least 6,000 keystrokes per hour (which is equal to typing 20 words per minute), with an accuracy rate of at least 97.5%. Candidates who fail the performance test will be permitted one (1) retest which will be given on the same day.

PUTNAM COUNTY – AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $49,286.00 - $68,623.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person