Telecommunicator

Johnston County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Description

The Johnston County Sheriff's Office is currently accepting online applications for a Telecommunicator.

Employees in this class work for the County Emergency Communications Center or Sheriff's Department. The employees receive incoming routine and emergency calls related to the fire departments, law enforcement departments, rescue squads, emergency management, Red Cross, highway patrol, and animal control. Employees dispatch the proper personnel for assistance and maintain contact with units until the incident is resolved.

Employees dispatching the Sheriff's Department personnel are aware of the unit's location and activity and must monitor all activity during an incident and while on patrol. Work also involves assisting the public with directions and general information. Work involves frequent public contact which requires tact, firmness and decisiveness in obtaining necessary information from people who are under extreme stress. Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and state and federal law, supplemented with specific directions from sworn personnel. Work is often performed under stressful emergency conditions. The employee must be alert and possess the ability to make split second critical decisions regarding citizens lives and property.

The employees are subject to inside environmental conditions. Work is evaluated through observation, discussion and review of reports by the Telecommunications Supervisor through feedback from officers and emergency management personnel.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Receives routine and emergency telephone calls and personal request for assistance concerning crimes, fire, animal control, home health, or general information concerning addresses and nature of problems.
• Operates equipment to maintain contact with law enforcement personnel and other law enforcement units; dispatches deputies to answer requests for assistance; receives and transmits information and messages.
• Operates equipment to maintain contact with various personnel in dispatching fire departments, rescue squads, police departments, social services, juvenile officers, wrecker services, Red Cross, highway patrol, and emergency management personnel.
• Operates Division of Criminal Information (DCI) terminal to send and receive messages regarding criminal histories, vehicle identification, NCIC hot files, missing persons, license plate records, driver histories, and query system for pawn shop transactions, and related work.
• Maintains an in-house computer database and communications logs and reports including the nature of calls, actions taken and the times involved; and generates reports for recovered or stolen property, missing persons, and residence checks.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of the operation of a law enforcement and emergency communications system and related Federal Communications Commission regulations.
• Considerable knowledge of the geographic layout of the County, and the locations of streets, important buildings, and other landmarks.
• Working knowledge of the functions, practices and procedures of the Sheriff's Department.
• Working knowledge of various emergency situations in order to provide standing order advice to victims.
• Ability to accurately receive and transmit radio communications.
• Ability to assess people and situations, to apply sound judgment, to remain calm under stressful conditions and to elicit sufficient and essential information for dispatching and assisting field personnel.
• Ability to type.
• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

Desired Education and Experience

• Graduation from high school
• Some related communications, dispatching or reception work experience preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Valid NC Driver's License

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job. Other duties may be assigned.

Important Pre-Employment Information:

• If the position requires a degree, official transcripts must be submitted within 30 days of hire.
• A pre-employment reference check will be conducted.
• A background check may be required and may include criminal history, motor vehicle records, sex offender registry checks, pre-employment drug screening, SBI fingerprinting, and, if applicable, a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) check.
• A conviction record does not automatically disqualify you from employment, unless otherwise required by state law. Each situation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.