Demo

Communications Specialist 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS (2 Positions)

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Albany, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 1/9/2026 CLOSED ON 2/8/2026

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Specialist 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS (2 Positions) position at NYS Department of Environmental Conservation?

Duties And Responsibilities

Duties Description

Working under direct supervision of the DEC Division of Law Enforcement, serve as dispatchers for emergency and non-emergency calls from officers and the general public. Most calls are primarily directed to the mission of the DEC. Additionally, obtain necessary information from callers in order to initiate assistance; serve as radio dispatchers of police resources; perform clerical, administrative and other duties related to the dispatch center service. Candidates must be able to communicate and work well with other dispatchers and the public.

Work conditions include: sitting or standing for extended periods of time with headset on while monitoring computer screens; entering information using a computer keyboard; coordinating eye/hand movements while handling calls for the efficient use of radios and computers; speaking calmly and clearly in order to elicit information and giving instructions to a continuous flow of callers under stress; listening carefully to clearly understand caller information; making responsible judgments where timing is critical; and working within hearing distance of other dispatchers working under similar conditions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Communications Specialist Trainee 1, NS=Grade 8: High school graduation or possession of high school equivalency diploma.

Communications Specialist Trainee 2, NS=Grade 10: Satisfactory completion of one year of service as a Communications Specialist Trainee 1; or high school graduation or possession of high school equivalency diploma and one year of experience as follows:

  • police, emergency services, or public safety dispatcher; or
  • member of a fire company or emergency medical services squad; or
  • radio dispatcher of a mobile fleet; or
  • traffic management center; or
  • search and rescue position; or
  • active-duty service and an honorable discharge under conditions in the NYS Restoration of Honor Act from the United States military, or active deployed service in the US Army Reserve or National Guard.

Communications Specialist 1, Grade 12: Satisfactory completion of one year of service as Communications Specialist Trainee 2; or high school graduation or possession of high school equivalency diploma and completion of all necessary trainings and certifications (40 hour telecommunicator or equivalent and Emergency Medical Dispatch through an accredited program) and two years of experience as follows:

  • police, emergency services, or public safety dispatcher; or
  • member of a fire company or emergency medical services squad; or
  • radio dispatcher of a mobile fleet; or
  • traffic management center; or
  • search and rescue position; or
  • active-duty service and an honorable discharge under conditions in the NYS Restoration of Honor Act from the United States military, or active deployed service in the US Army Reserve or National Guard.

***Candidates who believe they meet the minimum qualifications for the Communications Specialist Trainee 1, Communications Specialist Trainee 2, or Communications Specialist 1 level must provide on their resume the total number of hours spent performing the duties of the qualifying experience. Candidates with prior public safety dispatch experience must provide a comprehensive list of any trainings/certificiations received during their employment that would qualify them for Communications Specialist 1***

Additional Comments

Central Dispatch Is Split Into Three Shifts Providing 24/7-365 Coverage, With 3-4 Communications Specialists Per Shift, Each With Different Days Off. The Shifts Are As Follows

A Line – 11:00 pm – 7:00 am

B Line – 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

C Line – 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Weekend and holiday work are required, overtime may be mandated if require coverage isn’t obtained on a volunteer basis.

Actual work hours and days off will not be known until after hiring as newly opened shifts are bid on and awared by seniority.

Inconvenience pay (shift differential) is an additional $3,200 per year for those who work from 3:00 pm -11:00 pm and $4,000 per year for those who work from 11:00 pm – 7:00 am.

Candidates must undergo a background investigation and are required to pay fingerprint fee.

Additional Comments

Overtime may be required.

Weekends and holidays may be required.

Per federal government requirements, if you are appointed to this position, you may be required to undergo fingerprinting and a state and federal criminal background check.

Telecommuting may be available, will be discussed at interview.

We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:

  • Holiday & Paid Time Off
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
  • Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
  • Shift & Geographic pay differentials
  • Affordable Health Care options
  • Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
  • NYS Deferred Compensation plan
  • Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
  • And many more...

For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. DEC is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. DEC embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

Please be advised, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation does not use E-Verify, and we are unable to provide sponsorship for employment visa statuses (i.e. H-1B, Self-Sponsorship, STEM OPT).

Salary : $49,743 - $61,548

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Communications Specialist 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS (2 Positions)?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Communications Specialist 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS (2 Positions) career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$59,410 - $73,897
Income Estimation: 
$72,991 - $91,066
This job has expired.
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Watertown, NY
  • The AA1 Will Duties Description Receive and track incoming legal referrals. Compile legal files and enter case information and updates into the legal track... more
  • Just Posted

  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Stamford, NY
  • Description Duties Description The incumbent must have working knowledge of the operation of a variety of self-propelled heavy equipment such as cars, truc... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Albany, NY
  • Description Duties Description Under the general direction and supervision of the Section Lead, the Climate Policy Analyst will be responsible for analyzin... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation York, NY
  • Duties Include Duties Description Collect ecological data on public lands using fixed area plots. The collected data will include over story and under stor... more
  • 3 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Communications Specialist 1 / Trainee 1 / 2 - NY HELPS (2 Positions) jobs in the Albany, NY area that may be a better fit.

  • New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets | Albany, NY
  • Contract Management Specialist 1 or Trainee (NY HELPS) Division of Fiscal Management Albany, NY Posting Dates: May 15, 2026 – May 25, 2026 Harvest your pot... more
  • 22 Days Ago

  • NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Albany, NY
  • Description Duties Description Harvest your potential with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets! Join our team and become an integral p... more
  • 23 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!