911 Public Safety Telecommunicator I

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. Â With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Â Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.Â

Emergency Communications is a division of the Norfolk Police Department and serves as a central point to provide timely, accurate, and critical 24-hour communications with all field public safety units. Â It is structured to provide public access for emergency 911, and non-emergency response from Public Safety Personnel, such as police, fire, and medics by being staffed on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week. Â It also serves as the 24-hour point of contact for all multi-jurisdictional, state, and federal notifications regarding public safety.Â

Functions in the duties of receiving requests for police, fire, and emergency medical services via multi-line telephones, including 911 lines and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and dispatching public safety units. Operates various telecommunications equipment to dispatch public safety units and monitor radios and telephone calls. Â Simultaneously attends to telephone and radio system while entering and extracting data from computer systems.

Video - Norfolk's 911 TelecommunicatorsÂ

https://www.norfolk.gov/1208/Becoming-a-911-Telecommunicator

Department Hiring Salary Range: $46,396 - $48,715

Essential Functions Include But Are Not Limited To

• Respond to emergency requests by answering multi-line telephones, including 911 lines and computer-aided dispatch (CAD), determining the caller's needs, sending information to dispatcher, and verifying information given by caller.
• Dispatch police, fire, or emergency medical service units by relaying information to street units, verifying information, and monitoring radio transmission.
• Provides additional assistance to personnel, citizens, and the general public by searching for warrants, locating phone numbers and addresses, contacting outside agencies regarding power failures, gas leaks or other issues, and using the computer to access DMV records, gun licenses, and other relevant information.
• Train and certify on Norfolk 911 call handling equipment (CHE), to include multi-line NG911 and administrative phone lines and associated equipment.
• Train and certify on Police and Fire/EMS radio dispatch channels and associated equipment.
• Answer stressful calls while entering data into computer aided dispatch system (CAD) for Police/Fire/EMS dispatch.
• Ability to speak clearly and effectively control a conversation with distressed callers.
• Ability to read maps, reference books, technical manuals, medical cards, and related correspondence.
• Work involves choices of actions within limits set by standard practices and procedures. Mature and professional judgment is required to apply the proper course of action.
• Maintain communication with other departments which may involve decision-making for public safety purposes.
• Ability to work with various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Ability to easily navigate a desktop computer and direct customer service in a stressful environment is a plus
  
  

Required

• Work requires knowledge necessary to understand basic operational, technical, or office processes. Â Level of knowledge equivalent to four years of high school or equivalency.
• Six (6) months of experience as a Public Safety Telecommunicator.
• Type minimum 30 words per minute.
  
  

Preferred Licenses/Certifications

• Completion of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (VA DCJS) certification for Telecommunicator. Virginia Criminal Information Network and/or National Crime Information Center (VCIN/NCIC).
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD). Â
• Ability to easily navigate a desktop computer and direct customer service in a stressful environment is a plus.
• Ability to obtain the following certifications within six months; Virginia Criminal Information Network/National Crime Information Center (VCIN/NCIC), CPR, In-house Academy, Emergency Medical Dispatch, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (Dispatcher)
  
  

Working Hours:Â Our staff works 12-hour shifts; Day shift starts at 7 a.m. and Night shift starts at 7 p.m. Day and Night shifts rotate on a monthly basis. Â In a 2-week cycle, this position works 24 hours in the first week (Tues/Wed), 60 hours in the second week (Sat/Sun/Mon and Thurs/Fri) for a total of 84 hours in a two-week period. Operational needs of the department will dictate assignments and shift rotation.

Practice Typing Test

If you'd like to brush up on your typing skills, here's a practice link you can use. https://thepracticetest.com/typing/tests/business-topics/

• Please Note: While completion of the CritiCall test is a requirement for this position, the following practice test is provided solely for your preparation. It is not graded, and we do not have access to your results. This is not the official CritiCall test used for scoring during the hiring process.