Public Safety Communications Specialist
Job Description:
What would a typical day on the job be like — what work would I do?
A typical day in this position isn’t so typical! If you enjoy utilizing your critical thinking and multitasking skills to prioritize calls and make important decisions on the spot, this is the opportunity for you! You will be serving your community in a meaningful way!
The Public Safety Communications Specialist I plays an important role in the department by receiving and responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance and information. These calls will require you to calm, reassure, and ask relative questions to the caller in order to analyze the situation and dispatch the appropriate public safety response team. To answer these calls, you will be operating a multi-line and technology complex telephone and computer aided dispatch system for radio dispatch. Phone and computer skills will be essential for this position, as it is fast paced and will require you to multi-task and make appropriate judgement while engaging with the caller.
Determining the appropriate dispatch and response will be a critical piece of this position, as you will be providing pre-arrival instructions for emergency medical calls and the appropriate public safety response team.
This position will also require you to monitor and respond to a variety of technical systems, tracking systems, alarms, radio interoperability channels, and local, regional, and national alerting and disaster notification systems. This position is important to the City and citizens, and will provide you with an opportunity to save a life or make a difference in someone’s day! Come join us!
What does career advancement look like in this position?
In this position, you will have exposure to all aspects of the Newport News Police Department, including the opportunity to work closely with other departments within the City. This position has the opportunity for career growth into a level II or management, and opportunities lateral movement within Police and other departments.
What are the qualifications for this position?
This position requires a high school diploma or an equivalent combination of education and related experience. In addition to the education and experience requirements, a satisfactory comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state and federal criminal history check; sex offender registry and credit check will be required.
