Somerset County of Maine

Department: Communications Center Job Title: Dispatcher

Classification: Union/Non-Exempt Office Hours: Shifts / Nights

Starting Salary: $26.38 / hr. Total Hours: 36/48 Hour Rotation

Lateral Transfers Are Considered

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Communications Supervisors and the Director of Communications, the Dispatcher serves as a critical link between the public and emergency responders. The Dispatcher is responsible for receiving and processing emergency and non-emergency calls for service and dispatching and coordinating appropriate police, fire, EMS, and other public safety resources.

This position requires the ability to quickly gather and evaluate information, prioritize calls for service, communicate clearly and professionally, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, high-stress environment. Dispatchers must maintain accuracy and attention to detail while managing multiple tasks and incidents simultaneously and providing timely, effective communication to the public, responding personnel, and other agencies.

I. Representative Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Receive calls from the public and accurately assign their requests for police, fire, EMS, and other allied public safety resources;

2. Answer and assist all calls received at the Communications Center;

3. Dispatch appropriate units and resources to police, fire, EMS, and other public safety incidents;

4. Provide communications coordination of public safety resources;

5. Accurate and timely utilization of computer systems for call taking, location verification, resources, dispatching and coordinating public safety incidents;

6. Transmission and retrieval of information through county, state and federal law enforcement data networks;

7. Accurate recording of information on a variety of forms, logs and computer screens as dictated by operational policies and procedures;

II. Specifications/Qualifications:

Must have knowledge in the following: public safety dispatch operations, polices and procedures; county geographical characteristics and county resource information and its location in the Communication Center; must have accuracy in work; must have the ability to follow instructions and to work closely and harmoniously with others; must be able to perform tactfully and proficiently

under stress; must present with a clear and understandable telephone and radio voice, must have no record of criminal convictions; must be physically and mentally capable of handling duties; must be available for shift work and be flexible for overtime assignments; must successfully complete telecommunicator training programs and score 80% of better on written telecommunicator examinations; must successfully complete and maintain operator qualifications for state law enforcement computer system and must have the recommendation of the Director of Communications.

III. Working Conditions and Job Hazards:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform some of the essential functions. A list of the physical demands is listed below:

1. Ability to sit for extended periods of time

2. Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs

3. Must work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time

4. Must have FAA Class III hearing, and requires minimal color discrimination and near and far vision

5. Must be able to work for long periods of time (12-hour shifts)

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Per Article 23-Hiring

County Policy shall dictate the hiring procedure for the Communications Department. New employees shall be placed on the Wage Scale at Level 1, with the exception that a new employee with experience in another Communications Center may make a lateral transfer and start at the Wage Scale representing one half the number of years’ experience accrued. This is not intended for seniority purposes.

WAGE SCALE

COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Dispatcher Starting Wage $26.38 Supervisor Starting Wage $28.12

Employees shall receive a 2.5% wage increase on their current base salary each year on their anniversary date.

NIGHT SHIFT .75

NIGHT SHIFT IS ANY SHIFT WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE HOURS WORKED ARE BETWEEN 1700 AND 0500

MASTERS .60 BACHELOR .50 ASSOCIATES .25

LONGEVITY: 5 YRS .50 10 YRS .75 15 YRS 1.00 20 YRS $1.25 25 YRS $1.50

EMD & EFD STIPEND .60

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.