Emergency Communications Dispatcher Trainee

Print


Emergency Communications Dispatcher Trainee

Salary

$22.80 - $26.41 Hourly

Location

9911 SE Bush St, OR

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

2018-00204

Bureau

Bureau of Emergency Communications

Opening Date

03/05/2018

Closing Date

4/2/2018 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position

The City of Portland, Bureau of Emergency Communications is seeking Emergency Communications Dispatcher Trainees to become Senior Emergency Communications Dispatchers for Portland / Multnomah County 9-1-1. Senior Emergency Communications Dispatchers answer/process emergency and non-emergency calls; and dispatch police, fire and medical responders on emergencies. The work is fast paced and rewarding, but often performed under stressful demands for speed and accuracy due to the nature of the work.

Emergency Communications Dispatcher Trainees participate in a comprehensive paid training program that includes classroom learning, extensive on-the-job training with experienced employees and directed self-study. The training program prepares Dispatcher Trainees to use critical thinking skills during quickly changing situations; to utilize computer, radio and phone systems required to complete the work; and to develop communication skills necessary to ensure public/responder safety.

At entry, the employee works under close supervision until able to demonstrate proficiency in all required aspects of the position. Work is reviewed for the quality of service provided to the public and partner agencies, through the examination of records and on-the-job observation. Experienced employees are required to perform with minimal supervision and may assist in training new employees. The ability to work any shift, on any day of the week, and to work overtime is an essential function of the job. Typical shift configurations for experienced employees are four – 10 hour days. Employees are not required to report to work on their days off.

WHY JOIN THE CITY OF PORTLAND?
The City of Portland is committed to offering medical, dental, vision, basic life, and log-term disability coverage that provides quality care, support and value to eligible employees and their family members.  Additional benefits such as flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance and employee assistance program coverage are available to ensure employees have the appropriate tools to safeguard themselves and their family. The City of Portland participates in PERS, the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System.  For more information on the City of Portland's benefits please click Benefits Information | The City of Portland, Oregon.

To Qualify

TO QUALIFY:
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:
  1. Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  2. Be at least 18 years old at time of hire.
  3. Proof of typing speed (online test) of at least 40 Net Words Per Minutes (WPM).
  4. Meet all the requirements indicated in the supplemental questions.
  5. Provide thoughtful responses to Supplemental Questions 1-6.
  6. Pass a comprehensive background investigation.

The Recruitment Process

The recruitment process will consist of a Pass/Fail review of the Supplemental Questions (No. 1-22) which will be reviewed for all complete applications. Only those applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, listed in the "To qualify" section will be placed on an equally ranked eligible list which will be forwarded to the bureau for hiring purposes. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Additional Information

 
Application Instructions
All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than 4:30 pm, on the closing date of this recruitment. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, attach a copy of your DD214 / DD215 and / or Veteran's Administration Letter stating your disability to your profile, as well as checking the box identifying yourself as a Veteran. You must request Veteran's Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment you apply for.

Veteran's Preference documentation must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on the closing date of this recruitment.
Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at time of application.
It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply. If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, the requests must be made to the Analyst(s) named below No Later Than the Closing Date of This Announcement.
 
TYPING TEST
Prior to submitting an application, you must complete a typing test online at Typing Test Pro using the following link: http://pro.typingtest.com/start?accountid=911-portlandor&test=1.  There is no charge for this test. Previous typing certificates or typing certificates from other sources will not be accepted. Passing the test requires a net typing speed of at least 40 words per minute with 95% accuracy. The test is 3 minutes and you will have 3 opportunities to pass the test. You only need to take the test until you pass, don't take additional tests to try to better your score.  After you pass, click next and you will be directed to the City of Portland job website.  Before you start, utilize the "practice" feature and familiarize yourself with the entire keyboard. After you complete the test, your results will be automatically sent to the administrator. You will receive an email with your results. You do not need to send this email with your application.
Essay Questionnaire (911 Dispatcher Trainee Questionnaire Nos. 1-6)
Your responses must fully and clearly demonstrate your qualifications. These responses will be a basis for your evaluation. Incomplete or inappropriate responses may result in disqualification. Please note: A cover letter or resume is not required and will not be used during our evaluation process. Your responses to the essay questions are sufficient.
Screening Questionnaire (911 Dispatcher Trainee Supplemental Questionnaire Nos. 7-22)
The job of a Senior Emergency Communications Dispatcher is an exciting and challenging career. However, many applicants focus only on the positive aspects of the work without carefully considering some of the less desirable aspects. As a result, when new employees encounter negative job features, they sometimes react by leaving the job well before training is completed. These early resignations, due to a lack of accurate job knowledge, can be avoided. Therefore, the screening questions are provided to assist potential applicants in evaluating their interest and fitness for Emergency Communications work.

All the job features listed in the screening questions are requirements for the position of Emergency Communications Dispatch Trainee. You must be willing to comply with THESE requirements to be considered for the position. Answering "NO" to any of the screening questions will result in elimination from further consideration. You must answer each question.


Questions?
Terrol Johnson, Senior Human Resources Analyst
Bureau of Human Resources
Terrol.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov
(503) 823-3172

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

RECRUITMENT ACTIVITY SCHEDULE:

Recruitment Opens March 5, 2018
Recruitment Closes no later than April 02, 2018
Notices Sent Week of April  02, 2018
 
ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS:
Candidates placed on the eligible list will be invited to a Pass/Fail CritiCall Test, Pass/Fail Oral Interviews and a Pass/Fail Employment Reference Check/Background Investigation. A conditional offer of employment is subject to the results of a background investigation, psychological assessment, a drug screen, and a vision/hearing test.
CritiCall Testing April 23-26
1st Interview May 9-11, 2018
2nd Interview May 22-23, 2018
Background Investigations Completed by July 24, 2018
Psychological Assessment July 30-August 2, 2018
Academy Start Date August 27, 2018

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits
 
This summary outlines the benefit programs, actual benefts may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status.

The City of Portland offers a comprehensive benefit package that is competitive with other private and public sector employers.  

More detailed information can be obtained by calling the Benefits & Wellness Office at 503-823-6031.
 
  • A choice of two medical/vision plans and two dental plans.
  • Coverage is available to benefits-eligible employees, their spouse/domestic partner and eligible dependent children up to age 26.
  • For full time employees, the City pays 95% of the cost of coverage, you pay 5%.
  • The part-time employees' cost is pro-rated based on the number of hours in the employee's regular work schedule.
  • We offer many on-site fitness center locations and classes, stretching,
  • discounts to local fitness clubs,
  • smoking cessation benefits,
  • chronic care coaching programs,
  • worksite wellness screenings and flu shots.
  • Basic life insurance at no cost to full time employees.
  • Levels of coverage are based on bargaining units, employment status and/or annual salaries.
    • Supplemental life insurance - employees may purchase up to $500,000 for themselves
    • up to $300,000 for their spouse or domestic partner.
    • up to $25,000 for dependent children.
    • This coverage is portable upon retirement or separation. There are some limitations on coverage level.
  • Depending on your bargaining unit, you may be eligible for Basic Long Term disability coverage which will pay up to 40% of your basic monthly earnings up to $3,333 per month.
  • The benefit is available 60 days from the onset of the approved disability, or exhaustion of sick leave, whichever is later.
  • Preexisting condition limitations do apply.
  • Employees may also purchase an additional 20% (of your basic monthly earnings up to $1,667 per month) coverage.
  • Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) provides confidential counseling services for employees and eligible dependents.
  • Effective July 1, 2013, the plan provides up to five free visits per year. 
  • Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) allows you to make pre-tax contributions to your account to pay for eligible medical/dental/vision expenses which are not paid by your health insurance (deductibles, co-pays, etc.) 
  • Dependent Care Account Program (DCAP) allows you to pay for your eligible dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. The maximum allowable you may contribute to this plan is $5,000. 
  • Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP)
    • The City currently pays the employee's share of the retirement contribution.
    • Employees who are OPSRP members are vested after five years of contributions or when they reach age 65 (age 60 for police and fire.) 
  • Option to contribute a portion of your earnings on a pre-tax basis to the City's Deferred Compensation Program.
Paid Leave
  • 80 hours of vacation each year initially. This accrual will increase over time. 
  • Sick leave typically accrues at the rate of 104 hours each year
  • 10 paid holidays each year
  • three personal days accrue each year
Family Medical Leave

In accordance with federal and state law, and the City policy for family medical leave, the City grants family and medical leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical related reasons.
 
  • City's TRIP Reduction Incentive Program (for transportation options)

01
Please provide examples from your background or work experience that required you to communicate complex information in a more simplified manner in order to explain it to someone else.
02
Rate your interpersonal communication skills for effectiveness, tact/diplomacy and ability to interact with a variety of people (unskilled, skilled, or highly skilled). Please provide examples to support your rating.
03
Please provide an example of any of your projects or work experiences that required a high degree of accuracy, memory recall, and/or attention to detail.
04
Please describe your experience and skill working with computers.
05
Please describe your experience reading, understanding and applying rules, regulations, ordinances, and/or policies.
06
Please provide examples of your experience adjusting priorities, while remaining focused in a fast paced changing environment; or when faced with situations that may be upsetting.
07
Will you have a High School Diploma or equivalent by August 27, 2018?
  • Yes
  • No
08
Are you willing and able to be confined to your work area for extended periods?
  • Yes
  • No
09
Are you willing and able to treat all people with respect and dignity?
  • Yes
  • No
10
Are you willing and able to make quick decisions on which one or more person's safety depends?
  • Yes
  • No
11
Are you willing and able to tell someone who expects police, fire or medical service that his/her problem does not require and will not receive police, fire or medical response?
  • Yes
  • No
12
Are you willing and able to work within a highly structured and controlled environment where work productivity and quality is frequently evaluated and critiqued?
  • Yes
  • No
13
Are you willing and able to wear a headset and be confined to your work area for extended periods?
  • Yes
  • No
14
Are you willing and able to work regularly assigned shifts, which include evenings, nights, Saturdays and Sundays? This may also include Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and/or all religious holidays?
  • Yes
  • No
15
Are you willing and able to be courteous to callers who scream or direct obscene language at you or callers who are drunk, irrational or confused?
  • Yes
  • No
16
Are you willing and able to remain on the telephone and provide caller with instructions or relay additional information, which may necessitate listening while the caller is being attacked, victimized, trapped in a fire, or other life-threatening events?
  • Yes
  • No
17
Is your record clear of adult felony convictions?
  • Yes
  • No
18
Will you be at least 18 years of age by August 27, 2018?
  • Yes
  • No
19
Are you willing and able to demonstrate ethical behavior, honesty and integrity?
  • Yes
  • No
20
Are you willing and able to maintain intense concentration and attention for extended periods of time?
  • Yes
  • No
21
Are you willing and able to work overtime on a short notice?
  • Yes
  • No
22
A background investigation and reference check of previous employers will be conducted. Are you willing to comply with this investigation?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
City of Portland
Address
1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 987

Portland, Oregon, 97204
Website
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/jobs
Job Opportunities
Account
Terms Of Use
Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2024