9-1-1 Call Taker

Salary: $25.44 - $32.47 Hourly
Location : Bend, OR
Job Type: Regular, full time, full benefits
Job Number: 2023-00006
Department: 9-1-1 Service District
Opening Date: 11/09/2023
Closing Date: 12/24/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Summary
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
Our mission is to provide prompt assistance in a caring, resourceful and professional manner to those we serve. The Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District became a consolidated public safety dispatching agency in 1988, taking all calls for police, fire, and medical service assistance in Deschutes County. The District dispatches for 15 police and fire/emergency medical services (EMS) agencies and works closely with the U.S. Forest Service, AirLink, Life Flight, Oregon State Police, and other State and Federal entities.
Are you interested in joining a talented team and serving your community? If so, we invite you to review additional information by
ABOUT THE COUNTY:
We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,100 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.
Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.
ABOUT THE JOB:
The 9-1-1 Call Taker is the first person that talks to a person in an emergency. They are the critical decision maker in properly assessing the situation, interviewing the caller and getting the information entered into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system to be dispatched out to police, fire or medical.
The 9-1-1 Call Taker provides computer-aided emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for all local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services agencies within Deschutes County. Dispatchers operate complex communications equipment, multi-line telephone systems and computer terminals to access and input information. This position requires the ability to maintain accuracy and speed while performing job duties, often under stressful situations.
Key Responsibilities:

• Receives and processes incoming telephone calls, and texts, often during high-call volume periods, from people requesting emergency and non-emergency police, fire, and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) assistance in a courteous, accurate, efficient, and timely manner.
• Enters information into a computer aided dispatch system in an accurate and timely manner.
• Makes effective, immediate decisions regarding life-threatening situations based on highly complex rules, regulations, and procedures.

What You Will Bring:
Knowledge of or experience with:

• Strong emotional intelligence with a history of honest and ethical decision-making.
• Interpersonal skills to discern callers' situations and assure an accurate, appropriate, and timely response by responders.
• A minimum basic knowledge of geography or the ability to learn geography in a timely manner.
• Excellent listening skills and the ability to communicate clearly.
• Ability to adapt and communicate effectively with diverse public.
• Ability to manage your time and assignments.

Skill in:

• Thinking quickly and independently in emergency situations that require multiple decisions for action.
• Coordinating computer systems to access and enhance information provided to responders.
• Operation of multiple and complex telephone, radio, and computer equipment/systems.

*This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but rather constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function.
Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status.
Review the full job description by clicking HERE.
Compensation
The starting hourly rate is $25.4433. Salary range during initial training is $4,410.09 to $5,628.44 per month for a 173.33 hour work month.
Hourly rate is increased to $29.2596 upon completion of police dispatch training (about 6-12 months, Public Safety Dispatcher I); and $30.7227 upon completion of fire dispatch training (which usually occurs within the first two years of employment, Public Safety Dispatcher II). Dispatchers may also earn up to an additional 6% of their base salary when they obtain their intermediate certification and 11% of their base salary when they obtain their advanced certification through DPSST. At the top step with possession of an advanced certification, a Public Safety Dispatcher II can expect to earn over $95,000.00 per year.
For those currently possessing DPSST Certification as a Telecommunicator, certificate pay begins upon hire date and will receive an additional:

• 6% - for Intermediate certification.
• 11% - for Advanced certification.
• Out of State Certified applicants will receive certification pay as soon as certification is granted by DPSST.

Lateral certified applicants with 36 months or more experience begin at pay step 2 - $26.7151 per hour.
Hours will increase to 182.50 per month after the initial training period.
Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This position is available immediately. This is a union represented position, for additional information, please click HERE.
BENEFITS:
Our robust health plan is offered at a minimal cost of $95 per month for employee only or $116 per month for employee plus dependents, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities. Please click HEREfor full benefit details.
This recruitment has been re-opened. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on December 25, 2023 and all testing must be completed by 8:00 a.m. on Friday December 29, 2023.
Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent;
• Must be 18 years of age by hire date;
• Must accurately type a minimum of 42 words per minute.

To qualify for employment with the 9-1-1 Service District, candidates must:

• Pass a drug screening; a hearing and vision exam; a thorough background, employment, and criminal history investigation; and a psychological examination.
• Meet the requirements as outlined in Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008-0300
• Possess or obtain all required state certificates and licenses within the probationary period, and maintain thereafter.
  • Certification as an Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Basic Telecommunicator, Emergency Medical Dispatcher and Emergency Fire Dispatcher.
  • CPR and First Aid certification.
  • Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS) certification.

Necessary Special Requirements
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire date. The employment offer will be contingent upon presentation of an acceptable and verifiable driver's license, pre-employment screening for criminal history, driving history, and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). This screening must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.
Must pass a driving record review and criminal history background.

• A current driver's license, state of issue, and date of birth are required. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must include an accurate driver's license number, state of origin, and date of birth in the Supplemental Question portion of the application.

Physical Requirements: Must meet the physical requirements as outlined in Most work in this classification series occurs under a stressful, high activity office environment where concentration and focus are required for long periods of time. There is often little opportunity to talk to co-workers. Work is performed in an area with moderate noise and lighting fluctuations with restrictions to the workstation.
Deschutes County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build an inclusive environment that encourages, supports, and represents the diverse voices and needs of our communities. All are encouraged to apply - we welcome diverse perspectives and experiences.
If you are a veteran and would like to apply for Veterans' Preference, please click for information.
Excellent County benefit package when eligible.
Deschutes County offers eligible employees a comprehensive health care package that covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents at a minimal cost of $90 per month. Coverage becomes effective the first of the month following 1 month of employment. Included in the health care package is the Deschutes Onsite Clinic (DOC), which provides a wide range of health, wellness, and primary care services to employees and their dependents. The DOC offers convenient hours and no out-of-pocket costs to patients. The DOC Pharmacy is a full service pharmacy available to employees and dependents to have their prescriptions filled at a discounted co-pay. In addition to the health care package, Deschutes County provides a generous and comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees.
Employer paid benefit offerings include:

• Life Insurance for employee and dependents
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Program through Oregon PERS
• Time Management Leave

Employee paid voluntary benefit offerings include:

• 125 Flexible Spending Program
• 457 Deferred Compensation Program
• Supplemental Life and Accident Insurance

To learn more about Deschutes County's generous benefit offerings, please visit and click on Employee Benefits.
01
I certify that I have read the information provided to me including the initial ad with its included links, the job description, OAR 259-008-0011 (click for OAR), and the posting announcement, and confirm that I qualify and am able to perform the essential functions and special requirements of this position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent?

• Yes
• No

03
I understand that all sections of my online application and supplemental questionnaire must be completed accurately and thoroughly to quantify and qualify my ability to follow instructions, give detailed and relevant answers, and to describe my background. I also understand that an incomplete application or lack of details may disqualify me from this position.

• Yes
• No

04
This job is the essential first link for community to access emergency services and are essential employees. You are expected to report to duty on time and remain at work until the end of shift, regardless of weather or emergencies. You will work various 12 hour shifts, including day, swing, graveyard and relief shifts on a rotation basis. You will work weekends, holidays and overtime. Do you confirm that you are willing and able to meet these requirements?

• Yes
• No

05
What concerns do you have, if any, with the above requirements?
06
Are you, or have you been, DPSST certified as a telecommunicator, or worked in an equivalent capacity to an emergency dispatcher or Call Taker? (If yes, please be sure to list the experience on your application).

• Yes
• No

07
PRE-SCREENING RELEASE: In order to be considered for a position with the Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District, candidates must pass a PRE-qualifying driving record review and a criminal history background check. Deschutes County will use the driver's license information and date of birth from your application to conduct an investigation verifying your background. Results will be used for the purpose of making selection decisions. Information contained in your background check will be reviewed by those persons involved in making decisions on candidate selection or performing the background investigation. You must provide your driver's license number, state of issuance, and date of birth in the supplemental question section of this application form. FAILURE TO LIST YOUR LICENSE NUMBER, STATE, AND DATE OF BIRTH or listing incorrect information, will disqualify you for submitting an incomplete application. By checking YES below, I give Deschutes County my consent to perform a pre-qualifying review of my driving record and criminal history background as described above. I understand the information will be used in the selection process for the 9-1-1 Call Taker position.

• Yes
• No

08
Please enter your full, legal name: (last, first, middle).
09
Date of birth: (mm, dd, yyyy).
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Driver's license number.
11
State driver's license issued from.
Required Question