Emergency Communications Officer

WHO WE ARE: Chesterfield Emergency Communications Center (ECC) is the public safety answering point for Chesterfield County, a suburb of Richmond, Virginia, servicing 437 square miles. Our community consists of a pleasant mix of suburban communities, neighborhoods, and villages. Currently, more than 390,000 people make Chesterfield their home, and we credit the county’s popularity to the excellent programs and services it provides, as well as the overall quality of life. We are located 90 miles south of Washington, D.C. and just a short drive to the beaches and mountains. Our mission is to serve as the vital link between the public and other public safety organizations through professionalism and dedication while living by these core values: Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, and Accountability. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED: At the time of application, applicants must be eligible to work in the United States, and pursuant to the requirements of the Virginia Criminal Information Network, all persons selected for employment must be a U.S. citizen or have been a lawful resident of the United States for the past ten consecutive years and cannot be a convicted felon. At the time of hire, the applicant must have a high school diploma or GED and be a minimum of 18 years of age. Applicants are required to pass a pre-employment drug test and vision and hearing screenings. Candidates must possess the ability to handle multiple tasks, make fast-paced decisions, provide quality customer service, have good oral and written communication skills, and be knowledgeable with computers. Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check (which includes a psychological evaluation), and education/degree verification required. This position is subject to working in high-security areas governed by the US Department of Justice’s “Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy” and therefore requires successfully passing a more stringent criminal background check. Must be a US citizen or have been a lawful resident of the US for the past ten consecutive years. This position is considered Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. WHAT YOU DO: Working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment where you will be working with multiple computer systems answering 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls for all county public safety services, ensuring to obtain complete and accurate information regarding the location of calls; prioritizing requests and giving pre-arrival instructions to assist in mitigation until responders arrive; radio dispatching of Police, Sheriff, and Fire and EMS units using a Computer Aided Dispatch System and public safety radio system; in-depth interaction with DMV/NCIC/VCIN systems; other duties as required. SHIFTS/SCHEDULE: 365 days a year/24 hours a day/7 days a week operation 12-hour shifts (Days 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Nights 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.) allowing every other weekend off Maintaining minimum staffing levels by an on-call schedule and voluntary or mandatory overtime to ensure proper staffing of the department Working holidays and working weekends (if scheduled) Personnel are essential in time of inclement weather PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Must be able to sit for long periods of time Must be able to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction and receive detailed information through oral communications Vision abilities required including close vision and the ability to adjust focus REASONS TO JOIN OUR TEAM: Be a part of a nationally accredited emergency communications center This position is a part of an approved Career Development Plan (CDP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience. Promotional opportunities Peer support group Uniform shirts provided 40 Hours of Paid Time Off (PTO) upon hire County benefit program includes health/vision insurance, dental insurance, short- and long-term disability, employee assistance program, life insurance, retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, paid parental leave and more. COMPENSATION: This position is a part of an approved step-based Public Safety Pay Plan (PSPP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives based on performance, qualifications, and experience. The starting salary is $56,146. New communication officers hired before January 1 will be eligible for a step increase at the new fiscal year. New employees hired after January 1 will receive their step increase the following fiscal year. LET’S BE REAL: Each day is unpredictable and very different. Each caller encounter is unique. We'll be honest, this job is intense. It's a stressful, high-paced job with critical outcomes. The respect, dignity, and compassion our dispatchers have for every individual we serve while providing first-class customer service is our duty. You must be committed to serving the public; some on the worst day of their life. You must be flexible and will be required to work outside of “normal business hours,” which includes weekends and holidays. Being an Emergency Communications Officer isn't for everyone, but if you are committed to making a real difference in the lives of others and are looking for a career rather than a job, we want you on our team. For more information concerning the benefits of joining the Chesterfield County Emergency Communications Center, contact our recruitment team at 804-717-6993, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or click here . Permanent day or night shifts; 12 hour shifts Day shift: 7:00 a.m - 7:00 p.m. Night shift: 7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. Emergency Communications Center