Public Safety Emergency Communications Specialist

Now offering $5,000 Hiring Bonus distributed over the first year and eligibility for the Employee Retirement System (ERS) Defined Benefit Plan.

Position will be filled at the Public Safety Emergency Communications Specialist I level, Grade 15.  Starting salary will be $51,579.

Applicants will be required to indicate the name of any referring employee into this online recruitment system at the time of original application.

This position is assigned to the Department's Emergency Communications Center (ECC) which is located in Gaithersburg and Rockville, Maryland. The Communications Specialist is responsible for delivering quality emergency communication services to the public, as well as providing accurate and timely dispatch support to police officers and fire rescue personnel. The Communications Specialist has a unique responsibility in a fast-paced environment that requires careful attention to detail, multi-tasking, and good communications skills.
 

Major duties include answering 9-1-1 emergency calls, and dispatching police officers and fire rescue personnel to respond to calls, using a computer system known as (CAD) Computer Aided Dispatch.  

This position has a very extensive upward mobility career ladder as indicated below:
Employees will receive Proficiency Advancement to Public Safety Emergency Communications Specialist (PSECS) II (grade 17) after achieving check-off as a multi-discipline public safety call taker with at least five (5) months experience as a PSECS I with a 10% increase in salary.

Employees will receive Proficiency Advancement to Public Safety Emergency Communications Specialist III (grade 19) after achieving check-off in a single discipline public safety dispatch with at least three (3) months experience as a PSECS II with a 10% increase in salary.

Employees will receive Proficiency Advancement to PSCS IV (grade 20) after achieving check-off in all discipline’s public safety dispatch with at least twelve (12) months experience as a PSCS III with a 5% increase in salary.

Employees will receive Proficiency Advancement to Senior Public Safety Emergency Communications Specialist (grade 21) after 24 months as a PSECS IV with a 5% increase in salary.

Applicants must have the ability to:
- perform work assignments at different work locations when required.
 - work holidays, weekends and shifts during days, evenings or midnights.
 - accept last minute changes in their schedule and work mandatory overtime.
 - work under close supervision, and daily evaluation of performance, especially during training.
 - demonstrate good customer service skills including dealing calmly and respectfully with irate and angry customers over the phone; and
 - work under constant electronic surveillance as all telephone conversations and radio messages will be recorded.

Experience: None

Education: Ability to provide proof of Graduation from high school or High School Certificate completion recognized in the state of Maryland before day one of employment

Equivalency: None.

License: Upon Completion of Probationary Period: Possession and maintenance of CPR certification; Law Enforcement Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, and Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocol System certifications; State of Maryland Emergency Medical Dispatch license; METERS/NCIC certification must be obtained by the completion of the probationary period.

 
TESTING PROCESS
 All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications confirmed by Police will be scheduled for the computerized examination.    All who pass the computerized examination will be scheduled for a selection interview.  As a result of selection interview applicants will be rated Well-Qualified or Qualified.  Well-Qualified applicants will move to the selection process.

SELECTION PROCESS 
All applicants must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation, psychological evaluation, medical examination and drug/alcohol screen.  Additionally, each applicant will be scheduled to observe a full performance Public Safety Emergency Communications Specialist in the Emergency Communications Center.

NOTIFICATIONS
Applicants will be notified of a test date, time and venue via email prior to test date. Please check your SPAM folders regularly.  They will be notified via email or telephone for all other steps in the testing and selection phases.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG)  is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.