GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS This is skilled telecommunications work of more than average difficulty in the operations of equipment associated with a consolidated Public Safety Communications Center and enhanced 911 Public Safety Answering Point. Work involves the responsibility of operating equipment to receive and/or respond to emergency and non-emergency requests for assistance/information on a shift in a seven (7) day per week, twenty-four (24) hour per day operation. The nature of this work requires the exercising of initiative, using independent and sound judgment in handling emergency situations and the ability to function calmly under extreme stress in potential life threatening situations. This posting will close after the receipt of the first 50 qualified applicants or 2 weeks (September 9, 2024 at 4PM) whichever comes first. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS * Operates a multi-line telephone to answer incoming calls, interviews callers to determine nature of request, classifies the request and determines the response needed. * Contacts ambulance service, hospitals, wrecker service and other agencies. * Directs calls to proper departments and answers routine questions. * Operates a complex Computer Aided Dispatch System, which functions for both Police and Fire Emergency Response, handling approximately five hundred (500) calls for service daily. * Operates the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) computer terminal to access other agencies, obtain information, or input information pertaining to ongoing investigations. * Operates a radio console to inform/dispatch the proper Police/Fire personnel and equipment to scenes of emergencies or crime. * Utilizes the Computer Aided Dispatch System to notify the dispatch of request for service, to maintain control and to record the activities of all dispatches or calls for service. * Trains newly hired personnel that have been assigned to them and submits weekly written evaluations. * Operates an enhanced 911 Public Safety Answering Point position maintaining all required logs, records, and forms, and assists in submitting all required reports according to federal and state law. * Makes decisions that could affect lives and property. These decisions are based on knowledge of city, state, and federal law. * Required to work 12 hour shifts and mandatory overtime as required for staffing needs on both midnight or day shifts, as determined by department needs. * Required to work overtime or alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department. * Position is designated as Emergency and Essential. ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS: * May serve as the Emergency Communications Supervisor in his/her absence. * Performs related work as required. QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE) * High school diploma from an accredited school or its equivalent. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: * Must possess a valid State of Florida driver's license. * Must maintain a valid telephone number. * Must maintain State of Florida Public Safety Telecommunicator certification. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES * Knowledge of public safety organizations and operations. * Knowledge of the operating characteristics, practices and procedures of the equipment associated with a Public Safety Communications Center/Enhanced 911 Public Safety Answering Point. * Knowledge of human relations and established practices as applied to the work force. * Knowledge of general office equipment and telephone practices, procedures and equipment. * Knowledge of the names and locations of streets and principle buildings in the City, or the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge in a reasonable period of time. * Ability to deal effectively and harmoniously with other employees, agencies and the public. * Ability to interpret and apply written policies and oral directives. * Ability to keep records and perform routine clerical work. * Ability to learn, with a reasonable period the applicable procedures, techniques and regulations involve in the operations of a Police/Fire Communications Center. * Ability to operate a two-way radio system and communicate effectively with personnel in the field. WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: * Requires sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time, exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis and routine keyboard operations. * The job risks expose to operate under adverse and emergency conditions. * The job requires normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of taste, sense of smell, depth perception and texture perception. Required Documents: 1. DD214 Military Discharge (if applicable) Applicants for the position of Emergency Communicator II are required to submit a copy of ALL required documents with the employment application. Applicants will not be eligible for employment until ALL required documents have been submitted to CIVIL SERVICE or uploaded with the application. Elements of the Selection Process: Our system allows you to work on your application and save the application without submitting it. This allows applicants the opportunity to save your work and come back to finish the application without having to start over. If you submit your application and do not "complete" it before 4:00 PM on the posted close date (listed on the job opportunities page), your application will be rejected from the system and you will have to start the application over. The application WILL NOT be accepted or reviewed until it is "complete". After submission of the completed application (including ALL required documents) the application will be accepted. Applicants passing the minimum qualifications will be evaluated to determine if you will continue in the process. Applicants with the most desirable applications, will move the next phase of the process. Applicants selected to move forward will complete a Biographical Interview, conducted by a member of the G.S. S. Staff. The biographical interview will consist of a full comprehensive review of the application submitted to confirm accuracy of the information provided. Applicants that are selected to continue in the process will be given information and instructions for the submission of a Personal History Questionnaire, which will be required to move forward in the process. The G.S.S staff will also take your fingerprints to assist in the background phase of the hiring process. If selected to move to the next phase, applicants will be invited to attend a panel interview conducted by a minimum of three department members from the Communications Center. Those applicants who are selected for employment will be given a conditional offer of employment. The job offer is contingent upon successful completion and approval of a Truth Verification Examination (i.e. polygraph or computer voice stress analysis), psychological fitness examination, medical examination, drug screen testing, and completed background investigation. A thorough background investigation will be completed on all candidates selected for employment. The applicant will receive written notice either by mail or electronic mail at each phase of the selection process advising them that they were selected to move forward or that they were not selected. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the e-mail address provided on the application is correct and to provide any updated information to Civil Service during the application process. Once a decision has been reached to offer the applicant employment OR the applicant will not be offered employment, applicants will be notified in writing within 30 days. The intent of the Lakeland Police Department is that the selection process, from the date of the biographical interview until the applicant is advised of a decision regarding employment, will not extend beyond 180 days. When an applicant is selected for employment and all elements of the selection process have been passed, the applicant will participate in an 80-hour orientation phase of training prior to entering the Communications Training program as a trainee. Upon completing orientation, the trainee will start the four-phase Communications Training program that can last as long as seven to eight months. The four phases of the training program include Call-Taker/Intake operations, Police Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, and Data/Teletype operations. The trainee will be on probationary status for one year from their date of hire, pending successful completion of all training requirements and ongoing satisfactory job performance. Background Investigation: A background investigation of each candidate for all positions is conducted prior to appointment to probationary status. The background investigation may include, but is not limited to: A background investigation of each candidate for all positions is conducted prior to appointment to probationary status. The background investigation may include, but is not limited to: a. verification of qualifying credentials b. a review of any criminal record c. a review of applicants driving record d. fingerprint check e. warrants check f. records check g. verification of at least three personal references h. a review of prior employment/military history i. a review of applicant's employment and academy files j. review of social site/internet information Be advised that sensitive or confidential aspects of the candidate's personal life may be explored. Psychological Fitness Examination: An emotional stability and psychological fitness examination of candidate receiving a conditional offer of employment is conducted and assessed by a qualified professional prior to appointment to probationary status. Truth Verification Examination: A computer voice stress analysis (CVSA) or polygraph examination of all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment is conducted and assessed by a qualified professional prior to appointment to probationary status. Candidates are provided with a list of areas from which the truth verification examination questions will be drawn prior to the examination. The results of a truth verification examination shall not be used as a single determinant of employment status. Medical Examination: A medical examination of all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment is conducted and assessed by a qualified professional prior to appointment to probationary status. The medical examination certifies the general health of the candidate, to include acceptable levels of hearing and vision or accommodations to perform the duties of the position. Drug Screen: A drug screen of all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment is conducted and assessed by a qualified professional prior to appointment to probationary status. The drug screen tests for recent usage of controlled substances, either illegal or prescribed substances. Prohibited substances are defined by departmental directives and are available to candidates who have questions concerning prohibited drug usage. Reapplication: Reapplication, retesting, and re-evaluation of applicants not hired is permitted after six months from the last failed exam date as long as nothing in the applicant's history indicated an unfitness for employment. Conditions that qualify as unfitness for employment include revelations of unacceptable drug use, criminal records, or other factors discovered during the selection process. The City of Lakeland is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and a Drug Free work place. City of Lakeland 2024 Summary Sheet Annual Leave Annual leave is accumulated bi-weekly and based upon years of service as follows: Annual leave may be taken as earned by employees hired after January 1, 1989. Employees hired prior to that date use annual leave within the calendar year following the year the leave is earned. All employees may carry over up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at the end of the calendar year. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.* Sick Leave Sick rate is accrued biweekly based upon years of service and standard hour classification. Eligible for use as soon as earned. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue sick leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month. * NOTE: REGULAR employees with a working day other than eight (8) hours, please contact your supervisor regarding these policies. Sick Leave Pool Allows employees to receive sick leave benefits in cases involving catastrophic or long-term illnesses or injuries after all personal leave time has been depleted. Regular full-time employees contribute eight (8) hours and Regular part-time employees contribute four (4) hours on an annual basis. Employees must have completed one full year of service on or before December 31st of the calendar year enrollment; and have accumulated at least forty (40) hours of sick time (twenty (20) hours for Regular part-time employees). Participation in this program is voluntary. For more information contact Amanda Kaiser at 834-8768 Family & Medical Leave Federal legislation guarantees up to twelve (12) weeks per year off work under certain circumstances outlined in the policy manual. The employees must have been employed by the City for at least twelve (12) months and have at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12-month period before the requested leave. The City will continue its group life and health insurance for an employee on leave at the same level and under the same conditions that existed while the employee was working. For more information contact Dawn Justice at 834-6038. Pension Plan Provision for retirement income requiring mandatory participation for full-time regular employees. Defined Benefit Plan: Plan C Employee 3.12% Employer 15.64% OR Defined Contribution Plan: Executives, New Hires aged 52 and older, and Fire/Police Recruits Employee 8.5% or 11% per election upon hire Employer 15.39% Deferred Compensation 457 Plan: A voluntary plan that is invested in mutual funds. The Employees' Pension Board performs the due diligence on the mutual funds. Employees may reallocate their account at any time. Maximum contribution for 2024 is $23,000; employees aged 50 or older can also add a "catch-up" amount of $7,500. Additionally, a match of up to 5% of salary is offered by the City in Plan C. Holidays Twelve (12) holidays, includes one (1) personal floating holiday to be used at any time after three (3) months of employment and prior to the end of the calendar year. Funeral Leave Up to three (3) days off with pay due to death of an immediate family member (as defined in the policy manual). Up to four (4) hours off with pay may be obtained through supervisor approval to attend local funeral services of persons other than immediate family. Jury/Witness Duty Employees required to serve on jury duty will be relieved of responsibility for their regular work shift or portion thereof and receive full pay while serving. All fees received for such service may be retained by the employee. Employees subpoenaed to any civil or criminal court proceeding, which employee is not personally or monetarily interested, shall be paid as if engaged in regular work activities. Military Leave Allows for up to 240 hours in any one calendar year for annual military training without loss of pay or benefits for any employee in some type of reserve status for the United States Armed Forces. (see policy manual for additional information). Maternity Leave Refer to Family & Medical Leave for those employees who qualify. Others may take up to three (3) months leave of absence available upon approval of the Department Head. Employees may opt to utilize any combination of paid (sick or annual leave) or unpaid leave. Leave of Absence Without Pay Written requests are subject to approval by Department Head and City Manager or designee for less than ninety (90) days. Requests for more than ninety (90) days also require Civil Service Board approval for employees in a Civil Service classification. Longevity Pay Tuition Reimbursement Program provides employees up to $2,500 per fiscal year (October 1 through September 30) for reimbursement of tuition of approved college, university, vocational, or correspondence classes upon completion with a grade of "C" or better in credit courses only. Full reimbursement is given for courses and fees, upon approval. The program does not include reimbursement for cost of books, supplies or other related expenses. For more information, contact Sue Cook at 834-6844. Suggestion Awards A program designed to provide a consistent and organized method for employees to submit and be rewarded for constructive ideas for improvement. Maximum award is $1000. For additional information, contact Kathy McNelis at 834-6348. Direct Deposit of Paycheck (refer to handout in new employee folder) An account must be established with the institution of your choice prior to signing up for direct deposit. Uniforms/Equipment Uniforms issued at no cost to employees for those job classifications which require them. Equipment is issued to employees at either no cost or discounted cost depending upon job classification. Parking Free while at work. Break Periods Employees may be permitted two (2), fifteen (15) minute breaks during the workday. The time shall be at the discretion of the supervisor. For Information on Health Insurance, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance please contact Benefits at 834-6797. For Information on Retirement Benefits, contact the Retirement Services Department at 834-8765 or 834-8797. For Information on Firefighter and Police Officer Retirement Benefits, contact Foster & Foster at 239-333-4872.