City of Tampa

This is highly responsible supervisory work involving operation of a public safety communications section.

An employee in this class is responsible for planning, assigning, supervising, and reviewing the work of subordinate employees engaged in public safety call-taking and dispatching. Work is of more than average difficulty requiring employees to possess a comprehensive knowledge of pertinent ordinances, laws, rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures. Tasks include ensuring the accuracy of information being processed, overseeing the maintenance of logs of calls dispatched, and training of new Public Safety Telecommunicators. An important aspect of the work involves serving as liaison between police officers or firefighters on the job and the general public. Under direction, employees are required to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in providing advice and assistance to lower-level employees in emergency situations, and in scheduling employees to ensure 24-hour a day, 7-day a week coverage of the division. Employees might be required to work nights and weekends on a rotating shift. Employees are required to complete necessary personnel administration tasks. Because of the nature of work performed, it is extremely important that employees react in a timely and controlled fashion. Work is reviewed through observation of services rendered and periodic inspection of work performance.

Schedules work assignments for an assigned shift; supervises the training of new Public Safety Telecommunicators in operation of the communications equipment and in preparation and maintenance of reports or assigns to an experienced worker for training; completes employee performance evaluations; approves leave requests based on available staff; serves as respondent in the grievance procedure; recommends employment, transfers, merit increases, terminations, and disciplinary actions as required.

Checks machinery periodically to ensure that equipment is functioning properly.

Ensures quality assurance reviews of lower-level employees are conducted routinely, monitors flow of information between operations and communications personnel.

Assists with interviews for Public Safety Telecommunicator employment and promotions. Ensures the skill level and knowledge of Public Safety Telecommunicators to be considered subject matter experts (SME) for a specified area of public safety telecommunications.

Operates communications equipment when necessary.

Performs related work as required.

Considerable knowledge of: radio transmitting equipment operating methods; geographic zone boundaries, city streets, and street conditions; pertinent ordinances, laws, rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures; effective supervisory and training techniques.

Working knowledge of: the city and its geography; effective communications techniques; records keeping techniques.

Ability to: react quickly, calmly, and rationally in emergencies; speak clearly and communicate effectively; interpret ordinances, regulations, rules, and standard operating procedures in a clear, concise manner; plan, schedule, assign, supervise, and review the work of others; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public; train new dispatchers; operate various computer applications and radio dispatching equipment, when required.

Skill in: the use and care of radio dispatching and related equipment, when required.

Graduation from an accredited high school and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in public safety telecommunications work including supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

State of Florida certification as a Public Safety Telecommunicator.

Positions require possession and maintenance of applicable certifications: Law Enforcement: F/NCIC certification; Fire Rescue: EMD certification.

Possession of a valid driver’s license may be required.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.