Website Buncombe County Government
Buncombe County is a caring community in harmony with its environment where citizens succeed, thrive, and realize their potential. Our mission is to promote a healthy, safe, well-educated, and thriving community with a sustainable quality of life; to provide effective and efficient government our citizens can trust; and to deliver needed service through a responsive work force committed to excellence, integrity, and teamwork.
Purpose of the position:
Responsible and timely operation of communication equipment to receive and transmit emergency calls for the Buncombe County Emergency Services Department. This posting is to fill multiple full-time positions. Starting rate of pay is $17.28 per hour depending on experience.
Essential Functions of the position:
- Receiving emergency and non-emergency calls from the public through the emergency telephone system
- Obtaining pertinent information from callers to determine the nature and location of the emergency
- Prioritizing and dispatching calls for service for all three emergency service disciplines (fire, police, and medical)
- Handling radio requests from emergency response units
- Maintaining location and status information of emergency response units
Maintaining accurate and timely records - Providing information or referral options to the public as requested
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience:
High school education or equivalent; minimum two (2) years’ experience in a public facing/customer service related position preferred.
Additional Training and Experience:
Within the first 6 months of employment, incumbent must complete the EMD and EPD certificates.
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:
Telecommunicator Certification
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Abilities:
- Knowledge of rules, regulations, and procedures, including safety procedures, such as CPR and first aid.
- Knowledge of telecommunications systems, which may include transmission, broadcasting, and switching systems, and computerized databases, including teletype operations and procedures.
- Knowledge of basic dispatch codes, as well as standard abbreviations and industry terminology commonly used by emergency medical services and law enforcement agencies.
- Knowledge of the geographical layout of the County as to location of streets, important buildings, and other landmarks.
- Ability to use logic and reasoning to reach conclusions and approaches to problems
- Ability to use judgment and decision-making skills to evaluate situations, establish priorities, and resolve matters
- Ability to work under stressful situations
- Ability actively listen and communicate effectively through clear speech and hearing
- Ability to establish priorities an pass on information as needed
- Ability to elicit information necessary for proper dispatching from persons who may be distressed.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations.
- Ability to speak clearly, distinctly and professionally.
- Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
- Ability to maintain files, records and reports.
Department:Public Safety Communications
Location: Asheville, NC
Job Posting End Date:
Salary Range: $17.28 – $20.32
Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee’s unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.
It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition the Agency expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.
Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.