Emergency Communications Officer - PH - State of Idaho

Description

DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND INDEPENDENCE OF IDAHOANS

***THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE OPEN UNTIL FILLED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED.

The Idaho State EMS Communication Center in Meridian, Idaho is looking for someone who likes to be challenged and wants to make a difference! 

Are you looking for a rewarding career in public service? Are you a team player? Do you enjoy a fast-paced and rewarding work environment? Do you have strong communication and multi-tasking skills? Then we have a job for you! 

The Emergency Communications Officer provides statewide emergency communications and coordination of resources in response to emergency medical services (EMS) incidents, homeland security, highway emergencies and services, public health issues and hazardous materials incidents; related to the public under adverse conditions and often stressful life/death situations. These communications and coordination systems support local, state and federal government agencies, emergency responders, and the public. 

Employees in this class work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays. Emergency Communication Officers are required to pass an extensive background check and drug screening as part of the Peace Officer Standards & Training certification. This position involves hearing and speaking over radio and telephone equipment. The incumbent in this position dispatches ground and air emergency medical units, search and rescue, hazardous materials teams, Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) staff, federal emergency resources for rural and urban communities statewide in response to citizen, agency or governmental requests or situations involving specialized incidents requiring multi-agency response; flight follow fish and Game helicopters; provide pre-arrival patient and post-dispatch medical care instructions; perform related work.  This position works three twelve hour and one four hour shift per week. Telework is not an option for this position.

Temporary positions are limited to working 1,385 hours in a 12-month period for any one state agency. Employees are eligible for benefits if they work twenty (20) hours or more per week and the term of employment is expected to exceed five (5) continuous months. 

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is a drug-free workplace. Any applicant offered employment in this position at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test. In addition, successful candidates will be required to complete a criminal history background investigation. Employment is dependent upon satisfactory results of the investigation. 

BENEFITS:

BEST RETIREMENT AVAILABLE IN THE NATION 

We have one of the Nation's best state retirement systems (PERSI) that offers a lifetime benefit. 

OTHER EXCELLENT BENEFITS

• 11 paid holidays
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual beginning as soon as you start 
• Paid parental leave
• Medical, dental, vision insurance - incredible rates!(full-time/30+ hours per week)
• PERSI Choice 401(k)
• Deferred compensation plan
• Life insurance
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Student Loan Forgiveness
• Wellness programs
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 
• Wide variety of training opportunities
• Some positions offer flexible hours and/or telecommuting

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Communications 

• Receives, screens, and determines call priorities; obtains accurate and complete information pertaining to reported incidents 
• Determines appropriate level of response and dispatch ground and air emergency medical, medical units, ITD, hazardous materials, search and rescue, law enforcement, and other emergency responders, using radio and telephone equipment 
• Determines geographic coordinates and provide directional instructions to ground and air responders 
• Provides information to scene commander as required; facilitate communications between responding agencies 

Patient screening

• Assists individuals over the telephone until emergency services arrive on the scene
• Obtains case entry information including location of call, call-back telephone number, chief complaint, age of patient, status of consciousness and breathing and patient condition related to chief complaint 
• Provides patient information to responders and patient care instructions to caller 

Incident Management

• Performs continuous dispatching, monitoring, and communications during emergency incidents, including notification to other persons/agencies as incident information evolves, including all Amber Alerts and Hazardous Material incidents 
• Creates, modifies, and removes events in the Idaho 511 system and highway message board system for emergency or urgent traveler information dissemination 
• Creates, modifies, and removes events in Idaho Hospital Bed Tracking system 

Policy-Technical

• Utilizes an array of complex references and resources such as medical dispatch cards, maps, phone directories 
• Uses multiple technological devices such as highway cameras, dynamic message signs, multiple computer software programs, web-based applications and multi-line/channel telephone and radio systems

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

You must possess all the minimum qualifications below to pass the exam for this position. Please make sure your resume or work history supports your meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Failure to do this may disqualify you from being considered for this position. It is highly recommended to attach a one-page cover letter to your application to demonstrate how you meet the requirements below.

• Experience providing emergency medical patient care in a pre-hospital setting such as an EMS field provider, Emergency Medical Dispatcher, radio dispatcher, emergency communications operator OR an emergency services responder (EMS, fire, law enforcement, DOT, military) OR experience providing customer service in a high-volume call center or similar setting. Typically gained by at least one year of experience as a basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); OR successful completion of the Emergency Telecommunicator Course (ETC); OR at least one year of experience as a dispatcher/operator in an emergency dispatch environment; OR at least one year of full-time experience providing customer service in a high-volume call center or similar setting.
• Experience using a personal computer to retrieve and store data. Typically gained by at least six months of work experience storing and retrieving data in a personal computer OR completion of a data processing course that required hands-on experience.
• Certification as an Emergency Communications Officer, OR ability to become certified within 18 months of hire. To find out more about becoming POST certified as an Emergency Communications Officer, visit this link: https://www.post.idaho.gov/DispAcad/Dispatch.html.

Below is preferred experience. It is not required for the position but applicants with this experience may receive consideration over other applicants.

1. Demonstrated experience obtaining and safeguarding sensitive information. Typically gained by one year working in a state or government setting. 
2. Experience using word processing software to create and modify documents. Typically gained by at least one year of demonstrated professional work experience.
   

Learn About a Career with DHW

***PLEASE NOTE: application assistance is not available after the business hours listed below, on the weekends, or on holidays and you must apply before 4:59 pm on the closing date. When applying, use CHROME as your browser to avoid complications.

If you have questions, please contact us at:

Email is the quickest way to get an answer to your questions.

(answered Monday through Friday during business hours MST)

EMAIL: dhwjobs@dhw.idaho.gov 

PHONE: (208) 334-0681

EEO/ADA/Veteran:

The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov.

Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.