Salary: $25.83 – $33.95 Hourly
Location : Elkhorn, WI
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2023-00095
Department: Sheriff’s Office (Non-Sworn)
Division: Communications
Opening Date: 07/12/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Position Summary
As part of the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, the Communications Officer is involved in all aspects of public safety in Walworth County. Our mission is to serve and protect all citizens and visitors of Walworth County with dedicated public safety services with our community.
If your passionate about helping people and would like to make a difference in the community, we are looking for you to join the incredible team of Communications Officers at the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center. We offer a competitive salary, as well as health, dental, and vision insurance. As an employee of the Sheriff’s Office you will also have access to an on-site fitness room, a tuition reimbursement program, as well as additional career advancement opportunities.
Communications Officers, also known as 911 Dispatchers, are the FIRST first responders. As a Communications Officer you will be the first point of contact for a citizen needing police, fire, or EMS assistance in Walworth County. You will work in a fast-paced team environment to provide mission support for first responder units in the field. The work of the Communications Officer is often interesting and exciting, but can be interspaced with periods of inactivity.
INTERACTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Communications Officers must develop and maintain excellent customer service skills. In your role, you will encounter citizens in a range of emotionally difficult states. You must be able to develop skills to maintain your composure as well as exercise good judgement in stressful situations in order to gather critical information to provide our customers with the help that they need. You must be able to remain professional at all times.
You will work in an environment where you must develop excellent hand eye coordination sufficient to operate and view multiple monitors, keyboards, and complex communications equipment in rapid succession or even simultaneously. You must develop a “radio ear” monitoring multiple radio channels while obtaining information from a telephone caller.
You will need to develop the ability to quickly and accurately recognize letters, numbers, addresses, names, and license numbers received by telephone, radio, or on a computer monitor. Data is often given to you rapidly and from multiple sources.
THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
As a Communications Officer you will be presented with challenging situations that will require you to think quickly. You must be able to analyze information and be able to use sound judgement to efficiently determine how to handle a variety of situations. Established policy and procedure will enable you to gather information and make critical decisions affecting the outcome of complaints. You must be able to complete complex work with minimal supervision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
You must be able to concentrate on your work for extended periods of time while other Communications Officers are taking and dispatching calls. Communications Officers are assigned to one of three shifts on a rotating schedule in order to provide 24 hour per day, 7 day per week service to the community and the field units we serve. You will typically work an 8 hour shift but may be assigned overtime on an as needed basis. Weekends and holidays are worked on a rotating basis. Communications Officers receive extra compensation when working holidays and will receive a shift differential for working 2nd and 3rd shift. Shift selections are assigned based on seniority status. Due to the 24 hour per day, 7 day per week demands of the Communications Center operations, work schedules may occasionally change on short notice. You may be expected to report to work early or stay late during emergency conditions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Answer emergency and non-emergency requests for assistance by telephone and radio and assign the appropriate resource for assistance.
Provide lifesaving medical assistance to emergency callers by giving pre-arrival instructions through our Emergency Medical Dispatching program.
Operate the Computer Aided Dispatching System, tracking field units and providing information to first responders.
Provide essential information and support to field units in emergency and non-emergency situations.
Gather and process critical information through state and national databases via teletype, internet, and other databases.
Provide life saving notifications to the public via weather alerting systems such as the county outdoor warning siren system.
Attend training to develop critical job skills.
Work with others in a team environment, supporting each other to accomplish the mission.
Qualifications
You must have a high school diploma or equivalent; or will have obtained this by the date of hire. Prior experience in public safety or customer service will be very helpful but not a necessity. You must have reading, writing, and basic math skills since you will need to interpret and document information from multiple sources in a fast-paced environment. Your work will involve using computers and technology so the ability to type and complete basic computer tasks accurately is essential.
TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS
We will provide you with the training required for you to become a successful Communications Officer. Training is included but not limited to your initial on the job training, Wisconsin TIME System Certification, Emergency Medical Dispatcher Certification, and Public Safety Telecommunicator 1. You must successfully pass these training requirements to maintain employment as a Communications Officer with Walworth County, but we will support you in achieving these. Other training may be provided as required.
You must not have any convictions for felony offenses and you must be of good moral and ethical character.
Selection Process
Complete Walworth County Electronic Application – tell us about yourself, why you would be a good fit as a Communications Officer.
Education and Employment History Review
Computerized Multi Task Simulator Test (CritiCall) – As a Communications Officer you work in a fast-paced environment. This test measures your ability to process information in a rapidly changing environment.
Oral Department Interview – You will meet with the Walworth County Human Resources representative, Communications Division Commander, and Communications Center Operations Manager. This is your opportunity to tell us about yourself and why you are ready for this responsibility.
Background Investigation
Post Offer Psychological Evaluation, Physical Examination, and Drug Screen
Other job related tests may be required.
Although there are many steps to the selection process, they are essential in ensuring that you will be successful in your employment with us.
To learn more about this position, please contact:
Communications Operations Manager, Bonnie Douglas at (262) 741-4622 or via email at bdouglas@co.walworth.wi.us
-or-
Human Resources Generalist, Lisa Pohl at (262) 741-7949 or via email at pohl@co.walworth.wi.us
WALWORTH COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SUMMARY
H – Non-Represented Hourly Employees
BARGAINING UNIT: Non-Represented Hourly Employees Hired on or after January 1, 2012
DATE: January 1, 2019
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: All employees of Walworth County are at-will employees.
BASIS OF PAYMENT: You are paid for actual hours worked plus pay for any accrued benefit time for which you are eligible. You are eligible for overtime or compensatory time in accordance with provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
SCHEDULED TIME OFF: Accrued based on straight-time hours paid each pay period. All accrued scheduled time off hours are available for use, subject to approval of your supervisor. As a full-time employee you earn scheduled time off (pro-rated for part-time) equivalent to the following:
10 days per year after 1 year of Walworth County Service
15 days per year after 5 years of Walworth County Service
20 days per year after 15 years of Walworth County Service
PERSONAL TIME OFF: Employees will receive 64 hours of personal time off as a lump sum at the beginning of each year (pro-rated for part-time and newly-hired employees). At the end of each calendar year, an employee may request to move remaining personal time off hours to the extended sick leave bank. If no request is made, any remaining hours shall be paid out on the employee’s last pay date of the calendar year.
EXTENDED SICK LEAVE BANK: Used for time off of work for more serious health conditions that require three or more consecutive days off or when on an approved leave of absence.
HOLIDAYS: Ten paid holidays each year. As a part-time employee, you receive pro-rated holiday pay based on your positions budgeted FTE.
INSURANCE: Employees hired into a .75 FTE or higher position are eligible for Health, Dental, Life, Vision, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability insurance benefits on the first of the month following 30 days of service provided you complete enrollment forms within 30 days of hire. Employees hired into a .50 FTE or higher position are eligible for all benefits listed below except Health insurance. Employees hired into a .49 FTE or less position are eligible to participate in Short-Term Disability only.
Health Insurance: You can choose Tier 1 or Tier 2. Tier 1 is a standard co-pay plan. Tier 2 is a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). The County will contribute an amount approved by the County Board, payable as a lump sum to your HSA for Tier 2. You may also elect to contribute to your HSA up to the IRS maximum. You may elect either family or single coverage. The monthly premium will be split between the County and the employee.
Dental Insurance: You may elect either family or single coverage. The county shall pay 100% (single or family) of the premium for a full-time and 50% (single or family) of the premium for a part-time employee enrolled in dental insurance.
Life Insurance: The County provides you with term life insurance in an amount equal to $25,000. You have the option of purchasing additional coverage for yourself, spouse, and/or dependent children.
Short-Term Disability Insurance: The County provides you with Short-Term Disability Insurance with premiums paid by the employer.
LTD Insurance: The County provides you with Long-Term Disability Insurance. The monthly premium is 0.83% of your insured monthly wages. The County shall pay 67% of the premium & employee shall pay 33% of the premium.
Vision Insurance: You may elect to participate in Vision insurance. The employee electing coverage shall pay 100% (single or family) of the premium for vision insurance.
WISCONSIN RETIREMENT: You are covered under the Wisconsin Retirement System if you are expected to work a minimum of 1200 hours per year for a period of one year or more. The WRS provides you with separation, disability or retirement benefits upon termination. The payment is split between the county and employee, as prescribed by state law. Employees expected to work less than 1200 hours per year will not receive this benefit.
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: After completing 6 months of employment, you are eligible to participate in the Educational Assistance Program and receive partial reimbursement for tuition upon completion of approved courses.
TAX-SHELTERED BENEFITS: You may elect to participate in the following tax-sheltered benefits:
Deferred Compensation (S457 plan)
Medical Spending Account (S125 plan)
Dependent Care Plan (S125 plan)
Health Savings Account (S223 plan)
WORKERS COMPENSATION: You are covered by Workers Compensation for any illness or injury arising out of your employment. Medical expenses and compensation for lost time are paid from the workers’ compensation plan. In addition, the County will supplement the workers’ compensation lost-time payment for up to 1 year, making you whole on a “net-check” basis.
DIRECT DEPOSIT: You are required to participate in direct deposit of your paycheck to a banking institution of your choice.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: You and your family are encouraged to use the Employee Assistance Program for help in addressing confidential family and financial matters. EAP services are provided through Curalinc. Please call 888-881-5462 for help.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: You will receive pay for up to 3 days for the purpose of bereavement over the death of your spouse, child, step-child, parent, step-parent, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, or other member of the immediate household (excluding renters).
You will receive up to 1 day of pay for the death of your brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew.
JURY DUTY: Your regular wages will be made-whole for any time you are required to serve on jury duty.
MILITARY LEAVE: Your regular wages will be made-whole for up to two weeks for you to meet your annual two-week reserve duty obligation. Extended military leaves are provided in accordance with state and federal laws.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE: You are required to request a leave of absence in writing and a minimum of 15 calendar days prior to your expected absence. All leaves are subject to approval of the Human Resources Department and are at the discretion of the County’s representative, except as otherwise required by law. Under emergency situations, the leave papers must be submitted within 5 days after the absence begins. Periods of absence less than 5 days may be approved by your department head.
Note: This Summary provides only a brief outline of your benefits. All benefit terms and conditions are subject to the specific provisions of plan documents, policies, and/or legal rules and regulations. These benefits are subject to change from time to time by action of the County Board and/or Human Resources Committee.