Telecommunications Operator

Job Responsibilities

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of South Carolina's youth, consider joining the dedicated people of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

MISSION:

It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under general supervision, performs highly responsible duties to involve responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for the agency, outside law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services; identifies and dispatches public safety units as appropriate; complies with agency policies and procedures to ensure the safety of all PSOs, agency staff and offenders and the public. Operates dispatch functions through a communications network to include radios, computers, camera surveillance, and NCIC 24/7/365.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Dispatches Public Safety Officers on transports and assistance calls as needed.

Monitors radios for distress calls throughout the Department and dispatches accordingly.

Notifies appropriate personnel of emergencies or other non-routine incidents in accordance with agency guidelines.

Serves as the Agency receptionist after hours, weekends and holidays (during normal working hours as needed).

Demonstrates exceptional customer service in assisting visitors.

Maintains accurate log of radio transmissions, handwritten logs of dispatch daily activities and statistical data.

Monitors surveillance cameras to assist in ensuring the safety and security of staff and offenders.

Conducts routine radio checks to ensure youth/staff safety.

Maintains key control for various institutions.

Must be available to be on call if needed for coverages due to shortage of staff, call outs, and/or an emergency situation.

Due to the vital scope of the job, dispatch must be covered 24/7/365.

Provides temporary and/or replacement ID cards to current employees confirming identity and employment status.

Conducts fingerprints on all new employees and/or contract employees and completes fingerprint cards for SLED background check processing.

Creates badge profiles, photographs and enters identifying information within the agency badge system.

Ensures employee information forms are completed on all new employees and new employees are provided with their Identification cards during new employee hire.

Deactivates employee ID cards upon exiting the Agency.

Purges separated employee files while retaining current employee files for record retention.

Maintains SLED/FBI/NCIC certifications. Conducts wanted person checks on juveniles, employees and contingent employees as requested.

Enters court orders and warrants into NCIC.

Assists in the recapture of offenders, through NCIC and disseminates notification to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Tracks monitoring systems issued to offenders in recapture efforts.

Enters Transportation Security Administration flight specifications for armed officer travel approval.

Transmits driver and tag information to relay NCIC responses to officers on traffic stops as appropriate.

Pre-registers sex offenders as court mandated in accordance with SLED/ state guidelines and requirements.

Other NCIC duties as assigned.

Receives incident reports via agency email and the Event Reporting System.

Reviews reports and determines a categorization of Priority 1 and Priority 2 incidents.

Enters emailed reports into the ER system in accordance to policy and departmental protocol.

Disseminates notifications and incident report numbers as appropriate via email and/or telephone.

Assists ERS coordinator in distinguishing duplicate reports, responding to emailed correspondence relating to incident reports and records and entry when ERS coordinator is out of the office.

Perform additional related job duties as assigned by the Telecommunications Supervisor.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma and entry-level work experience with voice communications systems or central switchboard operations. An associate degree in a technical communications discipline may be substituted for the required experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Requires considerable knowledge of the Federal Communication Commission rules and regulations pertaining to the transmittal of information on a shortwave radio or teletype.

Ability to speak clearly and concisely; ability to train new hires.

Experience in customer service.

The ability to acquire skills through SCCJA, on-the-job training, and other local law enforcement agencies is essential.

Due to the nature of the work, independent discretion is a must.

Individuals will work independently and make decisions with little or no direct supervision with confidence associated with job responsibilities.

Ability to communicate information accurately; to speak clearly and concisely; to understand and follow instructions; and ability to function effectively during emergencies.

Under general supervision of the Telecommunication Supervisor; annually scheduled performance reviews.

Uses independent discretion to make decisions executing duties and responsibilities in absence of supervisor as appropriate.

Must have the ability to convey and interpret oral and written communications to and from law enforcement officers and the general public.

Must possess the ability to remain calm and make quick decisions during stressful situations and emergencies.

Note: If any Agency Requirements are listed above, applicants must also meet those requirements to be considered for the position. Salary may vary depending on experience and qualifications. Candidates must present documentation of their attainment of a college degree(s) at the time of the interview.

Documentation must be an official or unofficial copy of the college transcript or a Letter of Verification of Degree from the institution's Registrar's Office. If the candidate selected for the position provided an unofficial copy, it must be replaced with an official copy on or before the HR processing date.

Preferred Qualifications

PREFERRED AGENCY REQUIREMENTS:

High School Diploma, experience working with the general public, and relevant dispatch, analytical experience or an acceptable equivalency approved by the Division of State Human Resources.

Additional Comments

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Health, dental, and life insurance

• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year

• 15 days of sick leave per year

• 13 paid holidays

• State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs

• Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave

Applications are incomplete if you fail to answer all supplemental questions, education, and work history. Incomplete applications are not referred to hiring managers. Applications are accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the stated closing date.

You will be asked to provide a certified transcript if selected for a position requiring a degree. A background investigation will be conducted that may include but is not limited to, criminal records, driver's license, and child abuse registry prior to an offer of employment. Additionally, a medical examination and drug testing may be required. Please provide an explanation for any gaps in employment. A resume may be attached to your application but not substituted for completing the work history section of the application.