Job Announcement:

Open Competitive Examination #2396

Fee - $35 for PublicSafetyApp.com Processing

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF EXAMINATION:

The Civil Service Commission will hold an open competitive examination for Public Safety Telecommunicator, at a date, time, and place to be announced to all qualified applicants in the near future.

 

The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general summary only. It is not, nor is to be intended to be, a Public Notice for this examination. You should not rely on this communication as a complete or binding explanation of all examination details. This summary is being provided in good faith and subject to the reasonable discretion of the Civil Service Commission office. This summary does not constitute a contract of any kind, express or implied, between any applicant and the City of Bridgeport. This informational guide is subject to correction of any information which may have been inadvertently misstated.

 

APPLICATIONS: Each candidate must have completed an online application and have filed it by the application closing deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, 2024*. Failure to submit an online application by the closing deadline will automatically exclude a person from participating in the examination.

*or when, at the City’s discretion, the examination capacity has been met. The City of Bridgeport reserves the right to extend the deadline date, or limit the number of applications accepted so as to allow the City to hold an examination within its financial and logistical capacity to do so.

 

Fee:  All candidates filing an application must pay an administrative filing fee ($0 fee for the exam and $35 for PublicSafetyApp.com processing)

 

Expected Wage: $24.48 per hour

 

General Definition of Work: Performs responsible technical work in a fast-paced environment, receiving critical calls from the public for emergency services assistance. Police, Fire and medical services personnel and equipment are then coordinated and dispatched, often in response to emergency and/or life-threatening situations. Work requires frequent independent thinking and resourcefulness in a complex environment. Performs related work as required. Work is performed under the regular supervision of a Public Safety Communications Supervisor.

 

Duties and Responsibilities: Processes calls for police, fire and ambulance, and public works including emergency and non-emergency calls for service consistent with established policies and procedures; assesses calls quickly, obtains critical and pertinent information – often times from hysterical or irate callers; classifies and prioritizes problems and determines proper response in an urgent and time critical manner; monitors units and maintains status of each unit during potentially dangerous and life-threatening situation; always available to provide assistance instantaneously; routinely faced with situations requiring split-second decisions/judgments, which could result in City liability issues; frequently handles time sensitive and confidential information, determining the proper dissemination of same; records information into the computer and ensures the accuracy of such information; coordinates activities of emergency services agencies (police, fire, ambulance, rescue) during city-wide disaster situations; operates various complex state-of the-art communications equipment (COLLECT, NCIC [Nationwide Criminal Information Network], radio system, CAD [Computer Aided Dispatch] system, Modular ANI/ALI Retrieval System, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, paging system); sends receives and disseminates messages to and from other agencies/jurisdictions; executes extensive file searches and updates relative to location history, hazard information and record management data; makes appropriate notifications at the units’ request (alarm notifications, wrecker service, etc.); provides testimony in court proceedings; maintains security of the Public Safety Communications facility; coordinates daily with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the National Warning System (NAWAS).

 

Supervisory Responsibilities: May be called upon to handle the daily responsibilities of the shift supervisor in the absence of the supervisor and assistant.

 

Qualifications: High school diploma or education equivalency diploma. Demonstrated experience in a customer service setting. Moderate computer skills are desired. Accurately type a minimum of 35 words per minute. Excellent team skills, ability to speak clearly and concisely over the radio and telephone and strong customer relation skills are required. Must possess a valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle in the State of Connecticut. Must pass physical examination including a screen of controlled substances. Must pass background investigation and pass psychological exam. Must have acceptable work history.

 

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities: Ability to remain calm, think clearly, quickly assess and evaluate situations, organize thought and respond quickly in emergency and stressful situations, effectively coordinate emergency dispatch of public safety equipment and personnel without *or when, at the City’s discretion, the examination capacity has been met. The City of Bridgeport reserves the right to limit the number of applications accepted so as to allow the City to hold an examination within its financial and logistical capacity to do so. delay; work rotating day off schedule that includes weekends and holidays; assigned one of three fixed shifts (midnight, daylight, evening); reports to work during inclement weather; subject to call back during emergency situations, i.e. disasters, severe storms, below minimum staffing; ability to maintain an open and non-judgmental attitude in dealing with a diverse population; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and public relations; ability to exhibit solid interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution skills to work with citizens, other agencies and employees; ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and move quickly from one assignment to another.

 

Subjects of Examination: The exam will consist of a pass/fail keyboarding test for speed and accuracy. Candidates must pass the typing test with a speed of at least 35 words per minute with a high degree of accuracy. Those candidates who pass the typing test will take a computerized written exam. Candidates must pass the written exam with a score of 75% or higher. Only those candidates with a passing score on the written exam will be invited to participate in an oral interview. Candidates must pass the oral exam with a score of 75% or higher. The written exam and oral exam scores will be combined at equal weight, and candidates will be placed on the employment list in rank order according to their combined score. Candidates will be called from the employment list in rank order to complete further steps in the hiring process, as necessary. These steps include, but are not limited to a psychological exam, a background investigation and a medical exam which will include a screen for controlled substances.

 

Residency and Veteran Preference: In order to qualify for residency and/or veteran preference points, a candidate must complete an online Request for Residency Points and/or Request for Veteran Preference Points application form. Candidates will be required to provide proof of residency and/or veteran status as the City of Bridgeport may request. Residency preference is awarded to those candidates who are deemed eligible in accordance with Civil Service Commission Rule XV. The City of Bridgeport follows State of Connecticut and Federal Guidelines in determining eligibility for Veteran preference points.

 

Special Accommodations: The Civil Service Commission will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with a disability to take a test. If you need a special accommodation, you must request it in writing at least 10 days prior to the exam date, stating what the disability is, and provide proof of the disability as required by the City of Bridgeport.

 

 

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace, Room 106

Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604

O.C. 2396 - Telecommunicator

An Equal Opportunity Employer VET/AA/DIS/SO/G

Please direct questions regarding this position to cob.exams@bridgeportct.gov