You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Telecommunicator

Illinois Tollway
Email

Position Overview

The Illinois Tollway is dedicated to providing and promoting a safe and efficient system of highways while ensuring the highest possible level of service to our customers. Whether it's I-PASS, the Move Illinois Program, open road tolling or keeping you safe with our H.E.L.P. trucks, we are committed to delivering great benefits and services to customers.

The Tollway is a user-fee system – no state or federal tax dollars are used to support maintenance and operations. Operations are funded by toll and concession revenues.

Under the leadership of the Board of Directors and Executive Staff, the Tollway is committed to achieving the following goals: increase collaboration with regional transportation and planning agencies, promote the regional economy, maintain financial integrity, foster environmental responsibility and sustainability, maintain the safety and efficiency of the Tollway system, further transparency and accountability, enhance customer service, and maintain public trust.

In support of this vision,  the Telecommunicator is responsible for facilitating emergency communications, dispatching public safety personnel and Tollway equipment, and documenting and relaying mission critical information which could involve life and death situations.

Essential Job Functions

The Telecommunicator will efficiently operate a variety of public safety communication center equipment and software, including but not limited to Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) application, emergency and non-emergency telephone systems, StarCom 21 radio system, Call check, and GIS.  The Telecommunicator responsibilities include but are not limited to:

 

  • 50%  -  Processes and disseminates requests for the Tollway's public safety resources including Illinois State Police Officers, Highway Maintainers, Roadway Electric, Engineering, and local Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services with accuracy and in accordance with established policies, procedures, and practices of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and Illinois State Police. Operates a variety of public safety communication center equipment and software, including but not limited to Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) application, Emergency and non-emergency telephone systems, StarCom21 radio system, Call Check and GIS.
  • 30%  -  Accurately performs data entry and inquiries into various Law Enforcement data banks including LEADS and NCIC which includes the entry and file maintenance of wanted and missing person information and information concerning stolen vehicles and property.
  • 10%  -  Monitors alarm of the various Tollway systems including environmental alarms.
  • 5%  -  Promptly and courteously communicates with Tollway patrons, Tollway personnel and external agencies and preforms routine notifications to Tollway personnel including, Engineering and Maintenance, executive staff, internal contractors, and public utilities.
  • 5%  -  Performs and assists with other departmental duties as required.

Wage range can go higher based on years of dispatching experience and successfully completing their level tests (see conditions of employment below) in the first few months of employment.  

 

Qualifications

Education (Required)

  • A High School Diploma / GED and four (4) years of Federal, State, County, or municipal public safety Telecommunications experience with an emphasis in law enforcement dispatching or an Associate Degree from an accredited College or University.

Education (Preferred)

  • Degree focus in Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Fire Science, and/or Communications.
  • An Associate Degree or above.

Skills and Experience (Required)

  • Two (2) years of Federal, State, County, or municipal public safety Telecommunications experience with an emphasis in law enforcement dispatching.
  • Experience with multi-tasking including activation and operation of active radio and phone systems, utilizing keyboards, buttons, switches, and pedals.

Skills and Experience (Preferred)

  • Experience as a Public Safety Telecommunicator or Dispatcher with an emphasis in law enforcement dispatching.
  • NENA Certification - Emergency Number Professional.
  • Current LEADS Certification.
  • APCO 40-hour basic Telecommunicator.
  • APCO Law Enforcement Communications (LEC).
  • FEMA ICS-200.C.
  • FEMA ICS-100.C.
  • Experience as a Full-Time, Part-Time, or Auxiliary Public Safety professional (i.e. Law Enforcement, Fire Fighter, Community Service Officer, EMT, Paramedic, etc.).

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
GENERAL:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age.
  • Possess a valid driver's license.
  • Work various hours/shifts, including weekdays, weekends, and holidays as well as in excess of continuous 8 hours and up to 16 hours when required.
  • Ability to wear a headset for a prolonged period.
  • Travel to various locations within the Tollway system, other 9-1-1 entities, or facilities on official business.
  • Work in an indoor office environment requiring prolonged periods of sitting and the use of repetitive hand motions.
  • Ability to hear and distinguish noises and understand spoken language with highly agitated, angry, panicked, emotionally upset individuals or who otherwise are not able to effectively communicate their needs due to age, injury, illness, or other debilitating situations.
  • Work under stressful mission critical situations, have good cognitive skills, and maintain work accuracy and the ability to concentrate on more than one job function at a time.
  • Ability to memorize technical information including assigning numerical information to geography.
  • Ability to multi-task which including the activation and operation of active radio and phone systems, utilizing keyboards, buttons, switches, and pedals.

TEST:

  • Successful completion of IWIN and LEADS Certification with re-certification every two (2) years, NIMS and other public safety programs, Homeland Security/FEMA related accreditations, as well as testing procedures of the training program for this position.
  • Pass a typing test with a score of at least forty (40) words per minute, a reading comprehension test, map reading test, and typing from a spoken narrative and memory test.
  • Pass an extensive background check conducted by the Illinois State Police.
  • Pass a drug screening.
  • Pass a vision and hearing test as required per job performance levels.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL:

  • Consistently perform to a high standard without incurring periods of incapacity during the conduct of their duties.
  • Requires the ability to deal with life and death situations on a daily basis.
  • Ability to control speech in a clear, distinct, intelligible, and conversational level at all times when communicating via the radio or telephone, especially during time of excitement or high stress.
  • Ability to hear speech out of both ears in the normal range of 30 dB at 500 to 2000 Hz range.
  • Requires 20/20 corrected vision.

The Illinois Tollway is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, disability, unfavorable discharge from military services, age, order of protection status, military status, sex or sexual orientation.