Public Safety Telecommunicator I

Job Title:  Public Safety Telecommunicator I

Department: 

Hiring Range: $21.04 - $24.57

Posted Internally and Externally

We will train you! Buncombe County Public Safety Communications Center is looking for team members who are ready and willing to grow with us. Our outstanding training team is highly experienced and eager to contribute to your success.  If you've worked directly with customers in as a call center agent, bank teller, customer service representative, bookkeeper, payroll clerk, medical billing, paralegal, or other clerical experience this would be a great fit for you! Or, if you've been a Telecommunicator before, we'd love to have you join our team!

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? The Buncombe County Public Safety Communication Center is a lifeline from the public to emergency services. We provide training from an entry-level Call Taker to a certified Telecommunicator so that you can make someone’s worst day have a successful outcome by getting them the emergency resources they need. In the Public Safety Communication Center we dispatch and coordinate the response of Fire Departments, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services every day. If you want to make a difference, we want you on our team helping us provide critical lifesaving services in our community.

Buncombe County recently celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunications Week—read about our talented employees here! Here is what some of our Telecommunicators shared about the work they do:

"I started as a call taker with the City of Asheville and had no experience in this job field. Buncombe County allowed me to further my career and became a supervisor. I would like the community to know that Buncombe County offers training for this job from day one. If you have the desire to help others and would like to give back to your very own community, this is the best job. More than just a job, be prepared to gain one big family. Our family is composed of coworkers, officers, paramedics, and firefighters. It is amazing to see how everyone works together for one common goal."

"My favorite part of this job is the ability to help the community behind the scenes. I really enjoy the low-key aspect of this field and love that I can provide lifesaving assistance to others without leaving my desk! I also work with a really great group of coworkers with the same perspective."
 

"Working the radio on the law side, it’s like a puzzle trying to keep track of who to dispatch to what call and knowing that I have earned the trust of my squad over the years."

"There will never be two days that are exactly the same and I will never stop learning at this job. This job has taught me many things that I have taken into many other aspects of my life. As well as building relationships within the community that I serve.
My favorite part of the day is being able to help people on what could possibly be the worst day of their life and be their first point of contact during that time. Being there to comfort a child or parent after losing their loved one. In other instances, being able to send help to someone who thought about ending their life. Making a difference in someone's life is the most rewarding job."

Purpose of the position: 

The purpose of this position is responsible and timely operation of communication equipment to receive and transmit emergency calls for the Buncombe County Emergency Services Department. 

Essential Functions of the position:

• Receiving emergency and non-emergency calls from the public through the emergency telephone system

• Obtaining pertinent information from callers to determine the nature and location of the emergency

• Prioritizing and dispatching calls for service for all three emergency service disciplines (fire, police, and medical)

• Handling radio requests from emergency response units

• Maintaining location and status information of emergency response units

• Maintaining accurate and timely records

• Providing information or referral options to the public as requested

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

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