Public Safety Dispatcher

The City of Westbrook was a traditional mill city that has grown and diversified significantly over the last two decades to become a residential hub and business center for the region. Westbrook has a population of over 20,000 and covers 17.36 square miles. Westbrook is centrally located to both urban and rural amenities. Currently, the City employs approximately 195 full-time and 80 variable hour employees covered by five different Collective Bargaining Agreements. The departments contained within the City are the Mayor's Office, Economic Development, City Clerk, Finance, Human Resources, Planning, Code Enforcement, & Assessing, Public Services, Community Services, General Assistance, Library, Police, Fire & Rescue, and Dispatch.

A Public Safety Dispatcher is often the first point of contact between a citizen and members of our public safety departments. As such, dispatchers are required to present a positive, professional image to those who call or come in to seek assistance or provide information. Dispatchers must operate with the highest integrity and ethical behavior, as they are often privy to sensitive and confidential information. They must be able to quickly assess any situation and ensure the proper response of emergency personnel while creating an accurate record of each call and/or incident.

The City of Westbrook is deeply committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially in our hiring process. We value a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBT+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

Job Duties

• Receive complaints and emergency requests by phone, radio, or in person, from the public, staff, and other public safety agencies.
• Assign field units to emergencies and routine calls for service, manage radio traffic and maintain status of all field units.
• Document activities and maintain records in a variety of formats including computer, video, audio, and paper as required.
• Perform data entry and retrieval on the department's and the State of Maine Metro computer systems.
• Provide information and perform services as requested by administration, field units, outside agencies, and the public.
• Maintain the integrity and confidentiality of records.
• Issue permits and notarize department paperwork as required.
• Monitor automated alarm systems and maintain the communications center in a neat and organized manner.
• Perform all other tasks as directed or required.
  
  

Education And Qualifications

• Must possess or be able to become certified in all topics requiring a certificate within one year of employment and thereafter to maintain all certifications. Examples of certification include but are not limited to Terminal Operator Certification, Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification and Notary Public.
• Must have graduated from high school or possess GED equivalent.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• No criminal record or criminal history. Must be able to provide character references.
• Must wear all assigned Public Safety Dispatcher uniform as issued by the Westbrook Police Department while acting in the capacity of Public Safety Dispatcher.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly at all times, have good hearing, listening, writing, typing and computer skills.
• Ability to reduce rambling disconnected material and information into concise and accurate messages.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks while keeping track of personnel and situations with staff safety as a prime focus.
• Ability to analyze a situation, prioritize it, assign appropriate personnel and equipment, make proper notifications, and implement or suggest effective resolution(s) in emergency and non-emergency matters.
• Have a thorough understanding of communications systems, including radio, teletype, computer, telephone/E-911, TDD, Alarm notification systems for both Police and Fire, call check and logger recorders, and CCTV and Video multiplex recorders.
• Work effectively with all members of the Public Safety Department.
  
  

Compensation And Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $21.21/hour - $32.75/hour based on certified dispatcher experience.
• This position is covered by the Public Safety Dispatcher collective bargaining agreement.
• A comprehensive benefits package includes medical (PPO plan at 12% premium cost, plus HRA reimbursement), dental, vision, life insurance (one times base salary), short and long-term disability, and employee assistance program.
• Generous paid leave including vacation, sick, and 13 holiday per year.
• Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses.
• Retirement program of the Maine Public Employees Retirement Plan (Maine PERS) or defined 457 with matching up to 6%.
  
  

Application Process

• Whether you have found us through our jobs page, Indeed, the Maine Municipal Association (MMA), Facebook, or other platforms, you can apply online, via email, or in-person. Be sure to include all necessary information, including the position applied for, salary requirement, experience, education, qualifications, and certifications.
• Online application
• Interested applicants should send their resume and letter of interest to the Human Resources Department at HR@westbrook.me.us.
• In-Person Applications at 2 York Street, Westbrook, ME
  
  

The City of Westbrook is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any kind. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, and or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applicants selected as finalist for this position will be subject to a comprehensive reference and background check, polygraph, and psychological exam.