Public Safety Dispatcher

Summary
This position is part of the United States Park Police Field Operations Division.

This position ensures effective telecommunications to the Force, other law enforcement and public safety agencies, operational personnel and the public. The incumbent will be responsible for answering 911 - Emergency and Non ­Emergency calls for service and providing full Law Enforcement communications services which operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Duties

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The major duties of the Public Safety Dispatcher position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serves as a dispatcher for the US Park Police, applying in-depth knowledge of dispatch operating systems, databases, and equipment, as well as knowledge of dispatch policies and past practices to isolate and solve unusual and difficult technical problems.
• Performs dispatch and call taking services for a wide variety of complex public safety related incidents and operations.
• Coordinates rescue, ambulance, and helicopter operations, etc., of various agencies.
• Receives and evaluations emergency calls for service.
• Provides dispatch support to law enforcement activities.
• Queries & relays wants, warrants, drive and vehicle status, Be on the Lookout (BOL), and Attempt to Locate (ATL) information for law enforcement contact and investigations.
• Serves as a certified operator of National Criminal Information Network (NCIC), National Law Enforcement Communications System (NLETS), and state criminal information networks (i.e., ACCESS, TLETS, VCIN, etc). Accesses, analyzes, and utilizes information from a variety of national, state,
• Monitors a variety of alarm systems including intrusion, fire, robbery, panic, and maintenance related systems. Analyze alarms. Ensures appropriate response. Reports on alarm systems troubles.
• Assists law enforcement officers with investigations.

Pay Information:
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

GS-6 range: $56,205 to $73,063 per year

GS-7 range: $62,456 to $81,198 per year

GS-8 range: $69,168 to $89,924 per year

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• This position is subject to drug testing based on the collateral duty requiring firearms in the back-country or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• This position has an intermittent work schedule; you will be subject to call and will have no pre-scheduled work schedule.
• If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• This position has been designated "Essential". In the event of severe weather conditions or other such emergency type situations the incumbent is required to report to work or remain at work as scheduled to support mission operations. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• Within 12 months of employment, you must be able to obtain and maintain required dispatching and emergency management certifications determined by locality selected. This may include National Criminal Information Network (NCIC), National Law Enforcements Communications System (NLETS), and State criminal information networks (i.e., ACCESS, TLETS, VCIN, etc.) , and/or Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD).
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period. Please visit the Qualification section for more details on the conditions of probationary periods for this position.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/31/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume
MUST
clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE:
At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include all of the following: Customer service based experience in a high-pace environment where the ability to make quick decisions is key; Operate multi-line telephones, computers or radio equipment to provide information; AND Collect information from callers and input into computer system.

**To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE:**
At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include all of the following: Customer service-based experience in a high-pace environment where the ability to make quick decisions is key; Operate multi-line telephones, computers or radio equipment while inputting information collected from callers into computer systems; Operate public safety dispatch systems such as NCIC, NLETS, CLETS, or Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD) with limited supervision; AND Operate computer-based equipment to include, but not limited to alarm monitoring systems, records management systems, computer aided dispatch systems, message notification systems, and report writing systems.

**To qualify for this position at the GS-08 grade level, you must possess all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE:**
At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include all of the following: Perform public safety dispatching (law enforcement. emergency medical, search and rescue, and fire) using personal computers and software programs to input data collected from callers; Independently operate public safety dispatch systems as: NCIC, NLETS, CLETS, or Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD); Operate computer-based equipment to include, but not limited to alarm monitoring systems, records management systems, computer aided dispatch systems, message notification systems, and report writing systems; and, Obtain information from incoming callers to disseminate during emergency situations.

Volunteer Experience:
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies". Experience listed as full-time will be credited at 40 hours per week.
Continued Condition of Employment For Probationary Period:
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

Physical Demands:
Incumbent must function efficiently in a confined space for extended periods with no breaks and no opportunity to leave the confines of the Communications Center. The dispatcher is considered an "essential employee" meaning they are required to work most holidays, report for duty during adverse weather conditions, and be expected to work for long hours exceeding normally scheduled shifts in case of emergencies. Position is sedentary with high amounts of stress. Incumbent is subject to shift work, rotating shift work, and uncommon tours of duty. Work requires use of the voice in vocal communications for periods of hours at a time. Voice must be clear, audible, and tone effective with words plainly spoken and understandable. Incumbent must be able to hear clearly and discern a variety of audible communications and signals simultaneously. Incumbent must be able to read critical information from multiple sources, including computer screen, fax, and written log quickly and accurately. The work is of an emergency nature and is emotionally stressful. Incumbent must possess manual dexterity sufficient to operate computer terminals/keyboards and related equipment and to maintain written logs. Work involves occasional lifting of boxes and supplies up to weights of 50 pounds.

Working Conditions:
The work is normally performed in a well-lighted and temperature-controlled room. Noise levels are routinely high due to electronic equipment, telephones, radios, and other discussions ongoing in the performance of duties. The setting is typically confined and secure, and entrance and egress is controlled.

During the training period and/or on other occasions, the incumbent will be assigned to accompany a field law enforcement personnel in patrol vehicles to learn or gain a more detailed familiarization with agency operating procedures and jurisdictional boundaries.

Incumbent may not leave the center unless relieved by another qualified dispatcher.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.