Public Safety Telecommunicator (Fire Communications Operator)

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Job Number: JR0000000399

Employee Group: Non-Union

Employment Status: (2) Permanent Part-time positions – (Up to 42 hours per week)

Location

This position is required to work in person at Burlington Fire Headquarters.  Work location is subject to change at the discretion of the City due to operational demands.

Position Overview

The City of Burlington is looking for part-time fire public safety telecommunicators (Fire Communications Operator). Work hours will vary up to 42 hours per week.

The primary focus of this position is:

Responsibilities

• Receive incoming calls on emergency 911 lines, assess and prioritize the needs, and initiate the appropriate fire resources using computer aided dispatch (CAD) system.

• Receive incoming calls on the non-emergency lines from the public.

• Able to quickly assess information provided by callers to correctly dispatch the required fire resources in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Monitors resource availability within assigned geographic areas and makes appropriate re-assignment of fire apparatus to ensure optimal coverage is maintained based on available resources at any given time in accordance with departmental policies and guidelines.

• Operate computerized radio console and familiarity with P25 trunk radio operations including managing radio emergencies and patching talk groups.

• Familiar with fire station alerting systems, mobile data terminal in fire apparatus.

• Maintain communication with responding fire crews to ensure safety and resource requirements are met, including tracking benchmarks and actioning critical resource requests from the Incident Commander

• Operate effectively in a Fire Communications Centre that utilizes a hybrid call-taker/dispatch model. Must have the ability to dynamically shift between roles depending on the demands for service.

• Must meet and maintain minimum training and certification as a fire public safety telecommunicator.

Requirements

The successful candidate has the following:

• Minimum education of grade 12 diploma, or validated equivalency, e.g. continuing education certificate or diploma.

• Well developed keyboarding skills with a minimum speed of 50 words per minute, combined with 75% proficiency.

• Successful completion of CritiCall Testing provided by Burlington Fire Communications Division.

• Strong cognitive and psychomotor skills in the areas of reading, spelling, speech, mathematics, written communication, listening and basic computer skills.

• Strong multi-tasking skills used to organize and prioritize numerous simultaneous calls and required fire resources, including personnel, equipment, and apparatus.

• Able to speak English with a clear authoritative voice over telephone and radio.

• Combination of public safety telecommunicator training and/or related work experience in a Public Safety Communications Centre.

• Has the ability to react quickly, logically, efficiently, and calmly in emergency situations.

• Be able to sit/stand at communications desk for long durations of time.

• Is a dedicated team player who can also work independently without continual guidance or instruction.

• Committed to professional customer service excellence.

• Always exhibits integrity, ethical conduct and maintains confidentiality in relation to activities within the Fire Communications Centre.

• Work up to 12 hours per shift including weekdays, weekends, and statutory holidays.

• Applicants must be flexible to work day and night shifts and be available for partial shifts and call-ins for shift coverage with short notice. Work hours will vary up to 42 hours per week.

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• Public Safety Telecommunicator experience in a Fire Communications Centre.

• Fire Communications experience managing composite fire service resources.

• Familiarity with and experience operating within a fire incident command system.

• APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator Certification.

• APCO Fire Service Communications Certificate.

• Certificate from an accredited educational institution in Emergency Telecommunications.

The following is considered an asset and will be a training requirement for the successful candidate:

• Incident Management System (IMS) 100 - This provincial certification course is an introduction to the Incident Management System. 

• HazMat Awareness Introduction (NFPA 472) course certification.

• Standard First-Aid, CPR and Defibrillation Certification.

• Bilingual or fluent in other language(s)

Police Check Requirement

This position requires the successful candidate to provide a clear criminal record check and/or vulnerable sector check at their own expense.

Pay Rate

During the initial training period, the rate is $28.52 per hour. For the subsequent approximate 10 months, the probationary rate increases to $31.12 per hour. After reaching the one-year mark, the rate advances to the 4th class level at $36.30 per hour. The rates quoted are January 1, 2024 wage rates.

Posting Close Date: February 11, 2025