Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 676,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras with approximately 106,000 residents living in unincorporated areas of the county. Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget, capital investments and other funds of more than $1 billion. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.

Bernalillo County

Department of Human Resources

Job Descriptions

What does the red Zia symbol mean? The Zia sun symbol represent the four cardinal directions, the four seasons of the year, the four period of each day (morning, noon, evening, and night), and the four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle age, and old age). The centre of the sun symbol stands for life itself. The yellow field with red symbol pays recognition to the Aragon Realm of the conquistadors and their homeland in Spain.
JCV411: Emergency Communications Operator I

Emergency Communications Operator I

Job Code
Grade
Bargaining Unit
JCV411
4
Local 2260 - Bernalillo County Clerical (WHITE)
       
       
Hourly
As Hourly
As Annual
21.15 - 25.00 - 30.13 USD Hourly
$21.15 - $25.00 - $30.13
$43,992.00 - $52,000.00 - $62,670.40

POSITION SUMMARY

Under direct supervision, will answer emergency (9-1-1) and non-emergency calls, dispatch law enforcement, fire, rescue, support service units and provide emergency medical and fire pre-arrival instructions. Provide and update responding emergency personnel with current information. Will be required to work various days, shifts, holidays, and overtime. Work is highly sensitive requiring precise information to be communicated in an accurate and concise manner in accordance with public safety emergency communications standards; procedures; laws and ordinances.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Receive and respond to recorded emergency (9-1-1) and non-emergency incoming calls in a concise, timely and accurate manner in accordance with applicable protocols and standards.
  • Dispatch units in response to emergency and non-emergency calls for service for law enforcement, fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in a concise, timely and accurate manner in accordance with applicable protocols and standards.
  • Enter and maintain accurate records of the location and status of all field units in accordance with applicable standards and protocols.
  • Respond to and assist callers with pre-arrival instructions as prescribed in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) procedures and departmental protocols.
  • Access information systems such as National Crime Information Center (NCIC), National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS), New Mexico Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NMLETS), Warrants Information Tracking System (WITS), Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD), and New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicle (NMDMV) files in accordance with procedures and protocols.
  • Provide units with database information in a timely, accurate, and concise manner.
  • Provide general information as requested by the public in a timely, accurate and concise manner.
  • When assigned, work with other team members in an effective collaborative manner.


*The above information on this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities required of all employees assigned to this job.
 


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • High school diploma or GED.
  • One (1) year related experience including data entry, computer applications and/or telephone communications. OR six (6) months experience in emergency communications/radio dispatching.
  • Prior emergency communications operator experience preferred.
  • Ability to type at 40 wpm.
  • Ability to learn Federal Communications Commission regulations pertaining to proper radio procedure and discipline.
  • Ability to perform duties under stress.
  • Must be able to communicate precisely and clearly in oral and written English.
  • Ability to interact effectively and professionally with the public, supervisors, responders and co-workers.
  • Ability to learn and use radio/CAD codes and operate communications center equipment.
  • Ability to learn the County's general geographic area.
  • Ability to interact effectively and understand communications on Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) phone.


ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS



SCREENING AND COMPLIANCE

  • Must not have a felony conviction.
  • This position is safety sensitive. Employment is subject to a pre-employment and random drug testing in accordance with all terms and conditions of federal and state rules and regulations regarding alcohol and/or drug testing.
  • Must not have a DWI conviction within the past three (3) years.
  • Perform the duties and responsibilities of the Emergency Communications Operator position in accordance with safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
  • WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR FROM DATE OF HIRE, employee must successfully complete the following in good standing: 1) Department's ECO Training Program; and 2) NM Department of Public Safety Telecommunicator Academy in Santa Fe.
  • WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR FROM DATE OF HIRE, employee must obtain the following certifications and maintain certifications thereafter: 1) New Mexico State Public Safety Telecommunicator; 2) New Mexico State Emergency Medical Dispatch, (EMD); 3) American Heart Association, (AHA) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, (CPR); 4) NM State NCIC Full Access Terminal Operator Level; and 5) Federal Emergency Management Association, (FEMA) – IS-100, IS-200, and IS-700 courses.
  • Comply with attendance policy and procedures which include but are not limited to: report to work on time and maintain regularly scheduled attendance.
  • Work shift work, overtime, holidays, and weekends when scheduled outside of regular schedule.


WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Work hazards or potential work hazards involve high pace and stress in performing job duties.
  • Shift, weekends, holidays, and overtime work will be required.
  • Duties are performed in a temperature-controlled environment.
  • Worker is exposed to intermittent noise factors.
  • Duties are performed on an even surface, which may be carpeted or tiled.
  • Works with and without supervision.
  • All essential duties are performed indoors.


EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS

  • Equipment used in performing duties include computers, multi-line telephone, multi-channel two-way radio, enhanced emergency 911 equipment, recording equipment, facsimile machine, and photocopy machine.
  • Materials and products include logs, various forms and paperwork, writing instruments and manuals regarding the use of equipment and emergency procedures including the use of software specific to emergency communications.


**NOTE: You are not required to disclose information about physical or mental limitations that you believe will not interfere with your capability to do the job. On the other hand, if you want the employer to consider special arrangements to accommodate a physical or mental impairment, you may identify that impairment in the space provided and suggest the kind of accommodation that you believe would be appropriate.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS

1. Must be able to use sound judgment and reasoning ability as well as personal experience to respond appropriately to emergency situations.
2. Must be mentally alert in order to change tasks or activities on a frequent basis.
3. Must maintain mental alertness in order to adequately handle high pace and stress of job.
4. Must use professional customer service, discretion and judgment, diplomacy, tact and courtesy in responding to callers in emergency situations.
5. Must be able to ask questions and listen to and follow verbal directions in English.
6. Must be able to read and understand written and verbal directions in English.
7. Must be able to communicate clearly with all co-workers and with the general public.
8. Must possess the general ability to learn Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), radio codes and the operation of equipment used in the operations center.

PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS

1. Must be able to sit for up to four hours at one time, up to sixteen (16) hours total per day.
2. Must be able to stand/walk for short distances, up to a total of two hours per day.
3. Must be able to crouch, kneel, and bend at the waist; twist/rotate at the waist on a minimum basis as needed.
4. Must be able to reach arms away from the body or overhead to access dispatching equipment or manuals necessary to perform essential duties.
5. Must be able to work with arms bent for up to four hours at one time and up to sixteen (16) hours per day.
6. Must be able to lift and carry for short distances paperwork or manuals weighing an estimated fifteen (15) pounds or less.
7. Must be able to push/pull with arms with an estimated force of up to two pounds an estimated total of fifteen (15) times per day.
8. Must be able to push with legs and feet with an estimated force of 10-15 pounds in order to propel chair from one end of dispatching room to other workstations.
9. Must be able to use hands and fingers to grasp/manipulate equipment necessary to perform essential duties such as writing utensils, telephone, paperwork, and manuals, and keyboards.
10. Must be able to use fine finger dexterity and implement eye-hand coordination to monitor and operate multiple keyboards and monitors in dispatch room.
11. Must have strong hearing and sight abilities in order to perform all essential duties.
12. Must be able to type 40 words per minute.

Revision: 8/21/2025 1:40:29 PM