OFFICIAL CITY JOB DESCRIPTION:

https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/job-descriptions-pay-plans/Watch-Desk-Specialist-03322.pdf

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

MINIMUMS: Must be at least 18 years old. High school or GED plus any combination of related education and/or experience equivalent to six (6) years in a public safety related field. Must be a United States citizen or have been a lawful resident of the United States for the past 10 consecutive years. Must obtain and maintain required certifications to include VCIN. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to work rotating shifts in a 24/7 environment including weekends and holidays and be available to work overtime when required to meet operational needs. Successful completion of skills testing, including passing written test requirements. Manual dexterity to operate communication equipment including telephone equipment and a multi-screen computer console. Vision to operate communication equipment including telephone equipment and a multi-screen computer console. Hearing to respond to verbal requests for police, fire, or emergency medical services and for information from callers, co-workers, and supervisors, and to respond to alarms and signals, etc. Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the Citys operational status and may be subject to immediate recall during major and/or emergency situations.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

DMV Transcript: Not Required
CDL: Not Required
DOT History: Not Required
CPS Check: Not Required
Physical: Required
Respirator: Not Required
Polygraph Review: Not Required
Psychological Screening: Required
Attachments Required:

This position will work on an assigned/rotating shift and overtime when operations necessitate; using advanced technologies and public safety tools, the Watch Desk Specialist collects information regarding potential and actual risks, threats and ongoing incidents that may have operational consequences for the City of Virginia Beach. This position will function in a high-stress and time critical environment determining the validity, urgency, and significance of the information collected and disseminates the information to relevant parties.
Alpha I employee/subject to immediate recall during major and/or emergency situations.

The Watch Desk Specialist duties may include:

• Monitoring multiple public safety radio channels to include, police, fire and EMS simultaneously to provide timely and accurate notifications to the public, city leadership, and public safety commands in an efficient and expeditious manner;
• Review, collect, compile and evaluate information from a variety of sources in the form of emails, memorandums, narrative reports to facilitate emergency response, record keeping, data collection, and analysis; and operate various communications equipment and computer functions.
• Analyze the impact of incidents within the City of Virginia Beach to inform and assist emergency management and Emergency Communications and Citizen Services staff with coordination and deployment of resources.
• Assist city staff during an activation of the City’s Emergency Operations Center in a no-notice or preplanned event.
• Operate camera systems on multiple platforms to assist in locating reported incidents, suspects of crime, missing or endangered persons, etc.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in the City of Virginia Beach’s emergency alerting system and assist city staff and members of the public in troubleshooting issues associated with the tools.
• Exercise discretionary decision-making in a time-critical and high-pressure environment with significant public interest.