Control Center Dispatcher

Thework involves responsibility for monitoring the condition of thewater system through the control center of the City of Syracuse Water Department, providing informational services to the publicregarding the services and operations of the Department of Public Works, other City departments and outside agencies, as well asoperating a central two-way radio system to monitor and sendmessages to work crews in the field involved in construction,maintenance and/or repair projects.

Employees in this class mustexercise independent judgment to react quickly and accurately todangerous and/or emergency situations. Assignments are receivedorally and in writing from an administrative superior. Routineclerical work is required in keeping a daily log of work activities.

Does related work as required.

• Monitors all equipment and alarms in the control center.
• Reports failures, damage or misuse of equipment or alarms to superiors.
• Operates the control center phone system.
• Reads and records, as directed, data from the water system monitoring equipment.
• Operates equipment at the plant or remotely in order to make necessary changes to the water system.
• Reports indications of major system problems and subsequent actions taken to superiors.
• Relays information such as location and possible problem to appropriate staff and contacts the appropriate departments, during off hours, to correct emergency situations.
• Transmits messages and orders by radio, phone or computer between the various units working in the field or construction, maintenance and/or repair projects.
• Receives radio reports of location from motor equipment; tells motor equipment operator the official time of each report; records all communications on a simple radio log by posting unit number, time of transmission and location of unit.
• Informs motor equipment operators of location of next work assignment at the request of superiors; may send equipment to an emergency worksite following detailed standard operating procedure which indicates which type of vehicle to send to what type of job and/or which geographical sectors are covered by each vehicle.
• Answers telephone; records public complaints, name, address, and type of problem and records information into computers and/or file cards.
• Monitors security cameras at various City locations.
• May use a data entry terminal or personal computer for filing or obtaining information.

• Good knowledge of City departments operations, personnel, equipment and location of buildings.
• Good knowledge of the geography of the local road network.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Ability to maintain a variety of simple logs and lists.
• Ability to interpret maps and computer graphics.
• Ability to transmit messages with good diction and a clear speaking voice.

Promotion:

• Two(2) years of permanent non-competitive class status in the title of Motor Equipment Dispatcher.

Open Competitive:

• One(1) year of full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent,in the operation and/or maintenance of a municipal water or wastewater system; or,
• One(1) year of full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent,in dispatching work crews or emergency personnel; or,
• Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered collegeor university with an Associates degree in Electronic Media Communications, Computer Science or a closely related field; or,
• Two(2) years of full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in the operation and/or maintenance of computers.