"Alerted.org

Summary These Public Safety Dispatcher positions are located in the Emergency Operation Center at Zion National Park, in Springdale, Utah. These are Career Ladder positions with a full performance level of GS-08, and may be filled at any grade level. Please, see "Additional Information" section for more details. Open to the first 50 applicants or until 01/13/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Responsibilities Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Major Duties: Coordinate initial emergency response, evaluating incidents, soliciting all necessary information, and applying judgement according to interagency guides, protocols, and pre-plans. Receive and evaluate emergency calls, soliciting information to initiate an appropriate response of emergency services personnel, acquiring critical information (law enforcement, fire, medical search and rescue, etc.). Use a variety of specialized computer programs such as NCIC (National Criminal Information Center, NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System), and CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) in the performance of dispatch duties. May perform multi-jurisdictional all-risk incidents (law enforcement, wildland fire, structural fires, aviation, intelligence, medical, search and rescue, and other emergency services). 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 he/she is 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. Work Environment: 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 field law enforcement personnel in patrol vehicles to learn or gain a more detailed familiarization with agency field operating procedures and jurisdictional boundaries. Incumbent may not leave the center unless relieved by another qualified dispatcher. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. DIRECT DEPOSIT: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG): Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service); with few exceptions as outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement who have had a break in service of less than one year, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Time-in-grade does not apply to new excepted service appointments and must be met by the closing date of this announcement. DRUG TESTING: 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. DRIVER'S LICENSE: You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. WORK SCHEDULE: You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work. TRAVEL: You may be required to travel overnight away from home once or twice per year (i.e., for training purposes). You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. Work may involve occasional lifting of boxes and supplies up to weights of 50 pounds. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Please see "Additional Information" section below for important details regarding probationary periods. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement, unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. Award SF-50's are not acceptable documentation to support amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience, which is experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience must be equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). You must include hours per week worked. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Perform work that provides familiarity with public safety policies and procedures such as but not limited to working as a security guard, law enforcement officer, or emergency responder (medical or search and rescue); Relay information from callers using a multi-line telephone or multi-frequency radio system to initiate a response; Serve as a dispatcher for safety or non-safety services (i.e. perform dispatch functions on a fire, construction site, other). -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 4 years of education above high school in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. The education must have been attained in an accredited college or university. You must include a legible copy of your transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the specialized experience) and 3 years of education above high school (50% of the education) would qualify an applicant for this position. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include a copy of your transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualification by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience, which is experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience must be equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service. You must include hours per week worked. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include but are not limited to the following: Provide dispatch and/or call taking services, related to public safety (medical, law enforcement, search and rescue, fire or other emergencies/public safety related); Operate computer systems such as but not limited to: National Criminal Information Network (NCIC), National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), or similar systems that aid in public safety dispatching to run queries and document communications. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualification by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience, which is experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience must be equivalent to at least the GS-06 level in the Federal service. You must include hours per week worked. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Provide dispatch and call taking services in a communications center that provides public safety (medical, law enforcement, search and rescue, fire or other emergencies/public safety related) dispatch operation, in a complex environment (i.e. remote/urban environment, wildland fire, or other complex environments or situations); Coordinate responses to emergency incidents by initiating response of personnel and equipment according to agency protocols and providing communication and logistical support to responders; Operate computer systems such as but not limited to National Criminal Information Network (NCIC), National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), or similar systems that aid in public safety dispatching to run queries and document communications. To qualify for this position at the GS-08 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualification by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience, which is experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience must be equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service. You must include hours per week worked. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include but are not limited to, the following: Provide dispatch and call taking services in a communications center that provides public safety (medical, law enforcement, search and rescue, fire or other emergencies/public safety related) dispatch operation, in a complex environment (i.e. remote/urban environment, serves more than one division, unit, jurisdiction, and/or agency, or other complex situations); Coordinate responses to emergency incidents by initiating response of personnel and equipment according to agency protocols and providing communication and logistical support to responders; Operate computer systems such as but not limited to National Criminal Information Network (NCIC), National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), or similar systems that aid in public safety dispatching to interpret information, run queries and document communications; Review internal operating procedures and systems related to public safety to make recommendations for improvement; provide technical guidance, orientation, and training to new employees or lower-level dispatchers. Volunteer 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. Education To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information Zion National Park is located in southwestern Utah. The climate is generally hot with daytime high temperatures ranging from 95 to 110 degrees in the summer, and 55 to 10 degrees in the winter. Nighttime lows range from 65 degrees in the summer to 10 degrees in the winter. Minimal shopping is available in Springdale, Utah, located two (2) miles from Park Headquarters. A full range of shopping, medical, dental, religious, and recreational facilities are available in Hurricane (25 miles), St. George, (45 miles), and in Cedar City, (63 miles), Utah. Elementary school (grades K-5) is available in Springdale, with bus service provided. Junior high and high school is available in Hurricane, with bus service provided. Utah Tech University is located in St. George, and Southern Utah University is located in Cedar City. **Due to the desirable nature of the area surrounding Zion National Park, please be sure to research and understand the limited housing options and the area's cost-of-living.** Park/Government housing is not available for this position. 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. Career Ladder / Promotion Potential: 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. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. 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.