Senior Dispatcher

The work involves responsibility for overseeing the activities and performing the duties of a Dispatcher on an assigned shift in the County 911 Communication Center. Many of the functional duties are similar to those of Dispatcher, however, the incumbent functions as the Dispatcher in charge on an assigned shift. The work is performed under general supervision in accordance with established policy, with leeway allowed for use of independent judgment in carrying out the details of the work. Performs related duties as required.

Two (2) years permanent status as a Dispatcher in the Otsego County Communications Center at time of application.

A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the following areas:
(a) CODING/DECODING INFORMATION - These questions test for the ability to follow a set of coding rules. Some questions will require you to code information by converting certain information into letters or numbers. Other questions will require you to decode information by determining if the information that has already been converted into letters or numbers is correct. Complete directions will be provided; no previous knowledge of or training in any coding system is required.
(b) UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING WRITTEN MATERIAL - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.
(c) WORK PLANNING AND SCHEDULING - These questions test for knowledge of the principles used in developing and implementing work plans and for the ability to arrange work assignments in a manner that will achieve work goals while staying within scheduling criteria. This may include setting up vacation or work schedules, taking into consideration such factors as seniority, work skills, duty hours, and shift coverage.
(d) RETAINING AND COMPREHENDING SPOKEN INFORMATION FROM CALLS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES - These questions test for your ability to retain specific information that is heard in calls for emergency service, such as a street address, or to comprehend spoken information from emergency service calls, such as determining the location of a site in relation to landmarks. Simulated 911 calls will be played via MP3. Immediately following each call, candidates are given audio instructions identifying which questions they are to answer within the test booklet. The questions that candidates are directed to answer for each simulated call will not be in sequential order. Candidates will need to retain and comprehend the information and instruction provided in this portion of the test to respond appropriately to the questions asked and to determine which questions to answer. The time allotted to answer these questions will be limited. At the end of each answer period, the MP3 download will automatically play the next call. Note paper will be provided. Candidates will be permitted to take notes and to refer to them when answering the questions.
(e) RADIO OPERATIONS AND DISPATCHING PROCEDURES - These questions test for knowledge of two-way radio systems and operations, and may cover dispatching procedures when appropriate.
(f) SUPERVISION AND TRAINING - These questions test for the knowledge required by a supervisor to set goals, plan and organize work, train workers in how to do their jobs, and direct workers towards meeting established goals. The supervisory questions cover such areas as assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, maintaining work quality, motivating employees, increasing efficiency, and dealing with problems that may arise on the job. The training questions cover such areas as determining the necessity for training, selecting appropriate training methods, and evaluating the effectiveness of training. The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

There are no residency requirements for this examination. However, preference in appointment may be given to successful candidates who have been residents of Otsego County for at least one month immediately preceding the scheduled date of the written examination.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies as they occur in the Otsego County E-911 Department under the jurisdiction of the Otsego County Personnel/Civil Service Department.