Public Safety Dispatcher

Summary This position is located in Colonial National Historical Park, in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate communications for law enforcement, EMS, fire, and search and rescue, ensuring rapid response and visitor safety. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent with full benefits but do not provide year-round work. You will work from approximately April to December, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year.? Responsibilities GS-5 Public Safety Dispatcher Receives and routes emergency and non-emergency calls; develops ability to manage high call volume. Supports visitor and resource protection operations, including law enforcement, EMS, fire, and search and rescue. Monitors multi-frequency radio traffic and relays information to field personnel. Enters and retrieves data in computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and other communication systems. Assists with law enforcement telecommunications queries (e.g., VCIN, NCIC, IMARS). Uses CPI OpenFox, email, telephones, fax, and radios to coordinate information. Monitors alarm systems and reports activations to supervisors or responders. Maintains communication logs and records. Provides dispatch support to NPS units and partner agencies while building proficiency. GS-6 Public Safety Dispatcher Manages high-volume emergency and non-emergency communications for law enforcement, EMS, fire, and search and rescue. Coordinates communications across multiple platforms (CPI OpenFox, CAD, email, fax, telephones, computers, radios). Monitors and directs multi-unit radio traffic across frequencies, ensuring accurate, timely information flow. Dispatches personnel and equipment to incidents and emergencies. Processes telecommunications data and conducts queries in VCIN, NCIC, IMARS, and related systems. Monitors alarm systems and initiates appropriate responses. Maintains accurate logs, records, and documentation in compliance with policy. Provides full dispatch support to park units, other NPS sites, and partner agencies. Ensures communications systems remain operational and troubleshoots issues as needed. Duties are developmental when filled below the full performance level. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. 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. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. Applicants must be at least (1) 18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. In addition to the minimum qualifications, selectees must already hold-or be able to obtain-certification as a Full Access operator of the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Additional Requirements located under qualifications Qualifications Requirements Continued: 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. Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/14/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: working as a dispatcher in person, by telephone, or by radio, operating a telephone switchboard, operating a radio base station, working an information desk that involved in-person, and either telephone or radio contacts, working as a receptionist or other comparable administrative position that involved similar contacts. You must include hours per week worked. - OR - EDUCATION: Successful completion of 4 years of education above the high-school level at an accredited institution. You must include transcripts. - OR - Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only education beyond the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year of study) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. For example: 6 months of specialized experience as described above (50% of the experience requirement) combined with 3 years of college study (i.e., 30 semester hours beyond the second year = 50% of the education requirement) meets 100% of the qualification requirements. You must include transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: providing communications support using radios, telephones, frequency monitors, computer networks, etc. to coordinate emergency units such as law enforcement, fire, etc. during complex and emergency operations; operate and search Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) or similar state/national data; and utilize caller control and interrogation techniques to take emergency/911 calls and determine the appropriate response. You must include hours per week worked. EDUCATION: There is no applicable education substitute for the GS-2151-06 Volunteer Experience: 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 This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position includes the following counties with in the local commuting area: Charles City, Chesapeake, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Essex, Gloucester, Hampton, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Prince George, Richmond, Suffolk, Surry, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, York. Residency will be verified during the hiring process. 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. 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. Physical Demands: The incumbent must work efficiently in a confined space for extended periods without breaks and cannot leave the Communications Center. This essential position requires working most holidays, reporting during severe weather, and working extended hours during emergencies. The role is sedentary and high-stress, with rotating and uncommon shifts. The dispatcher must speak clearly for long periods, hear and distinguish multiple audio sources at once, and quickly read critical information from screens, faxes, and written logs. Strong manual dexterity is required to operate communications equipment and maintain logs. The work is emergency-oriented and emotionally demanding, and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds is required. Working Conditions: 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. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.