Emergency Response Telecommunicator, Option B

Job Responsibilities

1.    Serves as the Emergency Response Telecommunicator for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

• Operates two-way radio and computer equipment to transmit and receive emergency and administrative messages between mobile and base station units statewide on a 24-hour basis concerning hazardous materials, helicopter missions, nuclear power plants and other natural and manmade incidents.
• Receives initial notification of radiological emergencies, up to and including nuclear power stations.
• Notifies appropriate Nuclear Safety personnel of emergency situations; facilitates communications between technical staff and affected facility.
• Activates a departmental nuclear emergency response team when directed
• Updates Radiological Duty Officer (RDO) or Radiological Emergency Assessment Center (REAC) commander of changing conditions until REAC is physically staffed.
• Determines priority of messages and prepares messages for transmission according to standard operating procedures.
• Provides Telecommunicator services to other agencies lacking statewide communications capabilities.
• Monitors various media and alerting platforms for pertinent emerging threats and routes accordingly to pre-identified Point of Contact as applicable.
• Operates multi-button telephone key equipment to answer multiple incoming emergency lines.
• Assists Watch Officers in gathering and transmitting information related to emerging or ongoing threats and hazards that are or could impact the State of Illinois.    

Job Responsibilities

2.    Operates a computer within an office setting to perform complex initialization and trouble-shooting procedures as directed.

• Records incident information received from Federal, State and local agencies, private businesses and citizens on hazardous material releases, nuclear power incidents and natural and manmade disasters into computer files.
• Monitors the operational status of the Nuclear Remote Monitoring System (eDNA) and responds in accordance with defined procedures to error messages or emergency conditions.
• Executes duties of assigned team position as specified by the Standard Operating Procedures of the Illinois Plan for Radiological Accidents (IPRA).
• Updates computer files with new information.
• At direction of leadership, proved pertinent and necessary data related to agency operations. 
• Keeps radio station log current and accurate.

Job Responsibilities

3.    Monitors warning systems.

• Monitors the Nuclear Accident Reporting Systems (NARS) and Electronic Offsite Notification Systems (EONS) for nuclear power plant incidents and to assure the NARS and EONS are operational at all times. 
• Reports trouble on the NARS and other telecommunications circuits to vendors.
• Works closely with vendors to test and return circuits to normal operations.
• Maintains situational awareness by monitoring the the National Warning System (NAWAS), the National Weather Service (NWS), FEMA National Radio System (FNARS), NC4, First Alert DATAMINR Alerting Platform, and a multiple screen video and data visualization platform. 
• Maintains 24-hour operation of  and conducts weekly and monthly tests of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
• Performs daily, weekly and monthly tests of various systems as required. 

4.     Coordinates the radio communications of Federal, State and local emergency services personnel during natural and manmade disasters.

• Staffs the agency unified command during disasters at remote sites.
• Activates emergency personnel by State of Illinois Rapid Electronic Notification (SIREN), phone or two-way radio.
• Relays critical information to agency duty officer.
• Assists the duty officers by setting up phone patches.
• Transmits and receives information by telefax machines.
• Assists in providing on-the-job training for newly hired Telecommunicators.

5.    Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of high school.
2. Requires ability to type accurately at a minimum rate of 20 words per minute. 

Preferred Qualifications

Two (2) or more years of college.

Two (2) years of professional experience using a multi-frequency, statewide radio base station system.

Two (2) years of professional experience utilizing Microsoft programs; such as, MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.

One (1) year of professional experience and training within a law enforcement agency.

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires a criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.
2. Requires the ability to work additional shifts in emergency situations. 
3. Must be available to work nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime as the operation requires.