Communications Officer 1 - Lateral

Position Title Communications Officer 1 - Lateral About the University Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty.
The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range.
The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2019 U.
S.
News & World Report rankings.
About the Department The Public Safety Department support Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement.
We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position The WWU Public Safety Communications Center (Dispatch) is the communications hub for the Department specifically, and in many ways, the university generally.
Communications Officers are the vital link between police officers and other department personnel and the information they need to function in the field.
The Communications Center operates around the clock and often the Communications Officers are the public’s initial point of contact for the University, especially during non-business hours and on weekends and holidays.
This position reports, through a chain-of command, to the Director of Public Safety.
Communications Officers generally perform their work with limited supervision and often operate as a self-directed workgroup.
At any time when there are no command personnel on duty, the Communications Officers may call the Patrol Sergeant, the Administrative Sergeant, Assistant Chief or the Chief to report problems, or discuss issues of concern that cannot wait for resolution.
BASIC FUNCTION Operate various communications equipment to transmit, receive and relay Public Safety Department information.
This involves interacting with and communicating with members of the public, and employees of the Department, in person or by telephone, e-mail or other methods Required Qualifications 2 years of experience as a public safety emergency service dispatcher for a police, fire, or emergency medical services (EMS) in a city, county, or federal governmental agency High School diploma or equivalent Education may be substituted for years of experience Work swiftly, in stressful situations, to manage multiple things happening at once Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in maintaining confidentiality Excellent verbal and written communications skills Proven ability to remain calm in stressful situations Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations Recognized ability to follow established office policies and procedures Demonstrated ability to contribute positively in a team oriented environment Type 45 wpm given the urgency and nature of the support they provide the public, public safety entities, and law enforcement Preferred Qualifications WA state patrol ACCESS certified (or other state equivalency) Special Conditions All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire.
Please reach out to HR@wwu.
edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.
Salary The starting pay for this position is $48,564-63,540 annually, commensurate with experience.
Includes an excellent benefits package.
Bargaining Unit This position is part of bargaining unit A and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Washington Federation of State Employees of WWU.
Application Instructions A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.
Please include the names and contact information of three professional references.
Closing Date Notes Open continuously and the department will contact applicants for interviews on an as needed basis.
Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff.
Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs.
See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation.
Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 345 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.
650.
3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.
edu WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.
650.
3774 or 711 (Washington Relay).
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act").
It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.
The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters.
You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.
office@wwu.
edu.
The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.
S.
Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU.
A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires.