Occ. Code 7335100

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST (DHSES), GRADE 12

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

          Positions in this title monitor, analyze, prioritize, and report information obtained from a wide variety of sources to federal, State and local government officials, emergency responders, agency partners, and the public on a twenty-four hour a day, seven-day a week basis.

          The positions are only classified in the Emergency Operations Center, operated by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES).

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Communication Specialists (DHSES): full performance level; under the direction of Disaster Preparedness Program Representatives 2, monitors, analyzes, prioritizes, and reports information to support State emergency and non-emergency preparedness, response and recovery operations, and a variety of hot lines (e.g., burn injuries, disaster relief, and terrorism tips hot lines).

RELATED CLASSES

Communications Specialists (State Police) provide twenty-four hour a day, seven-day a week communications services to sworn police members and other non-sworn public safety personnel and provide telephone answering/complaint service to the general public.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

· Prepares daily operational briefings to include information gathered from federal, State and county sources, regional activities, noteworthy news, weather, transportation, utilities, and Geographic Information System mapping.

· Monitors sources of information for situational awareness of incidents that may adversely impact areas of New York State, require a multi-agency response, and/or require a response from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). 

· Coordinates and dispatches requests for assistance received from the field.

· Analyzes sources of information to develop a comprehensive operational picture.

· Serves as OEMs first point of contact for all State agency liaisons in regard to incidents, emergencies or disasters.

· Participates in the review, draft, and implementation of emergency communications plans for partner State agencies and the activation of the OEM State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).

· Ensures the operational readiness of the Watch Center and SEOC.

· Trains OEM staff, as well as staff from other agencies, as appropriate.

· Assists and participates in the coordination of communications drills.

· Monitors, captures, analyzes, and disseminates pertinent information obtained from local, national and international news.

· Supplies Executive staff with situational awareness reports and analysis of incoming information/data for transmission to elected officials.

· Intakes, analyzes, and refers emergency and non-emergency inquiries to appropriate staff.

· Maintains and distributes information on all radioactive materials shipments throughout New York State.

· Monitors, tests, and utilizes various communication systems including the NYS Police information systems (NYSPIN), the State and National Warning System (NAWAS), the SOEM Notification System, the Emergency Alert System, New York Alert, and the Radiological Emergency Communications Lines (RECS). 

· Monitors a variety of State agency information lines, synthesizes and prioritizes requests, and directs inquiries to appropriate agency officials and staff.   

· Intakes and coordinates incoming burn injury reports on behalf of the Office of Fire Prevention and Control.  Distributes the reports, as appropriate, to facilitate arson investigations statewide.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Open-Competitive: High School Diploma AND two years of experience as a dispatcher/911 operator or two years of public, non-profit or private sector emergency management experience in one or a combination of the following:  Emergency Services,  police, fire, public safety, military service, public utilities.  Experience must include the analysis of multiform open source information* to identify and confirm the impact priority, scope and type of assistance required ensuring that appropriate response notifications are transmitted.  An associates degree may substitute for one year of experience. 

*Multi-form open source information is defined as information obtained from multiple sources communicated to emergency services personnel through a variety of voice, print and electronic communications methods enabling the recipient to identify and confirm the impact, priority, scope and type of assistance.  Transmission systems may include but are not limited to the following:  Telephone, fax, text, e-mail, mainstream media (radio/TV), receiver & broadcast equipment, electronic security & traffic systems, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, You Tube and other internet/social network platforms.

Date:  10/15

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.