Radio Dispatcher

You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test. The Department of Civil Service reserves the right to administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets. Your admission notice will tell you whether your test will be administered online. You cannot request a day in advance or change your scheduled day.

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

These positions exist at the New York State Thruway Authority IN ALBANY ONLY.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before January 11, 2020, you must have:

Either 1. six months of experience as a police/emergency services/public safety dispatcher, OR as a member of a paid/volunteer fire company or emergency medical services squad;

Or 2. one year of experience as a radio dispatcher of a mobile fleet;

Or 3. two years of experience as a toll collector for a public highway or bridge system;

Or 4. six months of experience in a traffic management center;

Or 5. one year of active duty service as an honorable discharge from the United States military as a dispatcher of military police or security personnel.

Examples of Non-Qualifying Experience: Experience limited to cellular phones, paging systems, intercom systems, CB radios, or ham radios is NOT considered qualifying for this examination.

Notes

1. A transition examination is also being held for these positions. The New York State Thruway Authority has the option of making appointments from either the transition lists or the open-competitive lists. If you meet the requirements for both examinations, you may file for both, following application processing instructions.
2. Background Investigation: All candidates are required to successfully pass a background investigation performed by the New York State Police prior to appointment. Because of the nature of the position, there is an investigative screening that will include a thorough character investigation. All convictions must be reported. Failure to pass the background investigation for any reason, including conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information, may bar appointment. The investigation performed is consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.
3. Fingerprinting will be required prior to appointment. You will be required to pay the processing fee.
4. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
5. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Thruway Authority in Albany only.

Back To Top

Duties

As a Radio Dispatcher, you would monitor, dispatch, and control two-way radio traffic providing interconnections between the various communications systems used in the Thruway's Statewide Operations Center. You would regularly use computer equipment and telephones to enter, receive, and transmit information; make data inquiries; and arrange for repair service when radio equipment requires it. You would also handle the telephone traffic through the communications center. You would be required to know the established policies for Toll Collection, Maintenance, Traffic and Safety, Media Relations and Communications, and State Police Troop T, and to keep abreast of important events happening in those and other areas affecting the operation of the Thruway. As a Radio Dispatcher, you would regularly receive, enter, and dispatch information on the weather, road conditions, unusual or hazardous vehicles, accidents, State Police action, and emergencies requiring assistance from Thruway personnel or outside agencies. In the course of your duties, you will also be required to disseminate real time roadway information obtained from camera images or other roadway devices to the traveling public utilizing web based systems or roadside devices such as Variable Message Signs, Highway Advisory Radio or other devices that are controlled by the Thruway's Statewide Operations Center. All candidates are required to successfully pass a background investigation performed by the New York State Police prior to appointment. The duties of this position are often carried out under stressful conditions.

IMPORTANT: These positions involve shift work within a 24-hour work schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Back To Top

Subject of Examination

There will be a written test and a performance test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. You will be called to the performance test only if you have achieved a score of 70 or higher on the written test. Only passing scores on the written test will be considered when computing final scores.

Scope Of The Written Test: The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. 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 on audio CD. 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 CD 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Name and number checking - These questions test for the ability to distinguish between sets of words, letters, and/or numbers that are almost exactly alike. Material is usually presented in two or three columns, and you will have to determine how the entry in the first column compares with the entry in the second column and possibly the third. You will be instructed to mark your answers according to a designated code provided in the directions.
5. Following directions (maps) - These questions test your ability to follow physical/geographic directions using street maps or building maps. You will have to read and understand a set of directions and then use them on a simple map.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

Final passing scores will be computed by using your score of 70 or higher on the written test only. You must pass the performance test in order to be appointed. Only enough candidates to fill the existing vacancies will be called to the performance test. As vacancies occur, additional candidates may be tested. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

Scope of Performance Test: If your written test score becomes reachable, you may be considered for appointment upon passing a performance test. This test will be conducted by the Thruway Authority; it is not necessary to contact the Department of Civil Service to schedule this test. The test will be administered on a conventional personal computer (PC). It consists of three parts, each preceded by a separate practice session. You will be using a conventional PC keyboard, but you will not be using a mouse. This performance test will test your ability to enter the basic kinds of information that public safety dispatchers and related personnel must process in fire services, emergency medical services (EMS), and police or sheriff's services settings. The test will provide complete on-screen instructions. In order to pass the test, you must enter the data at a rate of at least 6,000 keystrokes per hour (which is the same rate as typing 20 words per minute) with an accuracy rate of at least 97.5%

Waiver of Performance Test: If you passed an emergency dispatcher's keyboard performance test provided by the Department of Civil Service, the Thruway Authority, or any local Jurisdiction in New York State within the past five years, you may be entitled to have the performance test waived. You will need to request the waiver from the Thruway Authority when you are contacted to appear for the performance test. You will be required to submit verifiable evidence of a qualifying performance test which must include the title, location, and date of the performance test.

Retest Policy: If you take the performance test, and fail in your first attempt, you will be given the opportunity to be retested immediately. If you fail both attempts, your name will be removed from the eligible list.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

Back To Top

How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S2/TA1 CAV-dah
Issued: 10/25/2019

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

Back To Top