Employment

EMPLOYMENT
Dakota Communications Center employs 52 Full-Time Dispatchers, 2 Over-Comp Dispatchers, 6 Floor Dispatch Supervisors, 1 Training Coordinator, 2 Technical Support Specialists, 1 Executive Assistant, 1 Operations Director and 1 Executive Director for a total staff of 66 employees.

DISPATCHER

Dakota Communications Center accepts applications on a continual basis for the Dispatcher position. Upon receipt, applications are reviewed to determine if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications listed in the position description.  A determination letter is then sent out to the applicant notifying them if they will continue to the interview process.  Those candidates who meet minimum required qualifications will be contacted for interviews.  Regularly scheduled interviews are held in March, July and November of each year dependent on DCC staffing needs.

WHAT DISPATCH CANDIDATES CAN EXPECT
Candidates participating in interviews will start their first round of interviews with a typing test.  Candidates must meet the 35 wpm requirement to continue to the next step in the interview which is an audio test.  Once completed, the audio test is followed by an interview with three panel members that include a current dispatcher, a floor supervisor and an administration representative.  In this interview the panel will ask technical-based questions in an effort to identify high performing candidates that present themselves as trainable and capable of handling the systems and pressures of 911 dispatching. From this pool of candidates, the interview panel will determine who will continue to second round interviews.

Second round interviews will consist of a meeting with a panel made up of a current dispatcher, a floor supervisor and the operations director.  In this interview the panel will review past work experience and ask behavioral questions in an effort to identify candidates who want to be a part of DCC efforts.  The panel will also strive to identify the candidates who best represent themselves as potential long-term employees with the ability to handle the pressures of 911 dispatching.

Finalists identified in the second round of interviews will proceed to a thorough background investigation and drug screening before being brought back to an informal meeting with the Executive Director and potential job offer.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE APPLYING FOR A DISPATCH POSITION AT THE DCC
1.      Dispatchers are required to work shifts including weekends, holidays, and other cultural and religious days as scheduled.
2.      Shifts are 10 hours long and bid by seniority.
3.      Training programs are very comprehensive and demanding and may require dispatcher in training to modify their work schedule to match that of their trainer.
4.      Information dispatchers deal with on a daily basis is confidential and cannot be shared outside the DCC.