Communications Specialist

$25.64 - $33.34

General Function:

Under the general supervision of a Public Safety Captain, the Communications Specialist conducts routine and emergency communications for Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and Bowman Field airports, provides electronic surveillance of the facilities and provides security control of facilities through electronic surveillance and monitoring of alarms and alerts. Provides assistance to all departments, the general public airport tenants and airlines, and external agencies. This position's schedule is subject to working holidays and potentially extended hours beyond normal shift during emergencies or other unscheduled events.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for ensuring effective communication throughout the airports by receiving, transferring, and broadcasting non-emergency telephone calls, radio calls and electronic messages for assistance at the airports.
• Responsible for receiving emergency calls and dispatching appropriate resources, including Public Safety Officers (law enforcement officers/fire fighters/EMTs) to respond to emergencies and broadcasts and contacts emergency response teams, operations, and management through various software programs, databases, electronic notification systems, phones and radios as appropriate.
• Monitors and operates security, crash, fire alarm systems and other applicable notification systems.
• Responsible for ensuring security surveillance and communications systems are activated, functioning, and secured and periodically conducts system checks to ensure reliability of such systems.
• Maintains electronic surveillance of airside and landside buildings and facilities to observe any routine and non-routine activities.
• Issues emergency alerts, notifications and provides emergency communication, including weather warnings to staff, airport tenants and airport users.
• Ability to answer incoming calls in a professional and calm manner that can include calls involving critical medical calls and life safety calls.
• Answers incoming calls pertaining to general airport information from internal airport tenants and/or external airport users.
• Provides information to the public when the Information Booth is not able.
• Operates base radio communication systems.
• Responds to and takes appropriate action regarding complaints concerning maintenance such as heat, air conditioning, electrical, and other facilities equipment and public inquiries.
• Occasional special project assignments as necessary.

Employment Qualifications:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain appropriate Authority driving privileges.
• Ability to act with integrity and professionalism.
• Proven ability to appropriately handle confidential data, materials and correspondence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent organization skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.

• Excellent time management skills with ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to positively influence and work with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound independent judgement.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Education/Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Must be proficient with computers and dispatch systems.
• Must possess telecommunicator/dispatcher certificate issued through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Counsel (KLEC) or be able to obtain the certificate within six months of employment by way of a four-week academy in Richmond, Kentucky, room and board provided; and maintain annual recertification.
• Must successfully complete a suitability screener, drug screen, and polygraph examination with approved Kentucky Law Enforcement Counsel Administrators prior to hire or within 120 days after hire date.

Physical/Environmental Requirements:

Work is performed in an office environment, with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by the incumbent of this job.  Incumbent may be requested to perform job‑related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.