Position Purpose:

The Bates Campus Safety Dispatcher position is centered on the foundation of providing an excellent customer service experience; building relationships with faculty, staff, & students; engaging with the Bates community; and ensuring the safety and security of the Bates community through work on the Campus Safety dispatch line.

Joining a collaborative and cross-departmental team engaged in a co-produced campus safety model, the Campus Safety Dispatcher will be on shift with Campus Safety Officers & Coordinators of Residence Life on-call.  In addition, the Office of Campus Life that sponsors events will have event staff and contracted security during large student events on campus.

With an increasingly racially and culturally diverse student body, the Campus Safety Dispatcher will view their work through a lens of support, equity and inclusion. Campus Safety Dispatchers will engage and support students, guests and stakeholders from historically underrepresented groups including students of color, LGBTQ+ students, international students, students with disabilities, first-generation college students, and the student organizations dedicated to supporting these students on campus. 

This position is considered “Essential Personnel” in the event that:

• an emergency occurs on the Bates Campus or in the vicinity that would impact Bates,

• inclement weather forces the closing of campus or

• or other emergency events deemed appropriate. 

Essential Personnel are required to report to or remain at work if instructed to do so if contacted directly by the supervisor (or his/her designee), the President or a member of the President’s Staff (Sr. Leadership Team.) 

Job Duties:

Communications Responsibilities:

• Provide high-level, professional and courteous service through interactions with the Bates community via personal contact, telephone service and timely, competent, & empathetic radio dispatch services.
• Incorporate the tenants of equity, inclusion, access, and educational justice in all areas of work.
• Approaches all communications and calls received with empathy, equity, and customer service while also obtaining the information needed professionally and efficiently.
• Answers incoming calls on the Campus Safety business phone line, in person, and the emergency phone; takes the appropriate information; and makes proper connections.
• Maintains log of daily activities and initiates incident reports.
• Dispatches all calls for service, with emergency calls taking precedence, using Campus Safety’s two-way radio system.
• Monitors the E-access System for alarms.
• Performs data entry of information relevant to the functioning of Campus Safety.
• Registers vehicles for staff, faculty, students, and guests.
• Responds to inquiries and furnishes information on campus activities, organizations, key personnel, administrative/academic offices and locations or transfers callers to offices which can provide information.
• Completes and sends maintenance work order request forms.
• Maintains various records books such as criminal trespass, no contact, parking permits, etc.

Administration

• Attends all departmental trainings and meetings.
• Works with the Access Control Office of Campus Safety to issue the Bates Card to faculty, staff and students as needed. Maintain working knowledge of E-access system.
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance, including working mandatory overtime as assigned.
• Handles sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and tact.
• Maintains a pleasant and professional rapport with the City of Lewiston and other outside agencies.
• Maintains all issued equipment in a clean and operable manner.
• Maintains a working knowledge of all relevant policies pertaining to safety and security.
• Performs such other duties and tasks as required by the Director of Campus Safety.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associated degree preferred.

Experience

• 2 – 3 years of work experience that demonstrates commitment, dependability and maturity.
• Equivalent work experience serving in residence life or that demonstrate a commitment, a willingness to be part of a team, and willingness to support students also considered (such as serving as an Resident Advisor (RA), Tutor, etc.).

Skills and Knowledge

• Commitment to equity and inclusion, and serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse community.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication and listening skills.
• Ability to follow verbal and written directions, maintain a professional demeanor and restraint at all times, including stressful situations.
• Ability to prepare and effectively present both oral and written information concerning activities and operations to internal and external constituents
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of people, including persons from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships.  Must be flexible, collaborative and have a positive attitude.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to synthesize complex or diverse information.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
• Keen attention to detail necessary for successful documentation, planning and execution.
• Willingness and ability to learn additional software as needed.
• Ability and willingness to travel (by car, air, train or bus) domestically and internationally as needed. 
• Ability and willingness to work weekends, evenings & other non-traditional schedules.
• A commitment to students and their personal development.
• Personal commitment to excellence and the mission of a top-tier small liberal arts college. 

Benefits: Bates College offers competitive salaries, access to the library and athletic facilities, and a supportive, collegial environment in a drug- and smoke-free workplace. This position may accrue leave in accordance with the Maine Earned Paid Leave law.