Operational Communications Technician

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are looking for an Operational Communications Technician to join the team based in Potterne. Working on a full time, permanent basis, 37 hours per week and in return, you will receive a competitive salary of £25,119 per annum (rising by annual increments to £27,334).

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, an organisation that is passionate about changing and saving lives. Our corporate staff are absolutely vital in helping to make our communities safer and healthier.  Without them, we couldn’t do it.

As well as being one of the largest combined Fire and Rescue Services in the country we are also one of the top performing. In February 2022, inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) looked closely at our Service and graded us as ‘Good’, ‘Outstanding’, and ‘Good’ across the three inspection pillars of Effectiveness, Efficiency and People.

The successful Operational Communications Technician will support the Operational Communications (Ops Comms) Team by administering defined systems associated with ’Ops Comms’ devices, this includes the management of databases and basic configuration activities.

Benefits of an Operational Communications Technician will include:

• Generous annual leave of 25 days per annum, plus 8 bank holidays, increasing after five years’ Service.
• Local Government Pension Scheme - members benefit from a generous employer contribution.
• Flexi time scheme.
• Long Service awards.
• Blue Light Card and local discounts.
• A variety of family friendly policies and procedures to support a good work life balance.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives including free gym access.
• Support from the Fire Fighters Charity with your social wellbeing, physical health, mental health, nursing, retirement, and support for families.
• Learning and development pathways and qualifications, allowing employees to cement their knowledge and gain new skills. 

As the Operational Communications Technician you will:

• Administer and monitor systems for managing our risk and safety critical Operational Communications devices (in-vehicle and mobile tablets and telephony) ensuring information is collated and disseminated in a timely and ordered manner.
• Support the team by responding to new defect notifications and either resolving or escalating as appropriate, ensuring any faults are dealt with in a timely manner.
• Provide a field service function to Operational Communication devices following defect notification – this will require working within our fleet of fire engines and other response vehicles.
• Deliver technical support and training on Operational Communication devices to staff.
• Ensure our SharePoint site and User Guidance documents are updated and maintained.

What makes you our ideal Operational Communications Technician?

• Practical experience of working with Operating Systems such as Windows and Android.
• Be able to learn and develop coding skills associated with mobile devices.
• Be able to switch between tasks and to prioritise work under changing circumstances when required, while maintaining quality standards.
• Have effective communication skills, and maintain a positive attitude to customer care, remaining calm and helpful when under pressure.

Other Information:

• You must have a full current driving licence and be able to fulfil the significant travel requirements of the role. Use of your own vehicle will be required; however, a Service vehicle may be available. Please note Service vehicles are manual transmission only. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, we would still welcome your application and will explore any reasonable adjustments that could be put in place.
• The role has a significanttravel requirement across both Dorset and Wiltshire, and this may require flexible hours which are re-imbursed through our flexible working scheme.
• A Standard Disclosure & Barring Service Check (DBS) clearance will be undertaken on the successful individual prior to offer of employment.
• Any offer of employment will be subject to full pre-employment checks which include identity checks, right to work in the UK, medical and receipt of satisfactory references.

If you would like to find out more about thisrole, please click apply now as we would love to hear from you!

Closing date -  24th April 2024 (midnight).

It is intended that interviews will take place on 9th and 10th May 2024.