COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR 1, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Environmental Protection
Career Family: COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR
New Jersey treats Communications Operator 1, Environmental Protection as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
Eligibility comes down to 1 year of relevant experience. The FY 2027 range lands between $50,059 and $72,550, and state payroll currently lists about 26 people in the title, led by Transportation.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 4 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 4 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Communications Operator 1, Environmental Protection appears on the State payroll at 4 departments, most of them at Department of Transportation.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | 11 |
| New Jersey State Parole Board | 11 |
| Department of Law & Public Safety | 2 |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 2 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Communications Operator series
- Communications Operator 1 — $50,059 – $72,550
- Communications Operator 2 — $53,282 – $77,371
- Communications Operator 3 — $63,663 – $92,953
Its top salary lands around the 15th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 26 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $50,539. The agencies employing the most are:
- Transportation (11)
- State Parole Board (11)
- Law and Public Safety (2)
- Environmental Protection (2)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the close supervision of a Communications Operator 3 or other supervisory official in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in a centralized communications center, monitors, receives, and transmits environmental emergency alarms including, but not limited to, incidents associated with fires, radiation accidents, toxic releases, chemical spills, and atmospheric pollution; receives requests for DEP emergency assistance and transmits same to first responders and/or law enforcement personnel, and other pertinent federal, state, county, and/or local authorities; operates a variety of communications equipment; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Upon receiving a complaint of an environmental and/or health hazard, completes an Incident Notification Report form and notifies appropriate DEP officials, first responders, and pertinent federal, state, county, and/or local authorities; documents verbal communication and any modifications made to the original report.
- During emergency situations, utilizes various electronic databases and maintains communication with first responders to provide sound technical data.
- Operates radio equipment in accordance with FCC regulations and standard operating procedures, and receives and transmits radio communications to law enforcement agencies, first responders, and others for appropriate action.
- Operates an aircraft and vehicle tracking system, computerized phone and recording system, and emergency electronic notification system(s).
- Creates incidents in the computer-aided dispatch system and the New Jersey Environmental Management System.
- Informs first responders about chemical compounds and toxic vapors to assess extent of potential damage.
- May work at the Forward Command Post as a radio operator to coordinate field units during nuclear training exercises and actual activations.
- Receives confidential and sensitive law enforcement information in a professional and courteous manner, creating an accurate record of information provided to aid in the investigation and apprehension of violators.
- Provides information upon request, in accordance with established procedures and regulations.
- Generates reports, statistical data, and other information; prepares and maintains essential records and files, and the official station records and log, as required.
- Maintains a daily electronic radio log of all incoming/outgoing communications.
- Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in work involving the monitoring, receiving, sending, transmitting, and relaying of electronic messages and/or electronic radio messages, and the receiving, relaying, and recording of environmental complaints and requests for assistance which shall have included the use of computer-aided dispatch, data processing, or computer equipment and programs for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and/or other first responders.
<b>LICENSE/CERTIFICATION:</b>
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the geographic areas of the state and the names of locations and facilities.
- Knowledge of the operation of radio, computer, and telephone equipment in a complex communications program.
- Knowledge of Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules, regulations, and policies.
- Knowledge of the federal Incident Command System terminology and procedures.
- Knowledge of computer-aided dispatch and other computer systems and records retrieval.
- Ability to maintain a professional demeanor while working with a sense of urgency to complete assigned tasks during stressful incidents.
- Ability to appropriately use scientific terms, chemical names, abbreviations, units of measure, and related vocabulary.
- Ability to use appropriate techniques to calm distressed callers, gain control of the conversation, gather necessary information, and create an accurate report to forward to decision makers and DEP first responders.
- Ability to understand, remember, and carry out oral and written instructions.
- Ability to operate computer-aided dispatch systems, an aircraft and vehicle tracking system, a computerized phone and recording system, and emergency electronic notification systems.
- Ability to create incidents in the computer-aided dispatch system and the New Jersey Environmental Management System.
- Ability to understand the laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures of the Department of Environmental Protection as they relate to the work operations of a centralized communications program.
- Ability to speak clearly, professionally, and in a calm but authoritative manner.
- Ability to remain calm during periods of stress/emergency to avoid delays by first responders.
- Ability and willingness to work on any assigned shift to include weekends and holidays, times of inclement weather, and natural, man-made, and technological disasters.
- Ability to cooperate with supervisory officials to ensure calls are sent accurately/promptly.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of all personally identifiable information and police sensitive information received in the course of official duties.
- Ability to act with discretion and empathy when dealing with sensitive information and situations.
- Ability to accurately compile and prepare reports and other statistical data.
- Ability to maintain essential records and files in accordance with established procedures.
- Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Appointees must possess a certification in IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System.
The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required certification rests with the Appointing Authority.
Appointees must successfully complete IS-700.b: National Incident Management System (NIMS), an Introduction training within six (6) months of appointment.
The inability of the employee to successfully complete the required IS-700.b training within six (6) months of appointment shall constitute grounds for removal from the Communications Operator 1 title.
To advance to higher levels in the series, appointees will be required to possess certification in IS-200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response and IS-800.c: National Response Framework, an Introduction.
Appointees may be required to possess certification by the National Emergency Communications Institute (NECI) as an Emergency Communications Officer; or Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) as a Public Safety Telecommunicator; or International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) as an Emergency Telecommunicator Communications.
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.