State of Maryland

A Telephone Operator Supervisor is the supervisory level of work operation a telephone switchboard to answer, screen and direct incoming calls, assist in placing outgoing calls and provide basic information about the agency.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Telephone Operators.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an administrative supervisor.  Employees in this classification may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts, which may include weekends and holidays.  Employees may be subject to call-in.  The work requires handling a heavy volume of calls.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Telephone Operator Supervisor is differentiated from the Telephone Operator II in that the Telephone Operator Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Telephone Operators while the Telephone Operator II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans, coordinates and supervises the work of lower-level Telephone Operators;

Trains lower-level Telephone Operators in communications equipment usage and proper techniques, practices and procedures for receiving, transferring and placing telephone calls;

Recommends improvements in procedures for activities related to switchboard activities;

Receives incoming telephone calls and transfers the call to the appropriate person or extension number;

Provides callers with general information about the agency or facility such as its hours of operation and address;

Places long distance, local and interagency calls in accordance with individual requests and agency policy;

Prioritizes multiple calls so that emergency calls and situations are responded to immediately;

Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of long distance and other outgoing calls;

Maintains accurate and up-to-date phone numbers of offices and persons at the assigned agency or facility;

Accepts and conveys messages from callers to specified individuals;

May greet, announce and direct visitors;

May use other basic communication devices to contact security, maintenance, medical and other staff;

May report problems with communication equipment to designated repair persons;

May review telephone bills to verify consistency with records;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the techniques and practices used in the operation of telephone switchboards;

Knowledge of basic agency operations, agency employees and their telephone numbers and locations;

Skill in effectively handling heavy volume of calls through a telephone switchboard;

Skill in maintaining telephone directories and logs of long distance and other calls;

Skill in providing callers with basic information about agency or facility operations;

Ability to prioritize calls, quickly assess the urgency of calls in emergency situations and exercise sound judgment under stressful conditions;

Ability to communicate clearly and courteously when operating switchboards or other communication equipment;

Ability to supervise lower-level Telephone Operators.

Education:   Completion of the Eighth grade.

Experience: None.

Note: Candidates may substitute additional experience performing telephone operator duties on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department of agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.