Entry Level 911 Call Taker/Dispatcher

About the role

Central Lane 911 is recruiting 911 Call-Takers/Dispatchers! Do you have a passion for helping others, are you excited by a fast-paced working environment, and do you want to make a difference in the community? Our successful candidates will have the ability to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency and non-emergency situations, will have great attention to detail, and will provide unmatched customer service.

Responsibilities

• Operates computer terminal equipment and radio/telephone transmitting and receiving equipment
• Answers 911 and non-emergency telephone calls for police, fire, ambulance, and other requests
• Makes decisions as to type of call, correct response, and responsible agency to respond to incident
• Evaluates information to determine jurisdiction, equipment, and personnel to be dispatched
• Transmits appropriate information to dispatcher or responsible jurisdiction as required
• Studies, and maintains, familiarity with major streets, roads, public buildings, industrial plants, and the general geographic location of cities and landmarks in Lane County
• Dispatches and monitors appropriate emergency public safety activities

Requirements

• Experience: One year work experience in a fast-paced environment, which includes data entry experience.
• Education: High School diploma or GED.
• Licenses/Certificates: Possession of, or ability to obtain, within three months of appointment the following:
• CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Certification
• EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) Certification
• Basic Telecommunicator Certificate (DPSST)

Qualifications

• Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes with relevant transferrable skills from a variety of sources and experiences.
• To qualify for bilingual pay, the employee must have demonstrated fluency in the required language and successfully pass a fluency examination administered by the City's Employee Resource Center division.

Skills

• Fluency in multiple languages (if applicable)
• Excellent communication and decision-making skills
• Attention to detail and ability to handle high-pressure situations

Benefits

• Bilingual Pay Benefit: Up to an additional 5% of base salary for bilingual pay.
• Competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Pay

• Communications Specialist 1: $30.27 - $33.39 hourly
• Communications Specialist 2: $33.39 - $42.64 hourly

Schedule

• Works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
• Four 10-hour shifts with three days off per week
• Shifts: Early Days 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Late Days 11:45 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Early Nights 4:45 p.m. - 2:45 a.m., Late Nights 9:30 p.m. - 7:30 a.m.

Benefits

• City of Eugene offers robust and competitive benefits.

Physical and Psych

• Must pass a psychological evaluation, physical assessment and drug test.

Supplemental Information

• Bilingual Pay Benefit: Per the EPEA Contract, the City shall pay an employee at 5% of base wages for a required intermediate or advanced level competency.
• Background: Must pass a police background investigation.
• Physical and Psych: Must pass a psychological evaluation, physical assessment and drug test.

Hiring Process Timeline

• Application: Submit a completed application by Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5 p.m. PT.
• Criticall Test: Qualified candidates will be invited to complete an online Criticall test between August 24-September 10, 2026.
• Oral Interviews: Qualified candidates will be interviewed the week of September 21-25, 2026.
• Comprehensive Police Background Investigation: The background investigation phase may take up to 5 weeks and is tentatively planned for October 20-November 12, 2026.
• Psychological Evaluation: The psychological evaluation is a two-part process. You will be invited to complete a psychological evaluation and exam. Testing may take 2-4 hours to complete. Your exam will be evaluated by a licensed psychologist who will conduct a 30 minute - 1 hour interview with you.
• Drug Screen, Hearing Test and Visual Acuity Test: The exact date of medical testing is TBD but is anticipated to take place between November 24-December 9, 2026.
• Hire Date: January 11, 2027 is the planned hire date for this recruitment.
• Orientation & Training: Successful candidates will start their employment with a 5-6 week classroom-based academy, followed by 12 or more weeks of intensive on the job training involving varying schedules.