911 Emergency Communications Officer

Have you ever thought about becoming a first responder in public safety but desire a position that is still office-based? Consider applying for a career with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center (HRECC) to become a 911 Emergency Communications Officer, where you can still have a direct impact in saving lives and serving the community through collaboration with other public safety agencies! No prior experience is required as on-the-job training will be provided. Become a part of the HRECC team and be the vital link between the public needing assistance and the emergency service responders in the field!

Full-time, benefits-eligible 911 Emergency Communications Officers have a full-time preferred hiring range from $20.78 - $22.34 per hour (equivalent to $43,222 - $46,467 annually); however, an exact salary will be dependent upon the selected candidate's qualifications/experience and in compliance with City policy.* The HRECC offers paid, on-the-job training for qualified candidates in our CALEA-accredited facility.

Candidate application reviews/interviews will be processed on a rolling basis. To expedite this recruitment process, qualified applicants are encouraged to apply so their application materials will be reviewed and interviews may be scheduled as soon as possible.

As a 911 Emergency Communications Officer with HRECC, you'll have the opportunity to work in an organization whose vision is to get the right help, to the right place, in the right way better than anyone else - and you'll receive all the training necessary to do so. As an HRECC employee, you'll operate a variety of technology to receive law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other related service requests and calls, dispatch appropriate personnel, prepare and maintain public safety computer records, and more. The ideal candidates for this position will have the ability to speak distinctly, enter data accurately and quickly into computers, and deal courteously with the public under stressful conditions.
A detailed list of the ideal candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities is available in the class specification for this position.

• By date of hire:
  • High school diploma or GED and minimal experience in general clerical work including basic computer knowledge, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • At least 18 years of age.
• This position is classified as essential and requires availability to work 12-hour shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather, based upon shift assignment and business needs. Communicators are assigned to day shift (6:45 AM - 6:45 PM) or night shift (6:45 PM - 6:45 AM), based upon availability and other factors at completion of training. Schedules are created on a 2-week basis and employees work Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday in that 2 week period. The schedule then repeats itself for the next 2 week period.
• Current possession of or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of hire date: VCIN Level B Operator Certification, DCJS Basic Communicator Certification, PowerPhone Total Response Certification, and CPR Certification. On-the-job training is provided for candidates without these certifications.
• Click here to view the physical requirements for this position.

Automatic Disqualifiers for Employment at the HRECC per State Regulations*:

• Felony conviction;
• Conviction of Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor, excluding those set forth in Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia;
• Two or more D.U.I. offenses;
• Crimes characterized as involving moral turpitude (i.e., lying, cheating, or stealing) or gross misconduct (i.e., crimes against a person and crimes involving drugs or other controlled substances); and
• Other relevant criteria to this position.

*Please note that the list above is not all-inclusive and is subject to the State Regulations, as amended. Candidates may review a copy of the Disqualifying Criteria online.
The following pre-employment screenings must be successfully completed with satisfactory results for this position:

• Industry-Specific Post-Offer Physical Exam;
• DMV Driving History Query;
• Drug Screen;
• Psychological Evaluation;
• Criminal Background Investigation, including VCIN Fingerprinting.

HRECC employees are subject to random drug/alcohol screenings.Application Deadline/Requirements:

1. All candidates must complete a City of Harrisonburg online employment application, including work experience and education history in the body of the application, in order to be considered for this recruitment process. This position may close at any time after 10 calendar days. (posted 12/19/2023)
2. There are two additional documents (the Personal History Statement and Authorization for Release of Personal Information) required for consideration that have been built into the online employment application via the supplemental questionnaire. You may view the instructions page here for the supplemental questionnaire. Once you submit your complete online employment application, you will have satisfied this requirement.

Due to the continuous nature of this recruitment process, applicants will receive status updates from the HRECC's Hiring Managers as they become available.

Employment Type: Full-Time