911 Call-Taker/Dispatcher - Entry Level

City of Eugene

Eugene (OR)

On-site

USD 86,736,451 - 122,193,120

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Bilingual pay

Benefits package

Job summary

City of Eugene seeks Communications Specialist 1 at the Central Lane 911 Communications Center in Eugene, Oregon. The role starts with intensive training to become cross-trained as a Communications Specialist 2, handling emergency and non‑emergency calls and gradually progressing through dispatch training.

The position operates 24/7 shifts, including nights and weekends, with bilingual pay opportunities and a robust benefits package.

Qualifications

One year of work experience in a fast-paced environment (customer service/public safety focus).
High School diploma or GED required.
CPR, EMD, and Basic Telecommunicator Certificate (DPSST) within required timelines or ability to obtain within specified period.

Responsibilities

Answers 911 and non-emergency calls for police, fire, and EMS.
Operates computer terminal equipment and radio/telephone gear.
Decides call type, response, and agency to dispatch.
Assists with dispatch and monitors public safety activities.
Familiarizes with local geography and major roads for efficient routing.

Skills

Fast-paced environment experience

Education

High School diploma or GED

CPR/EMD/Telecommunicator certs

Job description

Experience

General Statement of Duties

Central Lane 911 is recruiting 911 Call‑Taker/Dispatcher! 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.

When hired as a Communications Specialist 1, new hires are required to complete an intensive training to become fully cross‑trained and proficient in call‑taking and dispatch positions at which they will become a Communications Specialist 2.

To learn more about this position, review our links below and come to our Career Night to engage with the 911 staff!

Career Night will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 - The presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. in classroom 5 at the Eugene Springfield Fire Regional Training Center (1705 W Second Ave. Eugene, OR 97402)
911 Call Taker/Dispatcher Position Information and Selection Process
911 Team Video

Application Deadline: Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5 p.m. P.T.

Salary

Communications Specialist 1 $30.27 - $33.39 Hourly

Call takers and trainees who serve as the front line, doing general intake of emergency and non‑emergency calls.

Communications Specialist 2 $33.39 - $42.64 Hourly

Proficient in handling the full scope of call functions (fire, police, and other emergency medical incidents). Incumbents in the Communications Specialist 1 classification are required to progress on to dispatch training and usually advance to the second level within eighteen months.

Communication Specialists may earn up to an additional 20% premium pay (depending on qualifications) after three years of employment.

Salary Range

All Entry‑Level Communications Specialist 1 will start at Step 1. Applicants with a minimum of 3 years, of full‑time experience as an emergency communications call taker/dispatcher within an emergency communications center that answers 911 calls and/or dispatches police and/or fire agencies, that do not meet the definition of Lateral 911 Call Taker Dispatcher/Communications Specialist 2 will be placed in accordance with the table below.

Salary Step Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Communications Specialist 1

Hourly Rate

$30.27

$31.80

$33.39

Entry Level

(Communications Specialist 1)

All Entry Level----Entry Level with Communications experience (does not meet lateral definition)----3+ yearsUnion R epresentation : Eugene Police Employees’ Association (EPEA)

Work Location: Central Lane 911 Communications Center, 1735 W 2nd Ave. Eugene, OR 97402, USA

Schedule: To accommodate the emergency services needs for such a large population, Central Lane 911 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That means working nights, weekends, and holidays. The workweek consists of four 10-hour shifts with three days off. The shifts look like this:

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: The City of Eugene offers robust and competitive benefits. For more info, click the Benefits Tab, or visit this summary page as well as this benefits package page.

Bilingual Pay Benefit: This position qualifies for up to an additional 5% of base salary for bilingual pay. Please see “Supplemental Information” at the end of the posting for more information.

Living & Working in Eugene: For more information on living in Eugene, how the City of Eugene operates, and more, visit this page.

Examples of Duties Performed - Duties may include but are not limited to the following

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.

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. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

When screening your application, the City will consider an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to meet minimum qualifications for this position.

Experience

Minimum Requirements

One year work experience in a fast‑paced environment, which includes data entry experience.

Education

High School diploma or GED.

License or Certificate

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) within 18 months of appointment.

Background

Must pass a police background investigation.

No felony convictions. No Class A Misdemeanor convictions within 24 months of application. Please view this list of documents that will be requested as part of the background investigation.

Physical And Psych

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

DRUG SCREEN, HEARING TEST and VISUAL ACUITY TEST - as required by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). To view the standards set by DPSST for certification, please visit DPSST's website and view Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008- 0011.

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. To qualify for bilingual pay, the employee must have demonstrated fluency in the required language and successfully pass an fluency examination administered by the City's Employee Resource Center division.

Eligibility List

Following interviews, this posting may be used to establish an eligibility list of applicants for up to one year for future vacancies. Candidates that are placed on the eligibility list will be notified via email which will include the duration of the list and how notification of call up will occur.

What To Expect From Our Selection Process

Applicants are screened based upon their relevant knowledge, abilities, skills, experience, and training. The selection process varies according to the position and can include such things as screening of supplemental questionnaires, written or skill tests, ability or fitness tests, interviews, and assessment processes. In addition, background investigations and records checks may be required. Some positions also require applicants to have a psychological evaluation and/or physical examination and a drug test prior to employment.

Please feel free to print the following steps and reference it throughout the recruitment process as this information will help you best understand each step of evaluation.

Hiring Process Timeline

APPLICATION - Submit a completed application by Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5 p.m. PT.
CRITICALL TEST - Applicants who meet the stated minimum qualifications and requirements will be invited to complete an online Criticall test between August 24-September 10, 2026. Candidates will be offered a practice test; more information about the test can be found on Criticall's website.
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* You will be required to submit information related to your personal and professional history including references. You will work with an investigator to complete a full review of your working and personal history. Many of the required documents such as birth certificate and transcripts will need to be requested from other organizations and agencies. A full list of documents will be provided to candidates who reach this stage in the process. Please prepare in advance but DO NOT SUBMIT ANY MATERIAL PRIOR TO BEING INVITED TO THE BACKGROUND PHASE. Materials received before being requested will not be considered and may be destroyed.
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. The exact date of testing and the interview is TBD but is anticipated to take place between November 19-December 9, 2026*.
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.
Dates are tentative and subject to change

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.

Attendance and schedule flexibility are mandatory for preliminary training.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The City of Eugene is committed to a respectful work environment, and we value the cultural, educational, and life experiences of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally responsive services to all members of our community. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion we desire to welcome, respect, and create a sense of belonging for a wide range of identities and experiences in our workforce. Women, people with disabilities, and persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

The City of Eugene complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Any applicant with a qualified disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request accommodation by contacting an employment coordinator at (541) 682-5061.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the City of Eugene will request all eligible candidates who accept employment with the City to provide documentation to prove they are eligible for employment in the United States.

If a job posting indicates this position is temporary (not limited duration) then the employee serves at will. Temporary employees do not receive benefits through the City of Eugene unless required by City, State or Federal code/statute.

Representation

Employees in this classification are represented by the Eugene Police Employees' Association (EPEA), and their salaries may be subject to a monthly payroll deduction after 31 days of employment.

Salary And Benefits

The normal starting salary is the first step shown on the posting. Other placement in the salary range may be considered depending on qualifications and experience. Periodic advancement through the salary range is dependent upon merit. The City provides a full range of benefits, including holidays, vacation, sick leave, retirement benefit, and life insurance. Health, dental, and vision benefits are available.

To view a summary of benefits, benefit premium rates, and/or the EPEA contract click the respective link. Click here to view information on all Employee Benefits and Wellbeing programs.

Provide detailed answers to each question. Please do not reference your resume or application in your responses.

Please use your own words to reflect your understanding when replying to the questions.

Communication about our hiring process is primarily done through email and it is recommended to check your email OR governmentjobs.com account regularly after submitting your application.

I understand
Yes
No

We are a continuous, 24-hour a day, 365 days-a-year operation. As an employee of the 911 Center, you must be available to work all shifts including weekends and holidays. Are you available to work any shift that you may be assigned including day, swing shift or graveyard?

Do you have a high school diploma or GED as of the closing date of this posting?

The minimum qualifications for this position require that you have: The equivalent of a least one full-time year (2080 hours) of work experience in a work environment that was primarily customer service, public contact, or public safety communications focused. Do you have this experience?

Please explain why you want to work for the Eugene Police Department as a 911 Call-Taker and Dispatcher.

Please describe what work/volunteer experience you have providing customer service. What three skills do you use when providing customer service?

Are you conversant in any language other than English? If yes, please state the language and your level of fluency in speaking, reading and writing. If no, please write N/A.

The job duties for this position require a background check. As an adult, have you ever been convicted for an offense other than a minor traffic violation?

If you answered "yes" to the previous question, list the date, location, and nature of the incident for each offense. If you answered "no", write N/A. NOTE: A previous conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for employment with the City of Eugene. Depending on a variety of factors, a candidate with a conviction may still be eligible for employment with the City of Eugene. All criminal history will be explored and verified at the appropriate phase of recruitment.