Central Communications Operator

sentara; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

401k/403B with Employer Match

Tuition Assistance - $5,250/year

Student Debt Pay Down - $10,000

Paid Time Off & Sick Leave

Paid Parental & Family Caregiver Leave

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Sentara Health is seeking a Central Communications Operator for on-site roles in Harrisonburg, VA and Virginia Beach, VA. The role supports 24/7 communications across Sentara hospitals and afterhours services, serving as the central hub for emergency and nonemergency communications.

Candidates should have a high school diploma and at least 2 years in a fast-paced communications or call center environment. Shifts include first, second, and third with rotating weekends and holiday requirements.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 2 years of experience in a high-volume, fast-paced communications, call center, or service operations environment.
• Knowledge of emergency codes and hospital incident command systems.
• Proficiency with multi-line phone systems, paging systems and emergency notification platforms.
• Experience with electronic health record systems and call management software.

Responsibilities

• Central Communications Operators play a critical role in ensuring seamless, timely communication across Sentara hospitals and afterhours services.
• Operate within a centralized, 24/7 environment to coordinate rapid response and escalation.
• Maintain calm under pressure and communicate with urgency and precision during high impact situations.

Skills

Multi-line phone systems

Paging systems

Emergency notification platforms

Call management software

EHR systems

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems

Call management software

Job description

City/State

Harrisonburg, VA

Work Shift

Multiple shifts available

Overview

Sentara Health is hiring a Central Communications Operators

Sign on Bonus

Sign on bonus of up to $5000 for eligible candidates

Position Status & Location

This position is on-site in Harrisonburg or Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Position Status: F ull-time First , second and third shift opportunities.

Position Location: Rockingham Atrium - Harrisonburg, VA / Sentara Independence - Virginia Beach, VA

Standard Working Hours

First Shift - 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM / 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM / 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM

Third Shift: 9:00 PM - 7:30 AM ; 11PM-7:30 AM / 9:30 PM - 6:00 AM

Rotating weekends required. Must work 3 holidays.

Job Responsibilities

Central Communications Operators play a critical role in ensuring seamless, timely communication across Sentara hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, and afterhours call services. Operating within a centralized, 24/7 environment, this role serves as the primary hub for emergency and nonemergency communications-supporting rapid response coordination, internal escalation, and exceptional customer service. Success in this role requires the ability to stay calm under pressure, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and communicate with urgency and precision during high impact situations.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent (Required)

Certification/Licensure

No specific certification or licensure required at time of hire

Experience

2 year s of experience in a high - volume, fast - paced communications, call center, or service operations environment, such as healthcare, emergency services, telecommunications, public safety, or centralized customer support (Required)

Ideal Candidate

• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately
• Knowledge of emergency codes and hospital incident command systems
• Proficiency with multi-line phone systems, paging systems and emergency notification platforms
• Experience with electronic health record systems and call management software
• Ability to troubleshoot communication equipment under pressure.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in documentation

Compensation

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, and benefits. The base pay range for full-time employment is $21.57 - $32.24 hourly.

Additional Compensation

Additional compensation may be available for this role, such as shift differentials, standby/on-call pay, overtime, shift premiums, extra-shift incentives, or bonus opportunities. Compensation within the range may vary based on qualifications, experience, location, market conditions, and business needs.

Benefits: Caring For Your Family and Your Career

• Medical, Dental, Vision plans
• Adoption, Fertility and Surrogacy Reimbursement up to $10,000
• Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
• Paid Parental & Family Caregiver Leave
• Emergency Backup Care
• Long-Term, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness plans
• Life Insurance
• 401k/403B with Employer Match
• Tuition Assistance - $5,250/year and discounted educational opportunities through Guild Education
• Student Debt Pay Down - $10,000
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Resources Plan
• Colleagues have the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus if established system and employee eligibility criteria is met.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Statement

Sentara Health is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on the diversity and inclusiveness of its close to an almost 30,000-member workforce. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a guiding principle of the organization to ensure its workforce reflects the communities it serves.

Mission & Tobacco-Free

In support of our mission "to improve health every day," this is a tobacco-free environment.

Remote Eligibility

For positions that are available as remote work, Sentara Health employs associates in the following states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.