Central Communications Operator

Sentara Health; United States; On-site; USD 30,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

Paid Time Off

Educational assistance

Job summary

Sentara Health is seeking Central Communications Operators for on-site roles in Harrisonburg, VA and Virginia Beach, VA. First, second, and third shift opportunities with a sign-on bonus up to $5,000 for eligible candidates.

The role requires a High School Diploma and 2 years of experience in high-volume communications environments. Base hourly pay ranges from $21.57 to $32.24, with potential bonuses and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Requires High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 2 years of experience in high-volume, fast-paced communications or call center environments.
• Ability to handle confidential information and work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the central hub for emergency and nonemergency communications across Sentara hospitals and after-hours services.
• Maintain calm, accurate communication in high-stress situations and coordinate rapid responses.
• Operate within a 24/7 centralized environment and support internal escalation and customer service.
• Document and track communications and events with attention to detail.

Skills

Calm under pressure

Communication skills

Multi-line phone systems

Emergency notification platforms

Electronic health record systems

Call management software

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Paging systems

Emergency notification platforms

Electronic health record 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 of up to $5000 for eligible candidates This position is on-site in Harrisonburg or Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Position Status

Full-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.

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 years 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)

The ideal candidate will possess the following (Preferred):

• 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

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 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.

Sentara offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; 401(k)/403(b) with employer match; paid time off (vacation, sick time, and holidays); paid parental and military leave; educational assistance or student loan repayment; and voluntary benefits.

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.

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.

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

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.

Sentara Health is a Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina based not-for-profit integrated healthcare provider that has been in business for over 131 years. Offering hundreds of sites of care including 12 hospitals, PACE, home health, hospice, medical groups, imaging services, therapy, outpatient surgery centers, and an 858,000 member health plan.

The people of the communities that we serve have nominated Sentara “Employer of Choice” for over ten years. U.S. News and World Report has recognized Sentara as having the Best Hospitals for 15+ years. Sentara offers professional development and a continued employment philosophy!