Central Communications Operator

Sentara Health Plans; Virginia Beach, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Paid time off

401k/403B with Employer Match

Tuition Assistance

Discretionary bonus potential

Job summary

Sentara Health Plans is seeking a Central Communications Operator for a 24/7 hub supporting Sentara hospitals and after-hours call services. The role requires calm, precise communication and quick adaptation to shifting priorities across shifts.

The ideal candidate has a high school diploma and at least 2 years in a fast-paced communications or healthcare environment, with rotating shifts including holidays.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 2+ years in a high-volume, fast-paced communications or call center environment (healthcare, emergency services, or centralized support) required.
• Knowledge of emergency codes and hospital incident command systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the central hub for emergency and nonemergency communications across Sentara hospitals and afterhours services.
• Coordinate rapid response and internal escalation with urgency and precision.
• Maintain calm and effective communication during high-impact incidents; document interactions accurately.

Skills

Calm under pressure

Clear communication

Fast-paced environments

Attention to detail

Documentation accuracy

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Multi-line phone systems

Paging systems

Emergency notification platforms

Electronic health record systems

Call management software

Job description

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 Virginia Beach, Virginia or Harrisonburg.

Position Status & Working Hours

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

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

Role Description

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)

Ideal Candidate

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.

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 Independence

Sentara Independence provides quality outpatient services to the surrounding community. The facility includes an ambulance-accessible emergency room that is supported by board-certified physicians. Sentara Independence houses state-of-the-art medical equipment and highly-skilled physicians and staff. Sentara Independence is now an extension of the quality services at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital including advanced imaging and physical therapy.

Sentara Health

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 everyday, 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!