Emergency Communications Officer (911 Dispatcher)

Tfid; Twin Falls (ID); On-site; USD 47,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Medical & vacation leave

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life and disability insurance

Wellness programs

Recreation amenities access

Sign-on bonus $5,000

Job summary

The City of Twin Falls is looking for an Emergency Communications Officer to answer 911 and non-emergency calls and dispatch police, fire, EMS, and public works. You’ll work in a high‑pressure environment, maintaining calm decision-making and accurate CAD data entry.

Benefits include a $5,000 sign-on bonus, robust retirement plan, paid medical and vacation leave, and comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED or equivalent.
• Ability to obtain POST Basic Certification within 18 months of hire.
• Ability to obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch certification within six months of hire.
• Ability to obtain ILETS and NCIC certification.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen.

Responsibilities

• Answer emergency and non-emergency calls using multi-line telephone and 911 systems.
• Determine call priority, gather critical information, and enter data into a CAD system.
• Dispatch and coordinate police, fire, EMS, public works, and related services.
• Provide emergency medical dispatch and crisis intervention, including pre-arrival instructions.
• Ask clear questions to assess caller needs and unfolding situations.
• Monitor and operate radio consoles, computer systems, alarms, and other equipment.
• Retrieve, enter, and update information in local, state, and national databases.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records related to calls and incidents.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external agencies.
• Keep supervisors informed of progress and challenges.
• Respond to citizen questions in a courteous, professional manner.
• Testify in court when subpoenaed.

Skills

Emergency dispatch

Calm under pressure

Clear communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

CAD system

Radio consoles

Job description

Emergency Communications Officer (911 Dispatcher)

As the next Emergency Communications Officer for the City of Twin Falls, you will serve as a critical first point of contact for the community during emergency and non-emergency situations. You’ll answer 911 and non-emergency calls, quickly and accurately assess situations, and dispatch police, fire, emergency medical, and public works services to ensure timely and effective response.

In this high-impact role, you’ll work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment where calm decision-making, clear communication, and attention to detail are essential. You’ll support public safety operations around the clock while providing professional, compassionate service to callers during stressful and often life-threatening situations.

Description

As an Emergency Communications Officer, you will:

• Answer emergency and non-emergency calls using multi-line telephone and 911 systems
• Determine call priority, gather critical information, and accurately enter data into a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system
• Dispatch and coordinate police, fire, emergency medical, public works, and related services
• Provide emergency medical dispatch and crisis intervention services, including pre-arrival instructions when appropriate
• Ask clear, concise questions to assess caller needs and anticipate unfolding situations
• Monitor and operate radio consoles, computer systems, alarms, and other communications equipment
• Retrieve, enter, and update information in local, state, and national databases
• Maintain accurate and confidential records related to calls, incidents, and communications
• Communicate and coordinate with internal departments and external agencies to support effective emergency response
• Keep supervisors informed of work progress, operational challenges, and improvement opportunities
• Respond to citizen questions and concerns in a courteous, professional, and timely manner
• Testify in court when subpoenaed
• Perform related duties as required
• $22.63 - $27.13 per hour ($47,070 - $56,430 annually) starting pay, depending on experience
  • $24.19 - $29.03 per hour ($50,315 - $60,382 annually) upon successful completion of training
  • $25.90 - $31.09 per hour ($53,872 - $64,667) after the introductory period and required certifications are obtained
• Full-time, non-exempt position
• Robust retirement plan with strong employer contributions
• Paid medical and vacation leave, plus paid holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• City-paid life and disability insurance
• Wellness programs, additional savings, and retirement benefits
• Free or discounted access to City recreation amenities, including the pool, golf course, and library

Sign-On Bonus

The City of Twin Falls offers a $5,000 hiring bonus for Emergency Communications Officers. The bonus is paid in three installments:

• $1,250 paid at the end of the employee’s first pay period
• $1,250 paid upon successful completion of training and designation as an independent call taker
• $2,500 paid after one year of continuous employment

Employees must remain in good standing with the City through each payout period to receive the full hiring bonus.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities
• Ability to obtain POST Basic Certification within 18 months of hire
• Ability to obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch certification within six months of hire
• Ability to obtain ILETS and NCIC certification
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen

Automatic Disqualifiers

The following are automatic disqualifiers established by Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST):

• Marijuana use within the past year
• Controlled substance use within the past five years
• Felony convictions as an adult
• DUI within the past two years or more than one DUI within the past five years
• More than five traffic violations within the past three years

Schedule

Emergency Communications Officers work a rotating schedule with 12-hour shifts, alternating between day and night shifts every two months.

This position operates in a communications center setting and involves prolonged sitting, computer and radio use, and continuous interaction with the public by phone and radio. The work environment may be stressful and emotionally demanding due to the nature of emergency response and critical incident communications.

Who We Are

The City of Twin Falls is governed under the council-manager form of city government, combining the political leadership of seven elected City Council members with the managerial experience of a city manager.

As an organization, the City of Twin Falls takes great pride in providing quality service at a reasonable cost. The city is unique among public employers because of its political stability, strong financial condition, dedication to constant improvement in facilities and services, and progressive ways of problem-solving.

Mission

Our mission, as stewards of the public trust, is to meet the current and future needs of the community, promote citizen involvement, preserve our heritage, conserve and protect our social and physical resources and enhance the quality of life in Twin Falls.

Vision

In our pursuit of excellence, we work together to make valued contributions by providing outstanding customer service to enhance the quality of life for our neighbors and community.

One City

We believe in working together as a high-performing team. Our structure encourages everyone to be engaged, connected, and take on leadership roles in their departments. We strive to be the best place to work by sharing a

common culture and values. Our success is driven by our Leadership Philosophy, which encourages new ideas and motivates us to improve. Everyone is encouraged to come up with and commit to new ideas that help us all be better leaders and make positive changes in our organization.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding this position or the application process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or [phone].

This posting may close at any time, without prior notice, once the City determines it has received a sufficient number of qualified applications.