Police Dispatcher

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston is seeking Police Dispatchers to join the enhanced Communications Center, supporting public safety, emergency management, and intel gathering. You will handle calls, monitor alarms, and coordinate resources 24/7 with a focus on calm, decisive, and courteous service.

Applicants should have a high school diploma or GED, a valid US driver’s license, and certifications (CJIS and APCO) within six months. A thorough background check and drug test are required.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• One or more years of relevant experience.
• Valid U.S. Driver’s License.
• CJIS and APCO certifications within six months of hire.
• Candidates must pass criminal background check, drug test, and psych exam.
• CPR (BLS/HCP) certification within first three months.

Responsibilities

• Receive emergency and non-emergency telephone calls.
• Determine nature, location, and priority of requests and dispatch resources.
• Enter, update, and retrieve information from computer systems.
• Disseminate mass emergency notification alerts when necessary.
• Monitor radio traffic, security and fire alarms, and video cameras.
• Provide referral services and victim resources.
• Research, collect, analyze, and disseminate public safety intelligence.
• Undergo initial training and maintain knowledge through continuing education.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Multi-tasking

Calm under pressure

Verbal communication

Written communication

Computer skills

Team oriented

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Driver's License (US)

CPR (BLS/HCP) certification

CJIS certification within six months

APCO certification within six months

Job description

About the Opportunity

Police Dispatchers are assigned to the enhanced Communications Center to perform duties related to public safety communications, intelligence gathering, and emergency management operations. The Communication Center is the central nervous system of the police department and is staffed by Dispatch personnel 24/7. Dispatchers play a critical role linking callers in emergency and non-emergency situations to the appropriate resource in a calm, decisive, and courteous manner. Dispatchers also monitor all radio traffic, access control systems, security cameras, and fire alarms.

Responsibilities

• Receive emergency and non-emergency telephone calls
• Determine the nature, location, and priority of requests and dispatch appropriate resources in accordance with established procedure
• Enter, update, and retrieve information from a variety of computer systems
• Disseminate mass emergency notification alerts when necessary
• Monitor radio traffic, security alarms, fire alarms, and video security cameras
• Provide referral services and victim resources
• Research, collect, analyze, document, and disseminate public safety intelligence
• Undergo initial training and maintain knowledge through continuing education
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• One or more years of relevant experience
• A valid U.S. Driver’s License
• CJIS certification within six months of hire
• APCO certification within six months of hire
• Candidates must pass a criminal background check
• Candidates will be subject to a drug test and psychological exam
• Must currently possess, or must achieve within first three months; CPR (BLS/HCP) certification

Required Skills

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and quickly synthesize information
• Ability to remain calm, stay focused, and utilize sound judgement in rapidly evolving, stressful emergency situations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong computer skills, typing skills, and ability to learn new software
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people
• Has a professional phone manner and a service mentality
• Is team and goal oriented
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position is an essential personnel position which requires working in a variety of situations including during holidays, weekends, day/evening/night shifts, overtime, and in a state of emergency. Requires frequent phone-interactions with people, dealing with regular interruptions, periods of concentrated attention, handling multiple concurrent tasks, frequent deadlines, and the criticality of task success. Required to wear department issued uniform while on duty. Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Former dispatch or law enforcement experience strongly preferred
• Call‑taking experience preferred
• Experience in a higher education setting preferred

Position Type

Safety and Security

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Base Pay Rate: $32.76 Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.