Public Safety Dispatcher

NU USA Northeastern University; Michigan; On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Vision benefits

Dental benefits

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Wellness & life programs

Retirement benefits

Commuting & transportation

Job summary

Northeastern University is seeking a Public Safety Dispatcher for the Oakland Campus. The dispatcher will answer calls, assess incidents, and dispatch officers, ensuring timely responses to emergencies and walk-in reports.

The role requires staying composed under pressure, strong communication, and proficiency with multiple computer systems. Responsibilities include monitoring alarms and cameras, disseminating alerts, and providing victim resources.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• 1+ years of relevant experience preferred.
• CPR certification within first three months or as required.
• APCO certification within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Receive emergency and non-emergency telephone calls.
• Determine nature, location, and priority of requests and dispatch resources accordingly.
• Enter, update, and retrieve information from various computer systems.
• Disseminate mass emergency notification alerts when necessary.
• Monitor radio traffic, alarms, and video security cameras.
• Provide referral services and victim resources.
• Research, collect, analyze, document, and share public safety intelligence.
• Monitor the 24/7 public safety walk-in center and dispatch officers as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Multitasking

Calm under pressure

Verbal communication

Written communication

Computer skills

Typing skills

Interpersonal skills

Professional phone manner

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

About the Opportunity: Reporting to the Dispatch Supervisor, the Public Safety Dispatcher is responsible for the day-to-day communications function of the Communications Center for the Oakland Campus. The dispatcher will be responsible for answering all calls for service as well as the dispatching of officers to these calls. The dispatcher may also be responsible for monitoring the public safety walk‑in center during non‑business hours or as needed.

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


• Monitor the 24/7 public safety walk‑in center and dispatch officers as needed for walk‑in reports


• Other duties as assigned

Mandatory Job Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent


• One or more years of relevant experience


• A valid U.S. Driver’s License


• Certification in a POST Public Safety Dispatcher course or the successful completion of a qualifying course within 6 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, communications, leadership, or other related area is preferred


• Former dispatch or law enforcement experience strongly preferred


• Call‑taking experience preferred


• Experience in a higher education setting preferred


• Certifications in any applicable training and courses related to the dispatch function & emergency communications

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.

• medical


• vision


• dental


• paid time off


• tuition assistance


• wellness & life


• retirement- as well as commuting & transportation

Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

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—including 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.