Communications Dispatcher

Communications Dispatcher

Salary

$32.03 - $42.32 Hourly

Location

15335 West Maple Road, Omaha, NE, NE

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

10264

Department

Communications

Division

OPERATIONS COMMUNICATIONS

Opening Date

07/18/2026

Closing Date

8/1/2026 4:30 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The Position

COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER TESTING - APPLICANTS WHO PASS THE APPLICATION REVIEW WILL RECEIVE A LINK VIA EMAIL TO TAKE THE ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER TEST.

Incumbents work under the direction of the on-duty supervisor or designee, supporting law enforcement and fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in strict adherence to established policies, procedures, protocols, and regulations.

Essential Functions

• Operate multiple automated systems (e.g. Computer-Aided Dispatch [CAD], multi-channel radio, emergency telephone, and local and other jurisdictional databases).
• Maintain information confidentiality and security.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Receive incoming emergency calls requesting law enforcement or fire/medical assistance, identifying the type, seriousness, and emergency location and determining incident priority.
• Dispatch law enforcement, fire and/or EMS based on emergency type, needed units, and location of the closest and most suitable available units.
• Retrieve information (e.g. wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles, restraining orders, criminal histories, gang affiliation, parole status) from jurisdictional databases; provide information to law enforcement officers.
• Prioritize first responders' safety.
• Provide assistance to coworkers.
• Transfer calls to external agencies and relay information.
• Issue "All Point Bulletins," stolen vehicle, and missing person's information.
• Direct callers in Emergency Medical Dispatch efforts, initiate pre-arrival emergency medical treatment, and provide extensive first-aid instructions to callers prior to emergency unit arrival.
• Provide updates to emergency personnel on caller's condition while in route.
• Coordinate field units, track status and location of fire/EMS apparatus, maintaining contact, ensuring orderly fire/EMS resource usage, and communicating between fire/EMS units and local hospitals.
• Respond to requests for assistance/information from fire/EMS units.
• Provide responding field personnel ongoing updates.
• Refer non-emergency calls to other agencies/companies.
• Use multi-channel radio system to open EMS facility doors or unlock station medical boxes.
• Activate community sirens in case of weather emergency.
• Alert supervisor when fire/EMS units fail to clear or respond.
• Perform duties of a 911 Operator.
• Maintain knowledge and skill set through continuing education (e.g. on-the-job, classroom, webinar, seminar, workshop training).
• Maintain knowledge of and adhere to department policies, procedures, protocols, work practices and government regulations.
• Answer outside agency calls for Douglas County Sheriff and answer non-emergency calls (e.g. MUD, sprinkler systems, road conditions) or refer to appropriate agency.
• Complete assigned projects.
• Testify at court hearings.
• Provide constructive process and procedure improvement suggestions.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when traveling on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.*
• Six (6) months of 911 Operator experience or experience which evidences familiarity with fire/EMS terminology preferred.
• Must be able to type/keyboard 35 net wpm.
• Valid driver's license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen, auditory exam, and psychological evaluation required.
• Continued employment is conditional upon the successful completion of the following training within the first year of employment:
• Certification as a Communications Operator, and
• Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) training course.

Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred.*Equivalent combination of work experience and education may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed in a mission critical call center operating 24/7/365; work hours vary (e.g. days, shifts, holidays, weekends, overtime/extra hours, emergency call-in) and assigned schedule is subject to change. Noise level is moderate to loud. Work is performed primarily in a confined space requiring the use of a headset. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, competing priorities, crisis situations, emotionally charged situations, and distraught individuals.
• Work requires some physical activity including extended periods of sitting, reaching, grasping and occasional bending, stooping, squatting, walking, pushing, and pulling. Work also requires the ability to lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include, vision, hearing, and speaking. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, and color vision with the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbents must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans

Douglas County offers a comprehensive benefit package including:

• Insurance including health, dental, vision, and life
• Pension
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Leave
• 13 Holidays
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Deferred Income plans (457 plan)
• EAP
• Health Savings Accounts

01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• Less than high school diploma/GED
• High school diploma/GED
• 1 year of college
• 2 years of college
• 3 or more years of college
• Bachelors Degree

02

How many years of experience do you have as a 911 Operator or experience which evidences familiarity with fire/EMS terminology?

• Less than six months
• Six months
• One year
• Two years
• Three years
• Four or more years

03

You must possess a valid drivers license and own transportation at the time of hire and throughout employment. Do you understand this condition of employment?

• Yes
• No

04

Continued employment is conditional upon the successful completion of the following training within the first year of employment: 1) Certification as a Communications Operator 2) Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) training course Do you understand these conditions of employment?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you bilingual in English/Spanish?

• Yes
• No

06

Applicants who pass the application review will receive a link via email to take the online 911 Operator Test. Do you have access to a working computer, headphones and a mouse?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you able to successfully perform the Essential Functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation?

• Yes
• No

08

Are you able to meet the Physical Requirements and Working Conditions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation?

• Yes
• No

09

If you answer yes to claiming Veterans Preference, you must attach to your application, before submission, a copy of your DD214 including page 4 identifying your character of service (and IF disabled, verification of disability from the VA), OR if you are a spouse of a 100% disabled veteran, you must attach a copy of your spouses DD214, showing character of service, a copy of the veterans disability verification from the Department of Veterans Affairs demonstrating a 100% permanent disability rating, and proof of marriage to the veteran; OR if you are a spouse of an active service member, you must attach a copy of your spouses active service orders and proof of marriage to the active service member. I understand this requirement that documents must be attached.

• Yes
• No
• I am not claiming Veterans Preference

10

Have you ever been convicted of a violation of any criminal statute whether felony or misdemeanor, or do you currently have a charge pending for any felony, misdemeanor, or other criminal offense excluding minor traffic violations? NOTE: Applicants are not obligated to disclose a sealed juvenile record of arrest, custody, complaint, disposition, diversion, adjudication, or sentence.

• Yes
• No

11

If you answered "yes", please list offense(s) and date(s) of occurrence(s). NOTE: A conviction record is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered in relation to the position applied for.

12

The 911 Communications Department operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Do you have the ability to conform to a work schedule which may include weekends, holidays, overnight, shifts, varied shifts, overtime, and emergency call-ins?

• Yes
• No

13

Are you available to work 7am-3pm?

• Yes
• No

14

Are you available to work 3pm-11pm?

• Yes
• No

15

Are you available to work 11pm-7am?

• Yes
• No

16

The pay range salary for this position is $32.03 to $42.32 per hour. Is this acceptable to you?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Douglas County (NE)

Address 1819 Farnam Street, Suite 505

Omaha, Nebraska, 68183

Phone 402-444-6188

Website http://hr.douglascounty-ne.gov/employment