COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 1 / 2 / 3

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 1 / 2 / 3

Salary

$2,784.00 - $5,009.00 Monthly

Location

Lake Charles, LA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

MSU101526C99187

Department

McNeese State University

Division

Business Affairs

Opening Date

10/16/2026

Closing Date

10/30/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About this Job

At McNeese State University, our mission is to deliver a life-changing higher education experience by fostering a dynamic teaching and learning community committed to excellence with a personal touch.

McNeese offers excellent benefits to include retirement with LASERS, comprehensive insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, accrual of sick and vacation leave, 14 paid holidays per year, tuition reduction program for employees and qualified dependents, and many other supplemental benefit programs.

McNeese University Police Department is accepting applications for a Communications Officer 1, 2, or 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant. This position supports the University Police as a dispatcher who receives and transmits information according to requests using telecommunication equipment to ensure timely responses.

An Ideal candidate should possess the following core competencies:

• Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
• Demonstrating Accountability: The ability to take ownership of actions, behaviors, performance, decisions, and outcomes.
• Focusing on Customers: The ability to understand and meet the needs, preferences, and experiences of internal and external customers.

Minimum Qualifications

Six months of experience in transmitting and receiving messages by radio or in administrative services; OR

Six months of training in a business or clerical-related curriculum in a business school or technical institute; OR

Fifteen semester hours of college training.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

All persons appointed to this job will be required by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Louisiana State Police Terminal Operator Certification Program Guidelines to meet the terminal operator certification/re-certification requirement within six months of employment.

An applicant who has been convicted of a felony or who is under indictment on a felony charge will be disqualified until relief from the disabilities imposed by state and federal laws is granted.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties:

The Communications Officer will:

• Receive and respond to informational requests from officers and other emergency personnel.
• Receive, analyze, prioritize, and respond to general public complaints and inquiries. Alert the nearest officer, dispatch to location, and relay the information.
• Search, enter, modify, and delete computerized records for vehicle registrations, driver licenses, other licenses, wanted felons, missing persons, unidentified persons or bodies, stolen property, etc. in the appropriate computer database.
• Maintain proper record keeping, monthly productivity and activity reports, and updates desk log during communications.

Position-Specific Details:

Location and Work Schedule: This position is for a Communications Officer with University Police.

This position reports to the Police Lieutenant and will serve as a dispatcher. This position requires a commitment to a 12-hour rotating shift schedule to provide 24/7 operational coverage. The schedule will alternate between day and night shifts, and employees will be required to work weekends and holidays as part of the normal rotation. We offer a structured rotation that provides regular breaks and consecutive days off to help balance the demands of the schedule. This position may be subject to overtime and is considered non-exempt under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Appointment Type: This vacancy is being announced as a classified position and is open to all qualified applicants and may be filled as a probationary or promotional appointment.

Career Progression: This vacancy may be filled from this recruitment as a Communications Officer 1, 2, or 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant.

Compensation:

• Entry Pay Rate/Level: $16.06/hourly / WS209 (CO1)
• Job Code: 171290
• SCS Position #: 50496926
• MSU Position #: C99187

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

The candidate for hire must undergo a comprehensive background check and is subject to drug screening at hire and on a random basis. This position may require a valid drivers license and a clear driving record if required to drive for university business.

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Contact Information:

Kim Dronett, HR Analyst/Employment Liaison

Office of Human Resources

kdronett@mcneese.edu or (337) 475-5413

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veterans Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement - State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others

01

CE - 26: Communicating Effectively - How well do you share information and ideas in ways that others can understand, relate to, and act on?

• I communicate unclearly, use poor tone, and ignore the audience.
• I share main ideas clearly and adapt to the audience when reminded.
• I communicate clearly, listen actively, and explain complex ideas well.
• I craft messages that connect, inspire, and drive action across audiences.

02

CE - 26: Communicating Effectively - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

03

DA - 26: Demonstrating Accountability - How well do you take responsibility for your actions, results, and performance?

• I avoid responsibility, deliver poor work, and resist feedback.
• I take ownership when prompted and meet basic expectations.
• I own results, meet standards, and respond to feedback professionally.
• I drive high performance, prevent issues, and model accountability.

04

DA - 26: Demonstrating Accountability - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

05

FC - 26: Focusing on Customers - How well do you understand and meet the needs of internal or external customers?

• I struggle to understand customer needs, provide clear information, or resolve issues.
• I respond to customer needs with some support and build basic working relationships.
• I understand customer needs, communicate clearly, and deliver timely, reliable service.
• I anticipate customer needs, build trust, and deliver personalized, proactive service.

06

FC - 26: Focusing on Customers - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

07

Have you ever been on probation or sentenced to jail/prison as a result of a felony conviction or guilty plea to a felony charge?

• Yes
• No

08

If "YES", give the law enforcement authority (city, police, sheriff, FBI, etc.) the offense, place, and disposition of case.

Required Question

Employer State of Louisiana

Address 1201 N 3rd St

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70802

Phone (866) 783-5462

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/louisiana/default.cfm