Emergency Communications Officer Jobs
Emergency Communications Officer jobs are open across public safety agencies, municipal governments, and emergency management organizations, at every level from entry-level dispatcher to senior communications coordinator, with specializations in 911 dispatch, emergency notification systems, and public information. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 12+ Emergency Communications Officer jobs
Position Description
This is a Non-Civil Service Full-Time announcement for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
The OEM Communications Officer (Dispatcher) is responsible for receiving emergency and non- emergency calls, gathering information, dispatching, monitoring, and making proper notification in a 24-hour dispatch center and reporting incidents to appropriate authorities and/or agencies. This position will perform a variety of clerical, administrative, and customer service-oriented duties. Duties that may require use of limited independent judgment and skill in processing, communicating, creating and/or maintaining various records, files, and information. Candidate selected must display a courteous and professional demeanor with clear communication relayed to the staff, general public, and agency contacts at all times.
Salary: $53,306 yearly: May also include Overtime, Holiday Pay, and Shift Differential, as approved or scheduled by management.
***This position will require employees work overnight, afternoon and varying shifts, as well as holidays, weekends and is subject to call back due as needed to cover shortages or during emergencies.
***Applicants considered for this position will undergo a background check and drug screen.
If you have any questions about this position, please contact OEM Rodonna Robinson @ (615) 880-2229
Typical Duties
- Monitors developing situations they may need increased response to the scene of an emergency and makes proper notification of emergency and non-emergency situations to appropriate authorities.
- Provides 24-hour support for entire staff, multiple agencies, and to the OEM operations area, to include answering phones, taking messages, dispatching incidents via radio and documenting all notifications in the Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD).
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with county, local, state and federal agencies, as well as emergency response partners that may be needed for emergency or non-emergency responses.
- Ensures standard operating procedures are followed to ensure emergency after hour agencies and staff are contacted on numerous emergency incidents.
- Reports 24-hour maintenance concerns and monitors automatic activations of the Early Outdoor Warning System (Tornado Sirens) for Davidson County when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Metro.
- May compile and process reports, documents, and forms.
- Maintains and updates all Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) incidents sent via computer from the Department of Emergency Communications (DEC), notifications from staff, other metro agencies or via public.
- Answers, transfers, and maintains a multi-line telephone system.
- Monitors multiple radio frequencies and channels for multiple agencies on the 800 MHz radio system and will have to prioritize and answer 24 hours, relay and/ or obtain important information from on scene and document information.
- Assembles and prepares essential data needed to coordinate field responses with OEM field personnel and Emergency Support Unit members for assessments and special operations.
- Monitors multiple weather radar systems, XM Satellite radar, NOAA.Gov radar and hazardous weather outlooks, and the Weather Channel at all times.
- Monitors local and world news for homeland security issues and Natural Disasters.
- Sends out emergency notifications utilizing the Metro Emergency Alert Notification System (MEANS) for public emergency alerts, and daily in the Everbridge paging notification system for multiple response groups including our Emergency Service Coordinators groups, Weather Alert Groups, Aircraft Alerts Groups, Hospital Groups, etc.
- Responds in a timely manner (24 hr. on call) to the Metro Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or the 24-hour OEM dispatch center upon activation or as requested by the supervisor during emergency situations.
- Acts in the role for the local 24-hour watch point for Davidson County for all city emergency notifications and reports them to appropriate agencies, staff, and city officials.
- Assigned other customer service, clerical, or dispatch duties as assigned by supervisor.
- Will be required to work as scheduled or as assigned on holidays, weekends, overnight, afternoons, varying shifts, and subject to recall for overtime during emergency and non-emergency incidents, including but not limited to major emergencies, disasters, training exercises and special events.
- May be assigned to act in dispatch functions on emergency scenes during disasters, for activation in Emergency Operations Center, and/ or on the Mobile Command Unit in the field for incidents.
Minimum Qualifications
High School and two (2) years experience working in a customer service-related field or call center.
LICENSE REQUIRED:
Valid Driver License
Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.
Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.
Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Experience or knowledge of the 800 MHz Radio system
- Experience working in a customer service-related field or call center
- Experience with multi-line telephone system
- Experience with computer software programs, including Microsoft Office
- Experience or interest in weather and radar knowledge
- Knowledge of the city layout; i.e main throughways in the city, locals of the larger buildings, local landmarks, the areas of the city, etc.
- Ability to use independent judgment and discretion to analyze and resolve problems
- Ability to compile and maintain records of incidents
- Ability to make difficult decisions in a stressful environment
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
Fill in complete work history, do not attach resume in lieu of requested information.
Full-time, Civil Service positions -
10 Vacation Days per year (increasing after 5 years of service)
1 Sick Day per month
12 Paid Holidays per year
Public Safety - Sworn and Civilian positions -
20 vacation days per year
3 Personal days per year
1 Sick Day per month
12 paid holidays per year
Part-time, Non Civil Service positions - Visit HR and Benefits webpages for more information.
Full-time, Non Civil Service positions - contact hiring department for benefits information
Seasonal/Temporary positions - no benefits offered.
Position Description
This is a Non-Civil Service Full-Time announcement for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
The OEM Communications Officer (Dispatcher) is responsible for receiving emergency and non- emergency calls, gathering information, dispatching, monitoring, and making proper notification in a 24-hour dispatch center and reporting incidents to appropriate authorities and/or agencies. This position will perform a variety of clerical, administrative, and customer service-oriented duties. Duties that may require use of limited independent judgment and skill in processing, communicating, creating and/or maintaining various records, files, and information. Candidate selected must display a courteous and professional demeanor with clear communication relayed to the staff, general public, and agency contacts at all times.
Salary: $53,306 yearly: May also include Overtime, Holiday Pay, and Shift Differential, as approved or scheduled by management.
***This position will require employees work overnight, afternoon and varying shifts, as well as holidays, weekends and is subject to call back due as needed to cover shortages or during emergencies.
***Applicants considered for this position will undergo a background check and drug screen.
If you have any questions about this position, please contact OEM Rodonna Robinson @ (615) 880-2229
Typical Duties
- Monitors developing situations they may need increased response to the scene of an emergency and makes proper notification of emergency and non-emergency situations to appropriate authorities.
- Provides 24-hour support for entire staff, multiple agencies, and to the OEM operations area, to include answering phones, taking messages, dispatching incidents via radio and documenting all notifications in the Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD).
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with county, local, state and federal agencies, as well as emergency response partners that may be needed for emergency or non-emergency responses.
- Ensures standard operating procedures are followed to ensure emergency after hour agencies and staff are contacted on numerous emergency incidents.
- Reports 24-hour maintenance concerns and monitors automatic activations of the Early Outdoor Warning System (Tornado Sirens) for Davidson County when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Metro.
- May compile and process reports, documents, and forms.
- Maintains and updates all Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) incidents sent via computer from the Department of Emergency Communications (DEC), notifications from staff, other metro agencies or via public.
- Answers, transfers, and maintains a multi-line telephone system.
- Monitors multiple radio frequencies and channels for multiple agencies on the 800 MHz radio system and will have to prioritize and answer 24 hours, relay and/ or obtain important information from on scene and document information.
- Assembles and prepares essential data needed to coordinate field responses with OEM field personnel and Emergency Support Unit members for assessments and special operations.
- Monitors multiple weather radar systems, XM Satellite radar, NOAA.Gov radar and hazardous weather outlooks, and the Weather Channel at all times.
- Monitors local and world news for homeland security issues and Natural Disasters.
- Sends out emergency notifications utilizing the Metro Emergency Alert Notification System (MEANS) for public emergency alerts, and daily in the Everbridge paging notification system for multiple response groups including our Emergency Service Coordinators groups, Weather Alert Groups, Aircraft Alerts Groups, Hospital Groups, etc.
- Responds in a timely manner (24 hr. on call) to the Metro Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or the 24-hour OEM dispatch center upon activation or as requested by the supervisor during emergency situations.
- Acts in the role for the local 24-hour watch point for Davidson County for all city emergency notifications and reports them to appropriate agencies, staff, and city officials.
- Assigned other customer service, clerical, or dispatch duties as assigned by supervisor.
- Will be required to work as scheduled or as assigned on holidays, weekends, overnight, afternoons, varying shifts, and subject to recall for overtime during emergency and non-emergency incidents, including but not limited to major emergencies, disasters, training exercises and special events.
- May be assigned to act in dispatch functions on emergency scenes during disasters, for activation in Emergency Operations Center, and/ or on the Mobile Command Unit in the field for incidents.
Minimum Qualifications
High School and two (2) years experience working in a customer service-related field or call center.
LICENSE REQUIRED:
Valid Driver License
Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.
Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.
Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Experience or knowledge of the 800 MHz Radio system
- Experience working in a customer service-related field or call center
- Experience with multi-line telephone system
- Experience with computer software programs, including Microsoft Office
- Experience or interest in weather and radar knowledge
- Knowledge of the city layout; i.e main throughways in the city, locals of the larger buildings, local landmarks, the areas of the city, etc.
- Ability to use independent judgment and discretion to analyze and resolve problems
- Ability to compile and maintain records of incidents
- Ability to make difficult decisions in a stressful environment
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
Fill in complete work history, do not attach resume in lieu of requested information.
Full-time, Civil Service positions -
10 Vacation Days per year (increasing after 5 years of service)
1 Sick Day per month
12 Paid Holidays per year
Public Safety - Sworn and Civilian positions -
20 vacation days per year
3 Personal days per year
1 Sick Day per month
12 paid holidays per year
Part-time, Non Civil Service positions - Visit HR and Benefits webpages for more information.
Full-time, Non Civil Service positions - contact hiring department for benefits information
Seasonal/Temporary positions - no benefits offered.
Emergency Communications Officer Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsEmergency Communications Officer Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in emergency communications officer jobs.
- High school diploma or equivalent with preference for some college coursework
- APCO or NENA Emergency Communications Officer certification
- Experience operating computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems
- Ability to type a minimum of 35-40 words per minute accurately under pressure
- Completion of a state-approved public safety dispatcher training program
- Demonstrated ability to multitask across voice, data, and radio channels simultaneously
Tips for Your Emergency Communications Officer Job Search
Tailor your resume to dispatch certifications
Highlight your APCO or NENA certifications prominently on your resume, not buried in a credentials section. Hiring managers in public safety scan for these first, and candidates who lead with verified certifications move faster through initial screening.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists emergency communications officer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Document your CAD system experience specifically
Name the exact computer-aided dispatch systems you have used, such as Motorola PremierOne or Zetron. Generic mentions of 'dispatch software' don't tell a hiring agency what you can operate on day one, and that specificity is what gets you to an interview.
Target agencies with active hiring cycles
Many local 911 centers and emergency management agencies post openings in cohorts tied to budget cycles, typically late fall and early spring. Searching within those windows increases the chance you're applying when a class is forming, not when a single vacancy is already filled.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Emergency communications officer interviews frequently include live simulation questions, such as how you would handle a multi-incident queue or a caller in crisis. Practice talking through your decision-making process out loud, not just what you would do but why and in what order.
Negotiate shift differentials, not just base pay
Emergency communications roles almost always involve rotating shifts, overnight work, and weekend coverage. When evaluating an offer, ask specifically about differential rates for nights and weekends, since that compensation can meaningfully change the total value of a position.
Emergency Communications Officer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most emergency communications officers?
The most active employers for emergency communications officers right now are Allied Universal, Latah County, and Town Of Cary, and the most openings are in Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. County-level emergency communications centers and regional 911 authorities tend to post the highest volume of openings consistently.
How do you become an emergency communications officer?
Start by earning a high school diploma and completing a state-approved dispatcher training program, which covers call-taking procedures, radio protocols, and emergency medical pre-arrival instructions. Obtain APCO or NENA certification, then apply to entry-level positions at a county 911 center or public safety answering point. Most agencies require passing a background check, a typing proficiency test, and a multi-tasking assessment before hiring.
Can you get hired as an emergency communications officer with no experience?
Yes, many 911 centers and municipal emergency communications offices hire entry-level candidates with no prior dispatch experience and train them through an internal academy. Strengthening your application without experience means completing an APCO Emergency Communications Officer course before applying, demonstrating high typing accuracy, and being available for rotating shifts including nights and weekends, which are common deterrents for other applicants.
What does the emergency communications officer interview process look like?
Most agencies use a multi-stage process that begins with an application screening and typing or multitasking test. Candidates who pass move to an oral panel interview, often conducted by a dispatch supervisor and an HR representative, where scenario-based questions about call prioritization and stressed decision-making are standard. Conditional offers are typically followed by a thorough background investigation, a polygraph at some agencies, and a psychological evaluation before a final offer is made.
Where can I find and apply to emergency communications officer jobs?
You can find and apply to emergency communications officer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from public safety agencies, emergency management organizations, and municipal governments across the United States. Find roles that match your experience and location, then apply directly to each listing from the job page.
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