911 Call-Taker / Dispatcher - Entry Level

911 Call-Taker / Dispatcher - Entry Level

Central Lane 911 is recruiting for 911 Call-Taker / Dispatchers! Do you have a passion for helping others, are you excited by a fast-paced working environment, and do you want to make a difference in the community? Our successful candidates will have the ability to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency and non-emergency situations, will have great attention to detail, and will provide unmatched customer service.

When hired as a Communications Specialist 1, new hires are required to complete an intensive training to become fully cross-trained and proficient in call-taking and dispatch positions at which they will become a Communications Specialist 2.

To learn more about this position, review our links below and come to our Career Night to engage with the 911 staff!

Career Night will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026 - The presentation will begin at 6 : 00 p.m. in classrooms 1 and 2 at the Eugene Springfield Fire Regional Training Center (1705 W Second Ave. Eugene, OR 97402)

Application Deadline : Monday, February 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. P.T.

Accepting Online Applications Only

Information on How to Apply

Salary :

Communications Specialist 1 $28.31 - $31.23 Hourly

Call takers and trainees who serve as the front line, doing general intake of emergency and non-emergency calls.

Communications Specialist 2 $31.23 - $39.88 Hourly

Proficient in handling the full scope of call functions (fire, police, and other emergency medical incidents). Incumbents in the Communications Specialist 1 classification are required to progress on to dispatch training and usually advance to the second level within eighteen months.

Communication Specialists may earn up to an additional 20% premium pay (depending on qualifications) after three years of employment.

Salary Range : All Entry-Level Communications Specialist 1 will start at Step 1. Applicants with a minimum of 3 years, of full-time experience as an emergency communications call taker / dispatcher within an emergency communications center that answers 911 calls and / or dispatches police and / or fire agencies, that do not meet the definition of Lateral 911 Call Taker Dispatcher / Communications Specialist 2 will be placed in accordance with the table below.

Union Representation : Eugene Police Employees' Association (EPEA)

Work Location : Central Lane 911 Communications Center, 1735 W 2nd Ave. Eugene, OR 97402, USA

Schedule : To accommodate the emergency services needs for such a large population, Central Lane 911 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That means working nights, weekends, and holidays. The workweek consists of four 10-hour shifts with three days off. The shifts look like this :

Early Days 7 : 00 a.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.

Late Days 11 : 45 a.m. - 9 : 45 p.m.

Early Nights 4 : 45 p.m. - 2 : 45 a.m.

Late Nights 9 : 30 p.m. - 7 : 30 a.m.

Benefits : The City of Eugene offers robust and competitive benefits. For more info, click the Benefits Tab, or visit this summary page as well as this benefits package page.

Bilingual Pay Benefit : This position qualifies for up to an additional 5% of base salary for bilingual pay. Please see "Supplemental Information" at the end of the posting for more information.

Living & Working in Eugene : For more information on living in Eugene, how the City of Eugene operates, and more, visit this page.

Examples of Duties Performed - Duties may include but are not limited to the following

Operates computer terminal equipment and radio / telephone transmitting and receiving equipment

Answers 911 and non-emergency telephone calls for police, fire, ambulance, and other requests.

Makes decisions as to type of call, correct response, and responsible agency to respond to incident.

Evaluates information to determine jurisdiction, equipment, and personnel to be dispatched.

Transmits appropriate information to dispatcher or responsible jurisdiction as required.

Studies, and maintains, familiarity with major streets, roads, public buildings, industrial plants, and the general geographic location of cities and landmarks in Lane County.

Dispatches and monitors appropriate emergency public safety activities.

Qualifications

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes with relevant transferrable skills from a variety of sources and experiences. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

When screening your application, the City will consider an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to meet minimum qualifications for this position.

Minimum Requirements

Experience : One year work experience in a fast-paced environment, which includes data entry experience.

Education : High School diploma or GED.

License or Certificate : Possession of, or ability to obtain, within three months of appointment the following :

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Certification.

EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) Certification.

Basic Telecommunicator Certificate (DPSST) within 18 months of appointment.

Background : Must pass a police background investigation. No felony convictions. No Class A Misdemeanor convictions within 24 months of application. Please view this list of documents that will be requested as part of the background investigation.

Physical and Psych : Must pass a psychological evaluation, physical assessment and drug test. DRUG SCREEN, HEARING TEST and VISUAL ACUITY TEST - as required by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). To view the standards set by DPSST for certification, please visit DPSST's website and view Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008- 0011.

Supplemental Information

Bilingual Pay Benefit : Per the EPEA Contract, the City shall pay an employee at 5% of base wages for a required intermediate or advanced level competency. To qualify for bilingual pay, the employee must have demonstrated fluency in the required language and successfully pass a fluency examination administered by the City's Employee Resource Center division.

Eligibility List

Following interviews, this posting may be used to establish an eligibility list of applicants for up to one year for future vacancies. Candidates that are placed on the eligibility list will be notified via email which will include the duration of the list and how notification of call up will occur.

What to Expect from our Selection Process

Applicants are screened based upon their relevant knowledge, abilities, skills, experience, and training. The selection process varies according to the position and can include such things as screening of supplemental questionnaires, written or skill tests, ability or fitness tests, interviews, and assessment processes. In addition, background investigations and records checks may be required. Some positions also require applicants to have a psychological evaluation and / or physical examination and a drug test prior to employment.

Hiring Process Timeline

APPLICATION - Submit a completed application by Monday, February 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. PT.

CRITICALL TEST - Applicants who meet the stated minimum qualifications and requirements will be invited to complete an online Criticall test between February 27 - March 12, 2026. Candidates will be offered a practice test; more information about the test can be found on Criticall's website.

ORAL INTERVIEWS - Qualified candidates will be interviewed the week of March 30, 2026.

COMPREHENSIVE POLICE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION - The background investigation phase may take up to 5 weeks and is tentatively planned for April 18 - May 20, 2026

• You will be required to submit information related to your