Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator; Dispatcher

What-Comm 911 Telecommunicator Positions

Are you a confident, enthusiastic, motivated individual who wants to make a difference in your community? Do you want to perform meaningful work in a positive and supportive team environment? If you've worked with the public or have call center experience, this is a great opportunity for you to expand your career. Apply now for one of our What-Comm 911 Telecommunicator positions.

Qualified candidates are safety oriented, skilled at decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution. What-Comm 911 Telecommunicators will be required to have the ability to work independently to support and assist both the department and the public.

Applicants interested in this position must complete testing through Public Safety Testing. Please visit the Public Safety Testing website for information regarding the testing process. Applicants that pass the written exam and typing test with Public Safety Testing and scores are made available to our agency between 5/1/26 - 7/31/26, will receive an invitation to apply.

Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility, and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work, and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect, and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation Information: $31.55/hr
- What-Comm Telecommunicator-in-Training/ What-Comm Telecommunicator I; $33.13/hr - $39.55/hr
- What-Comm Telecommunicator II (fully trained). Upon promotion from What-Comm Telecommunicator I to What-Comm Telecommunicator II the salary starts at $33.13/hr employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the What-Comm (Police Dispatchers) Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. In addition to the hourly rate of pay, What-Comm Telecommunicators are eligible for the following compensation:

• 8 hours of Holiday Pay at the rate of 1.5 times the regular rate of pay for 12 designated holidays
• 2.5 times the regular rate of pay for overtime hours worked on designated holidays
• Shift Differential for hours worked between 2:00 pm and 6:00 am
• 1% certification premium for obtaining and maintaining Telecommunicator Certifications
• Up to 1.5% matching deferred compensation contribution
• Eligibility for 3% Master Dispatcher premium after seven years of service
• Protected bid leave time

** The 2023 average annual compensation for the Telecommunicator work group was $105,619. This figure is provided for illustrative purposes and is an average including overtime, premium and specialty pays. This does not constitute any guarantee of compensation.**

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 7.34 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid designated holidays + 3 floating holidays per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Other unique benefits for working with What-Comm are:

• non-traditional work hours
• supportive and fun team members
• annual continuing education opportunities
• room for advancement, and more!

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service register that will be used to fill anticipated vacancies. This position is represented by a union.

JOB SUMMARY:

A Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) receives and processes voice, text and multimedia requests for police, behavioral health, fire, and medical emergency response. The incumbent in this position determines the nature, urgency, and jurisdiction of a report and either dispatches public safety personnel and equipment to respond or transfers the call to the appropriate jurisdiction. The PST enters information from the reporting party and responding units into a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software program and continually updates the status of those responding to the incident via radio, CAD, and phone communication.

The PST provides guidance and assistance to the public in life-safety situations; and coordinates appropriate responses to high-risk,…