Communications Dispatcher

Company Description

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is a full‑service police agency dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment that supports Harvard’s mission of teaching, research, and learning. Serving a diverse community of more than 22,000 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and over 700 buildings across an open and accessible campus, HUPD provides professional policing grounded in partnership, respect, and constitutional values.

With a Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, and Dignitary Protection Unit, HUPD delivers comprehensive law‑enforcement and public‑safety services, responding to a wide variety of incidents, conducting investigations, supporting crime‑prevention initiatives, and assisting community members with services ranging from safety escorts to wellness checks.

Under general supervision, the Dispatcher will be assigned to the HUPD. The dispatcher will be responsible for communications between police units through various occurrences. Dispatchers will undergo extensive training on all aspects of HUPD’s Communications Center. The HUPD’s Communications Center is a 24/7 operation, and mandatory overtime may apply.

Shift hours: primarily 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM, with floater coverage on 7:00 AM–3:00 PM or 3:00 PM–11:00 PM shifts four days on, two days off rotation.

• Receiving, transmitting, and disseminating information, both routine and emergency in nature, received from calls for service.
• Working alongside police units in the field, utilizing telecommunications equipment such as CAD, a Motorola Radio system, and various alarm monitoring systems.
• Receiving and responding to requests from police units for information needed to perform their duties.
• Querying law‑enforcement databases (e.g., vehicle registrations, Board of Probation records, and warrants) and performing related duties.
• Monitoring emails from the community to the department and disseminating that information immediately to the appropriate personnel.
• Monitoring and responding to emails from supervisors and other department personnel.
• Keeping up to date on local, domestic, and international news to better serve the community.
• Attending Roll Call (Zoom or in person) while on duty when applicable.

• Primary schedule is 11:00 PM–7:00 AM on a four‑days‑on, two‑days‑off rotation, with floating coverage on 7:00 AM–3:00 PM or 3:00 PM–11:00 PM shifts. Work is on‑site in a climate‑controlled environment, sometimes from a Mobile Command Center, and may require relocation to an alternate work location.
• The role requires the ability to sit or stand for long periods, move between workstations (including bending and stretching), and work in close proximity to others while wearing a uniform. Strong vision and hearing are needed to operate computers, phones, and radios.
• This is an essential personnel role with frequent phone interactions, requiring triage of calls, management of frequent interruptions, maintenance of intense concentration, and performance under stress and pressure.
• Availability to work holidays, weekends, all shifts, overtime (including mandatory overtime), in inclement weather, and during declared emergencies. Remote work is not available.

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of three (3) years full‑time, or equivalent part‑time, paid experience in a customer service position (triage of incoming calls and recording information for reporting).
• Experience with Microsoft Windows is required.

• APCO certification for Public‑Safety Communications Officials.

• Prior experience as a dispatcher for a public‑safety agency, ambulance company, taxicab service, or delivery service.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Typing speed of 40 words per minute.
• Application of police protocol, including sound judgment, calm demeanor under duress, multitasking, and extended sitting.
• Knowledge of the main streets and intersections of Cambridge and Boston.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on job details.
• Bilingual language skills are a plus.
• Must be willing to work…