Call-Taker​/Dispatcher - Entry Level

Position: 911 Call-Taker/Dispatcher - Entry Level
Central Lane 911 is recruiting 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, June 18, 2026 - The presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. in classroom 1 at the Eugene Springfield Fire Regional Training Center (1705 W Second Ave. Eugene, OR 97402)

* 911 Call Taker/Dispatcher Position Information and Selection Process

* 911 Team Video

Final date to receive applications:
Monday, June 22, 2026 at 5 p.m. P.T.

Accepting Online Applications Only

Information on

How to Apply

Salary:

Communications Specialist 1 $ 30.27 - $33.39 Hourly
* Call takers and trainees who serve as the front line, doing general intake of emergency and non-emergency calls.

Communications Specialist 2 $ 33.39 - $42.64 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.

* Please note, these hourly rates of pay reflect the cost-of-living increase that is scheduled for July 1, 2026.

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.

Salary Step Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Communications Specialist 1

Hourly Rate

$30.27

$31.80

$33.39

Entry Level

(Communications Specialist
1)

All Entry Level----Entry Level with Communications experience (does not meet lateral definition)----3+ years

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.

* 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.

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…