Public Safety Telecommunicator

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue is comprised of approximately 847 employees and 1,127 active operational and administrative volunteers. The Department is a growing organization that serves a large and diverse population located 30 miles northwest of Washington, DC. We provide a full range of emergency and non-emergency services to approximately 400,000 residents within a 520 square mile area. Additional information about the Department can be found doun.gov/fire.

We seek to hire a highly motivated, effective, and diverse workforce to meet the needs of the County’s residents, visitors, and business community, and support the Department’s core values of Teamwork, Integrity, Professionalism, and Service. Loudoun County offers a meaningful career, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package. Additional information can be found doun.gov/benefits.

Public Safety Telecommunicator, regular full-time, 42 hours per week in the Emergency Communications Center (ECC).

• Receiving calls from the public and promptly determining the urgency of the call.
• Processing calls efficiently and accurately while maintaining a professional, courteous and reassuring demeanor with callers.
• Maintaining essential knowledge of the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) system; entering data promptly and accurately.
• Maintaining status files, division procedures, operations and policies; completing daily logs.
• Performing other tasks as assigned to ensure an effective, efficient and professional ECC.

Qualification at the 121 PST II level requires:

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• At least two (2) years of work experience in a call center or providing customer service.
• Satisfactory completion of prescribed LCFR training programs (Call Taker and Dispatcher) and certifications (APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator, Priority Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Priority Dispatch Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) and Priority Dispatch Emergency Police Dispatch (EPD)) within the probationary period.
• See Certifications, License, and Special Requirements.

Position may be underfilled at grade 117 PST I trainee level (salary range $54,380.32 - $92,446.56) with the following minimum education and experience requirements:

• High School diploma or equivalent; one (1) year of work experience in a call center or providing customer service preferred.
• Satisfactory completion of prescribed LCFR training programs and certifications required prior to advancing to the grade 121 PST II level.

Preference given to those with NFPA didactic certification, or equivalent, as Firefighter, EMT, and/or certification as Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers (APCO) Public Safety Telecommunicator, Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) and Emergency Police Dispatch (EPD).

The selection process will include review of application, verification of certifications and experience, Criti Call computer simulation test, and a panel interview. Also, successful completion of extensive criminal background check (including fingerprinting) and drug screening.

Anticipated timeline and details for this recruitment are listed below. All dates are subject to change.

• Applications are accepted through March 6, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
• Application Review and candidate testing notification:
  March 9-13, 2026.
• In-person Criticall Testing:
  March 23-27, 2026.
• In-person Interview:
  April 1-3, 2026.
• Target Hire Date is May 21, 2026.

Successful candidates will be required to complete an internal Call Taker Recruit school and successfully pass the LCFR Call Taker Release test during the probationary period. To advance from the 117 PST I grade to a 121 PST II, employees must successfully pass LCFR Dispatcher training and a release test.

Must be able to work rotating shifts, that include days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Some workdays require extended shifts. Current operating schedule is 2 days  followed by 2 nights  then off for 4 days and may be subject to change.

Hiring salary will be commensurate with experience. In addition to the advertised salary, there is a night-time differential paid to employees working night shifts.