Communications Specialist

Job Title: 911 Communications Specialist (911 Call Receiver)

Join the King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Team as a 911 Communications Specialist. The role involves handling emergency and non‑emergency calls, providing accurate information to the public and Deputies, and ensuring timely dispatch of appropriate services.

• Receive, prioritize, and route emergency and non‑emergency calls from the public and other agencies.
• Gather information from callers and enter details—type, location, and other required data—into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System.
• Assign response priority based on immediate response needs; relay pertinent information via radio.
• Retrieve and relay information from state and national networks (wanted persons, stolen property, etc.) to Deputies via radio.
• Maintain required logs, event cards, and records.
• Manage multiple radio frequencies and communications simultaneously.
• Communicate effectively with callers who may be confused, upset, hostile, or distraught, while obtaining the necessary information.
• Be prepared to receive graphic descriptions of violence and/or injury.

• Adaptability and ability to manage uncertainty while simultaneously receiving emergency calls.
• Calm, quick, accurate decision making in high‑stress situations.
• Multi‑tasking in rapidly changing circumstances.
• Rapid learning of law‑enforcement terminology and emergency‑management procedures.
• Sound judgment and the ability to evaluate problems in a critical‑incident environment.
• Interpersonal competence, fostering trust with the public and colleagues.
• Effective communication with callers of limited English proficiency or who may be verbally abusive, emotionally upset, uncooperative, or frightened.
• Clear written communication with correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Resilience and stress management in high‑pressure situations.
• Basic computer proficiency.
• Willingness to work overtime, any shift, including holidays and weekends, on a 24‑hour schedule.
• After 18 months, may be eligible to train as a Communications Specialist – Dispatcher.

• U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA recipient.
• Fluent reading, speaking, and writing in English.
• At least 18 years of age at application.
• Pass the 911 Dispatcher technical exam and the typing test (35 WPM with 90% accuracy) within the specified timeframe.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet all background standards and have no automatic disqualifying behaviors.

911 Call Receiver: $36.21 – $43.77 per hour
911 Dispatcher (eligible after 18 months): $45.90 – $50.47 per hour

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.