About this job
Application Deadline: Monday, November 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. P.T.
Accepting Online Applications only through the City of Eugene Website
Information on How to Apply
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 Wednesday, November 4, 2026 - The presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. in classroom 5 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
Salary
Communications Specialist 1 $30.27 - $33.39 HourlyCall 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 HourlyProficient in handling the full scope of call functions (fire, police, and other emergency medical incidents).
Communication Specialists may earn up to an additional 20% premium pay (depending on qualifications) after three years of employment.
Salary Range: All Entry-Level Communications Specialist 1 will start at Step 1. Applicants who meet the lateral minimum qualifications will be pay placed depending on their experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees will be expected to successfully train and become proficient in call taking and trained in all dispatch positions as a Communications Specialist 2.
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.
Entry Level Minimum RequirementsExperience
One year work experience in a fast-paced environment, which includes data entry experience.
Education
High School diploma or GED.
Lateral Minimum Requirements
Experience
At least two and a half (2.5) years of continuous 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.
The experience must be current, full-time, and continuous with no more than a 30-day break in service at the time of application, and the candidate must have been so employed within 90 days of the Eugene Police Department hire date.
Education
High School diploma or GED.
Additional Requirements
License or Certificate
Possession of, or ability to obtain, within three months of appointment the following:
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Certification.
EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) Certification.
Basic Telecommunicator Certificate (DPSST) within 18 months of appointment.
Background
Must pass a police background investigation.
No felony convictions. No Class A Misdemeanor convictions within 24 months of application. Please view this list of documents that will be requested as part of the background investigation.
Physical and Psych
Must pass a psychological evaluation, physical assessment and drug test.
DRUG SCREEN, HEARING TEST and VISUAL ACUITY TEST - as required by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). To view the standards set by DPSST for certification, please visit DPSST's website and view Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008- 0011.
The City of Eugene encourages individuals of all communities and backgrounds to apply for job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to the public. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes with relevant transferable knowledge, skills, and abilities 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.
Bilingual Pay Benefit
Per the EPEA Contract, the City shall pay an employee at 5% of base wages for a required intermediate or advanced level competency. To qualify for bilingual pay, the employee must have demonstrated fluency in the required language and successfully pass a fluency examination administered by the City's Employee Resource Center division.
Eligibility List
Following interviews, this posting may be used to establish an eligibility list of applicants for up to one year for future vacancies. Candidates that are placed on the eligibility list will be notified via email which will include the duration of the list and how notification of call up will occur.
What to Expect from our Selection Process
Applicants are screened based upon their relevant knowledge, abilities, skills, experience, and training. The selection process varies according to the position and can include such things as screening of supplemental questionnaires, written or skill tests, ability or fitness tests, interviews, and assessment processes. In addition, background investigations and records checks may be required. Some positions also require applicants to have a psychological evaluation and/or physical examination and a drug test prior to employment.
Please feel free to print the following steps and reference it throughout the recruitment process as this information will help you best understand each step of evaluation.
Hiring Process Timeline
- APPLICATION - Submit a completed application by Monday, November 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. PT.
- CRITICALL TEST - Applicants who meet the stated minimum qualifications and requirements will be invited to complete an online Criticall test between November 18 – December 2, 2026. Candidates will be offered a practice test; more information about the test can be found on Criticall's website.
- ORAL INTERVIEWS -Qualified candidates will be interviewed the week of January 4, 2027.
- COMPREHENSIVE POLICE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION - The background investigation phase may take up to 5 weeks and is tentatively planned for January 25 – February 15, 2027.* You will be required to submit information related to your personal and professional history including references. You will work with an investigator to complete a full review of your working and personal history. Many of the required documents such as birth certificate and transcripts will need to be requested from other organizations and agencies. A full list of documents will be provided to candidates who reach this stage in the process. Please prepare in advance but DO NOT SUBMIT ANY MATERIAL PRIOR TO BEING INVITED TO THE BACKGROUND PHASE. Materials received before being requested will not be considered and may be destroyed.
*Dates are tentative and subject to change
ORIENTATION & TRAINING** - Successful candidates will start their employment with a 5-6 week classroom-based academy, followed by 12 or more weeks of intensive on the job training involving varying schedules.
**Attendance and schedule flexibility are mandatory for preliminary training.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The City of Eugene is committed to a respectful work environment, and we value the cultural, educational, and life experiences of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally responsive services to all members of our community. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion we desire to welcome, respect, and create a sense of belonging for a wide range of identities and experiences in our workforce. Women, people with disabilities, and persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
The City of Eugene complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Any applicant with a qualified disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request accommodation by contacting an employment coordinator at (541) 682-5061.
In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the City of Eugene will request all eligible candidates who accept employment with the City to provide documentation to prove they are eligible for employment in the United States.