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City of Cincinnati

EMERGENCY 911 OPERATOR (OPEN)

City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45208

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This position reports to the Emergency Communications Center located at 2000 Radcliff Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45204. This employee provides telephone and text assistance to individuals who are calling or texting for Police, Emergency Medical Services, Fire, or other City Services and provides emergency medical, police, and fire pre‑arrival instructions over the phone. Answers telephone requests for general information and referrals. Employees work in a call center operation with dispatch staff. The center operates 24/7, and the employee may be required to work day or night shift schedules. Employees process a high volume of calls and texts, rapidly obtaining pertinent information for each situation and relaying it to the correct dispatcher or agency by entering it into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system accurately. Must be able to multi‑task and handle high‑stress situations, complete applicable training and certifications, and perform related duties as required.

Read more about the Emergency Communications Center: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ecc/

What Can I Expect During the Hiring Process? https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ecc/recruiting-employment/hiring-process/

Responsibilities

Provide telephone and text assistance to individuals calling or texting for Police, EMS, Fire, and other City Services, and deliver emergency medical, police, and fire pre‑arrival instructions over the phone.

Answer telephone requests for general information and referrals.

Process a high volume of calls and texts, rapidly obtaining pertinent information for each situation and relaying it to the correct dispatcher or agency in the CAD system accurately.

Multi‑task and handle high‑stress situations.

Complete applicable training and certifications.

Perform related duties as required.

Work 12‑hour shifts and occasionally up to 16‑hour shifts, including rotating, swing shifts, weekends, and holidays.

Prerequisites

One year of full‑time responsible employment involving public contact with a high degree of customer service, telephone, and computer keyboarding duties; or a current Emergency Telecommunicator Certification (ETC) from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

High School Diploma or GED by the time of appointment; or enrollment as a senior in a high‑school program at the time of application.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge:

Basic business English, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.

Basic problem‑solving techniques.

City of Cincinnati services and functions to refer complaints to the appropriate department or agency.

Functions of non‑city agencies to refer complaints, problems, and emergencies to other agencies and companies.

Microsoft Windows Operating System.

Skills:

Operate a computer keyboard with speed and accuracy to key information in report format.

Operate appropriate computer equipment and use all related hardware and software.

Operate digital mapping systems.

Effectively utilize hearing‑impaired equipment.

Abilities:

Provide courteous, effective, efficient, and professional service.

Hear and listen well enough to distinguish between pertinent and extraneous information in an emergency situation.

Use a headset to place and answer telephone calls.

Distinguish between emergency and non‑emergency calls and prioritize them for service.

Recall important information obtained from callers about emergencies.

Condense large amounts of information into readable, sensibly typed remarks in a timely manner and recall numerous acronyms and codes essential to call processing.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Type information with speed and accuracy.

Type and talk simultaneously and spell correctly.

Use critical thinking skills to make quick decisions.

Learn the City’s general geographic areas and utilize reference materials such as maps and street locators, including jurisdictional boundaries, landmarks, public buildings, and waterways.

Communicate effectively with members of the Police and Fire Departments and with the general public.

Stay calm and exercise good judgment in stressful situations that may extend for a considerable amount of time.

Remain calm when dealing with frightened, hysterical, and angry callers.

Deal with sensitive information discreetly and maintain confidentiality obtained during employment.

Work effectively in a disciplined environment with close supervision and carry out lawful orders according to policies.

Work in a team environment and maintain a positive attitude and professional conduct at all times.

Read and follow written directives, including Standard Operating Procedures, Special Orders, and training materials; observe and comply with laws of the city, county, state, and country.

Provide constructive process and procedure improvement suggestions.

Meet the minimum training standards and successfully complete the training program.

Testify at court hearings, when required.

Other Requirements

Must be able to work 12‑hour shifts including rotating, permanent relief, or swing shifts, and holidays; the position is subject to mandatory overtime requirements and is considered essential.

Applicants must successfully pass a police record and background check.

Must obtain and maintain certifications necessary to access local, state, and federal criminal justice databases.

Must obtain and maintain certifications necessary to perform call‑taking functions at the Emergency Communications Center.

Possession of High School Diploma or GED is required at the time of hire.

Military Education and Experience Evaluation Military education and experience may be substituted for college level coursework at the lower and upper division baccalaureate and graduate levels and apprenticeship training at the vocational certificate level on a case‑by‑case basis based on the American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guide recommendations.

Exam Information Computer‑based Exam Date 1st Component: 02/16/2026 - 03/13/2026

Behavioral Assessment 2nd Component: 03/24/2026 - 03/26/2026

Working and Physical Conditions Physical conditions: Work requires employees to sit for long periods. Must have manual dexterity, vision acuity sufficient to operate a computer console, and hearing acuity sufficient to hear and clearly understand callers in an area where background noise is present.

Working conditions: Employees may be assigned to work on a rotating or fixed shift basis, which includes nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. Employees may be required to work overtime with little notice. Employees may work 12‑hour shifts, and occasionally up to 16‑hour shifts.

Probationary Period 12 months

Resume Requirement Resume must be attached for consideration.

Contact Information Keisha Thomas keisha.thomas@cincinnati-oh.gov

Agency City of Cincinnati 805 Central Avenue Suite 200 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Phone 513-352-2400

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/cincinnati/default.cfm

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