Public Safety Communications Officer

Overview

This is a full-time opportunity with many benefits! As a Missoula County employee, you will be part of a team that is committed to positively impacting the community. The rate of pay for this position is $26.25 per hour.

The Missoula County Office of Emergency Management is seeking PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER I to join their team. This position performs work involved with 9-1-1 call taking and emergency service dispatching from a communications center. This is an entry level training position for the 9-1-1 Center and is used to train employees to take emergency and non-emergency phone calls, and to dispatch emergency medical and fire services.

Details:
We are accepting applications until 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2026. It is in your best interest to apply by this date. Onsite applicant testing will run from February 17 through March 5, 2026. Applicants will be contacted weekly until the closing date to invite them to participate in applicant testing and interviews. Remote testing will be available upon request.

• Please complete all sections of the online application.
• Complete job description available upon request to the Department of Human Resources.

Works as part of an effective team to provide public safety emergency communications. Receives telephone calls to 9-1-1 from citizens seeking assistance. Gathers information from callers and initiates the appropriate response. Prioritizes telephone calls and radio communications from the public and emergency service agencies. Records and updates pertinent information in the CAD (computer aided dispatch) system and relays information to appropriate agencies and individuals.

Makes referrals to other community resources. Monitors and communicates using radio frequencies to dispatch and coordinate activities of emergency service fire and medical agencies. Receives training and certification in CPR and EMD and provides instruction in first aid prior to arrival of first responders. Assists in training new employees as assigned by the Training Coordinator and provides documentation of trainees' progress for use in evaluations.

Performs routine equipment checks to ensure proper function and reports any failure or malfunction to the technical support staff. Maintains and updates records and resources, both hard copy and computerized.

• Requires high school graduation or GED.
• Requires one (1) year experience working in an environment that involved public contact.
• SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
  Employment is subject to a background investigation conducted by the Sheriff's Department. Successful candidates must pass hearing and drug screening provided by the County. Employees must attain and maintain CPR & EMD certification; and CJIN, NCIC and POST certifications as a condition of employment.

Working rotating shifts ranging from 8 to 12 hours, but not to exceed 14 hours in length; working nights and weekends; and working overtime shifts as needed to provide coverage for a 24/7/365 emergency communications center. Requires providing contact information to include primary and alternate contact information for emergency scheduling. May require carrying a pager and serving in an “on call” capacity as assigned.

Requires exposure to a stressful environment. Work is primarily performed in a communications center and requires long periods of sitting at a computer terminal and performing data entry while wearing a headset. Some bending, reaching and lifting in the light ranges is involved. Requires hearing within normal limits for pure tones and speech. An audiogram-based requirement is described as: average threshold of 20 dBHL in each ear.

Located halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks and home to the University of Montana, Missoula is an academic center situated in an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Missoula County covers over 2,618 square miles of mountain lands with varied topography and climate. The county features valleys and rivers, diverse communities, and opportunities for outdoor recreation.