Communicator

Dane County Public Safety Communication in Madison WI is recruiting for vacant full-time (1.0 FTE) Communicator positions.
The eligible list created from this posting will be used for future Communicator vacancies for the next six (6) months.
This recruitment is to fill positions that will begin classroom training in late January - early February 2027.

Public Safety Communications will require CritiCall testing as part of the application process.  Information and preparation for this test may be found at: https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants/ 

All candidates must take and receive an overall score of 85% or above on the CritiCall Pre-Employment Testing to be considered for the next step.

NOTE to applicants  - for the 2026 budget year there is a 1% reduction in wages, an additional 21 holiday hours and continued earning of longevity and merit steps.

As an essential employee, must be available to work any shift, including nights, weekends, holidays, during severe weather conditions and mandatory overtime to maintain minimum staffing levels.

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women and racial and ethnic minorities are especially encouraged to apply.

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, receive emergency and non-emergency requests for service from citizens and public safety personnel; monitor and direct the status of public safety personnel; provide event-specific assistance to law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel; provide life-saving instructions to the public and perform other related work as required.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Receive, evaluate, document and prioritize information and calls for service received from the general public requesting public safety services; provide emergency pre-arrival instructions; receive, evaluate and document requests for information and assistance from public safety personnel; monitor the location and status of public safety personnel and equipment; monitor several channels at a time, including other agency radio channels; provide information, instructions and procedural messages to public safety personnel; dispatch calls for service; coordinate public safety communications in emergency and non-emergency situations; arrange for appropriate assistance when required; work during special events requiring heightened security or crowd control; maintain knowledge of county geography and jurisdictions, including new streets and jurisdictional changes; operate varied and complex systems, including a multi-line 911 and non-emergency telephone system, a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, a two-way multi-channel radio system, a geographical/mapping information system (GIS); enter wanted persons, missing persons, stolen vehicles and articles into local, state and federal law enforcement data bases; evaluate data received from other agencies to determine wanted, missing or stolen status of persons or property currently in custody of law enforcement personnel; relay officer safety information between user and outside agencies; interview and document information received from the statewide Wisconsin Drug Tip Line; provide necessary information to maintenance crews, signal light crews, tow companies, utility companies and various other non-emergency agencies; respond to subpoenas from court officials; monitor building and panic alarms for the Dane County Court House and City-County Building; assist in training of new and veteran employees. Communicators may be utilized to fill special assignments that are required to assist the department in completing its mission. These special assignments may be in any of the department’s divisions.

Education, Training and Experience:   

Must have graduated from high school and have the demonstrated ability to multi-task. Previous experience dispatching law enforcement, fire and/or emergency medical services is desirable. Extra credit may be awarded to individuals with verifiable previous experience. 

Special Requirements:

All candidates must take and receive an overall score of 85% or above on the CritiCall Pre-Employment Testing. Other online exams may be required. Must be able to successfully pass background investigation which includes fingerprinting, a Pre-Employment Psychological Suitability assessment, hearing exam and drug screen; must have no felony convictions; must maintain CPR, current Wisconsin TIME System-advanced, Emergency Medical Dispatch-advanced and Emergency Fire Dispatch certifications including continuing education; must be able to remain at a work station for long periods of time; must successfully complete a 15-month probationary period that includes both classroom and on-the-job training; as an essential employee, must be available to work any shift, including nights, weekends, holidays, during severe weather conditions and mandatory overtime to maintain minimum staffing levels.

Background Check Statement:  Some positions may require a criminal background check which can include fingerprinting due to the nature of the job’s responsibilities. Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Law, s. 111.31 – 111.395, Wis. Stats., prohibits discrimination because of an arrest or conviction record.  However, Dane County may disqualify an applicant if the position’s responsibilities are substantially related to the applicant’s criminal history (e.g., the nature of the crime and its relationship to the position, whether hiring, transferring or promoting an applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees, customers and vendors, etc.) Management reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

For Bilingual Positions:

1) Provide services in both English and the required foreign language (e.g., Spanish, Arabic, Hmong, etc.). 

2) Applicants being considered for bilingual positions will be tested during the recruitment process prior to employment. This will primarily consist of passing an oral language proficiency assessment from English to foreign language and foreign language to English, but may require additional language testing, such as written translation, if it is an essential function of the job. 

*If applicable, individuals may confirm with the Employee Relations Division whether results of bilingual language certifications/ examinations they currently hold qualify them for the position’s bilingual designation.

Physical and Environmental Work Requirements:

Office/Call-center work environment. Work involves walking, sitting, standing, twisting, turning, grasping, and reaching within normal ranges. Prolonged computer and phone system use. Manual dexterity using fine and gross motor skills. Ability to speak clearly and be heard by others. Ability to see and hear within normal ranges with or without corrective devices.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  

Ability to clearly and concisely speak and read the English language; ability to follow oral and written instructions; ability to communicate effectively in normal, stressful and/or emergency situations with a diverse, multi-cultural population; ability to act quickly and calmly in emergency situations and make quick, reasonable and effective decisions; ability to interview people in a state of crisis via telephone or Text Telephone (TTY); ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public; ability to simultaneously operate a multi-line telephone system and multi-channel radio system; ability to operate specialized public safety equipment, office equipment and records management systems; ability to understand and follow policies, procedures and directives of the FCC, department and more than 80 user agencies; ability to understand radio messages; ability to type accurately; ability to keep information confidential; ability to simultaneously address situations and control messages to and from a large number of public safety personnel; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; ability to remain calm at all times.