Communications Specialists Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Location : Communications Center, 6590 Armory Court, Winter Park, FL
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-00403
Department: Communications
Opening Date: 05/18/2026
Hiring Salary: ** Minimum salary - $46,217/yr or $47,611/yr with 3+ years experience ** Candidates will receive a $3,000 bonus paid in two installments; First $2,000 upon receiving their 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator state certification, and second $1,000 at the completion of field Training. Shift differential pay provided biweekly once training is completed, for working evenings ($50) and midnights ($100). Employees will also be given biweekly specialty pay (see below). Rehired Orange County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) Emergency Communications Specialists and current OCSO employees are not eligible for a signing allowance. **
JOB SUMMARY
Starting Salary: $46,217/yr or $47,611/yr with 3+ years experience
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Candidates who are hired as 911 Emergency Communications Specialists and achieve the 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator state certification will be given a $3,000 Signing Bonus given in two installments. Rehired Orange County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) Emergency Communications Specialists and current OCSO employees are not eligible for a signing bonus.
Specialty Pay: 1 Certification = $38.47 per paycheck / $1000 annual (new hires only after they achieve their certification). Pay will increase as more certifications are obtained up to a maximum of $71.54 per paycheck.
Entry level Emergency Communications Specialists earn a starting salary of $40,684 annually. Upon certification they are eligible for specialty pay which increases with the number of certifications, shift differential pay, training pay, overtime pay and educational incentives. At the Orange County Sheriff's Office, there is tremendous room for growth. Base pay rates for Communications positions are as follows:
ECS I pay range $46,217 to $71,011 annually
ECS II pay range is $48,547 to $74,568 annually
ECS III pay range is $53,518 to $82,222 annually
ASL pay range is $59,009 to $90,667 annually
Supervisor pay range is $68,348 to $104,998 annually
Manager pay range is $77,480 to $118,955 annually
Emergency Communications Specialists respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service, using a computer aided dispatch terminal for entering call data. They must train and certify in at least two of the three positions: Call Taker, Radio Dispatcher, and Teletype Operator. Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply. #oj
Minimum Qualifications:

• Good work history
• Accredited high school or GED diploma (certificate of completion not accepted)
• Must be a U.S. citizen or possess a current permanent resident card
• Must not have been convicted of a felony.
• No illegal drug usage within the last year. Other drug usage will be evaluated on a case by case basis
• Must not have received a dishonorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces.
• Knowledge of Orange County geography helpful
• Must be able to work various shifts with rotating days off, as well as weekends and holidays
• Must be able to speak and understand English
• Must successfully complete a job related "CritiCall" test
• Must be computer literate
• Must have good typing skills (approximately 30wpm)

Preferred Qualifications:

• One (1) to two (2) years of college, military, or related experience and/or training preferred.

PROCESSING & TRAINING
Processing

• CritiCall testing: This is a computerized technical test that measures the following skills and abilities: typing speed, data entry, memory recall, map reading, spelling, multitasking and reading comprehension. We recommend you practice typing to prepare, including using the number pad. There are several free practice tests offered online that are similar to what you will be taking.
• Complete Background Investigation
• Voice Stress Analysis (truth verification)
• Medical exam & drug screen (after conditional job offer)
• Psychological evaluation (after conditional offer)

Processing time on average is 3-5 months.
Training
Candidates hired as Emergency Communications Specialists receive some of the best training in the industry. Upon employment, new hires attend six weeks of classroom training at the Communications Center. After successful completion of the academy phase, candidates are prepared to take their state certification test and move on to the hands-on phase of their training. This phase consists of 480 hours of hands-on training, working directly with a Communications Training Officer. After successful completion of training, candidates are placed on a shift (typically nights) and begin their work as a Emergency Communications Specialist I - the direct connection between our citizens and deputies.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and work on the computer for long periods of time, talk, hear, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, use repetitive motion, and utilize coordination and dexterity abilities. The employee must have bilateral hearing. For instance, the employee must have the ability to hear with both ears while wearing a headset on one ear and also listening to coworkers/trainers/supervisors with the other ear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and peripheral vision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in an open setting environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Depending on assignment the employee may be required to work holiday, evening, midnight, and/or weekend shifts. Shift times may vary.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Orange County Sheriff's Office may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
All full-time employees of the Orange County Sheriff's Office receive an excellent benefits and compensation package.

• Sheriff contributes majority of cost for medical coverage
• Life insurance and long term disability insurance is provided by Sheriff; employees may elect to purchase additional coverage
• Retirement benefits are provided by the Florida Retirement System
• Uniforms, weapons, and other equipment furnished
• Education incentive and reimbursement programs
• 12 vacation days per year/accrues at 3.69 hours bi-weekly
• Sick time accrues at 3.69 hours bi-weekly
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Gym facilities in many agency buildings

911 - PST Salary Benefits

• Candidates who are hired as 911 Telecommunicators and achieve the 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator state certification will be given a $2,000 Signing Allowance
• Shift differential pay provided once training is completed, for working evenings (38.47 bi-weekly) and midnights ($50.00 bi-weekly)
• Candidates with a 2 year degree from an accredited school will receive $13.85 bi-weekly
• Candidates with a 4 year degree or higher from an accredited school will receive $36.92 bi-weekly

01
You must be at least 18 years of age to work in a non-law enforcement capacity. If applying for a non-law enforcement position, are you at least 18 years of age?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you a United States citizen or do you possess a valid permanent resident alien card?

• I am a United States citizen
• I am not a United States citizen, but I do possess a valid permanent resident alien card
• I am neither a United States citizen nor do I possess a valid permanent resident alien card

03
If you possess a permanent resident alien card, please provide the issue date, expiration date and the category code.
04
Do you have any tattoos or body ornamentation on the hands, head, neck, or face?

• Yes
• No

05
Please provide the description(s) and location(s) of ALL tattoos / body ornamentation(s)?
06
Do you possess a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED)?

• Yes
• No

07
Are you able to read, write and fluently speak English?

• Yes
• No

08
Are there any languages other than English that you can read, write, or speak fluently?

• Yes
• No

09
Please provide the other languages you can read, write, or speak fluently. Enter each language on a separate line and beside each enter whether you read, write, or speak the language fluently.
10
If you have a driver's license, what is your driver's license # and the state of issuance? Enter N/A if you have no driver's license.
11
Have you had a driver's license for at least one (1) year as of this application date?

• Yes
• No

12
Have you ever had your driver's license suspended or revoked?

• Yes
• No, or I do not have a driver's license

13
Please provide details of your driver's license suspension(s) / revocations(s), date(s), state(s) issued and explanation(s).
14
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

• Yes
• No

15
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony and/or misdemeanor crime? Pursuant to F.S.S. 943.059, arrests that have been sealed or expunged must be disclosed.

• Yes
• No

16
Please provide the felony and/or misdemeanor arrest(s) or charge information and date(s). If applicable, please note whether the arrest was sealed or expunged.
17
Have you ever been convicted of any misdemeanor crime involving false statements, perjury, or domestic violence?

• Yes
• No

18
Please provide all misdemeanor conviction charge(s) involving false statements, perjury, or domestic violence and date(s).
19
Have you ever been a suspect or a defendant in any criminal investigation?

• Yes
• No

20
Please provide an explanation of all your criminal investigation(s) and associated dates.
21
Have you ever been involved in any criminal activity?

• Yes
• No

22
Please provide an explanation of all your criminal activity and associated dates.
23
Do you have regular or continuous associations or dealings with anyone under criminal investigation or indictment, or who is involved in criminal behavior?

• Yes
• No

24
Please provide an explanation of your associations with the individual(s) under criminal investigation or indictment and the criminal activity that is involved.
25
Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of a gang, extremist organization, or any association that engages in criminal activity?

• Yes
• No

26
Please provide the gang and/or association name, location(s) and the dates of involvement.
27
Have you been or known anyone who has been associated with any organization, past or present that would place the integrity of the Sheriff's Office in question? (e.g. KKK, Nazi organization, extremist organization, organized crime, etc.)

• Yes
• No

28
Please provide an explanation of these associations or dealings you have with these individuals that would place the integrity of the Sheriff's Office in question;. (e.g. KKK, Nazi organization, organized crime, etc.)
29
Have you ever used, possessed, or cultivated an illegal controlled substance?

• Yes
• No

30
Please provide an explanation of your drug use, and/or possession, and/or cultivation of an illegal controlled substance along with associated dates of last use/involvement.
31
Within the last year from the date of this application, have you used any illegal drug(s) or illegal controlled substance(s)? (e.g. - marijuana, heroin, cocaine, LSD, etc.)

• Yes
• No

32
Please provide the type(s) of illegal drug(s) used within the last year, location(s), and the dates last used.
33
Have you ever been involved in the sale/purchase of illegal drugs either directly or indirectly?

• Yes
• No

34
Please provide details of your illegal drug sale(s)/purchase involvement, location(s) and date(s).
35
Have you ever served in the armed forces (Military), and if so, what type of discharge did you receive?

• I did not serve in the military
• Honorable Discharge
• Honorable Discharge under General Conditions
• Dishonorable Discharge
• Other
• I am still an Active Reserve

36
What military branch(es), including any state National Guard, did you serve or are you currently serving in?
37
Please provide the dates of service to include Active and/or Reserve service.
38
Were you ever formally disciplined while in the military to include any Article 15's?

• Yes
• No
• Not Applicable

39
Please provide type of military discipline(s), reasons for the discipline, and dates.
40
If you are currently employed by a law enforcement or corrections agency, are you currently under internal investigation?

• Yes
• No
• Not Applicable

41
If you have prior law enforcement or corrections experience, have you e