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Communications Watch Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Watch Officer

Virginia, IL ยท On-site

$60 - $75/hr

This role directly supports mission-critical military communications by maintaining visibility and ... Responsibilities for the Watch Officer include: * Monitor Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN-N ...

$60 - $75/hr

This role directly supports mission-critical military communications by maintaining visibility and ... Responsibilities for the Watch Officer include: * Monitor Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN-N ...

Job Title: Watch Officer Fort Belvoir, Virginia Onsite Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI ... and deploying communication tools to ensure leadership has an accurate operational picture.

Job Title: Watch Officer Fort Belvoir, Virginia Onsite Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI ... and deploying communication tools to ensure leadership has an accurate operational picture.

Watch Officer

Tucson, AZ ยท On-site

$17 - $20.75/hr

MANTECH seeks a motivated and team-oriented Watch Officer to support a DHS customer in Chandler, AZ ... communicate with co-workers and customers. MANTECH considers all qualified applicants for ...

SOC Watch Officer

Chandler, AZ ยท On-site

$130/hr

Title: SOC Watch Officer Location: Chandler, AZ Terms: Full-time Salary Range: $130-160k DOE ... Conduct shift turnover briefings; communicate open incidents, active threats, and watch floor ...

SOC Watch Officer

Phoenix, AZ ยท On-site

$130/hr

Title: SOC Watch Officer Location: Chandler, AZ Terms: Full-time Salary Range: $130-160k DOE ... Conduct shift turnover briefings; communicate open incidents, active threats, and watch floor ...

Serve as a Cyber Security Watch Officer (CSWO) on the DISA GSM-O II program supporting the DISA ... Motivated, initiative driven person with strong written and verbal communication skills, replying ...

Serve as a Cyber Security Watch Officer (CSWO) on the DISA GSM-O II program supporting the DISA ... Motivated, initiative driven person with strong written and verbal communication skills, replying ...

Sr. Intelligence Watch Officer

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$106K - $134K/yr

The Senior Intelligence Watch Officer serves as a senior member of a 24/7 intelligence operations ... Monitor classified communications systems, intelligence reporting channels, and watch center ...

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Communications Watch Officer information

See salary details

$31K

$70.8K

$155K

How much do communications watch officer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for communications watch officer in the United States is $70,830.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,000.00 and $76,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a communications watch officer?

Communications Watch Officers are professionals responsible for monitoring, managing, and coordinating communications within an organization or command center, often during critical operations or emergencies. They ensure that information flows smoothly between teams, respond to incidents, and maintain situational awareness. These officers are commonly found in military, governmental, or large corporate environments where real-time communication is vital. Their duties may also include logging events, relaying information, and supporting crisis response activities.

What does a communications watch officer do?

A Communications Watch Officer is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and relaying critical information across various communication channels, often in real time. Daily tasks typically include overseeing message traffic, responding to emergency alerts, maintaining communication logs, and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of information. They frequently collaborate with security personnel, technical teams, and senior leadership to ensure swift and accurate information flow. The role requires strong attention to detail, the ability to multitask under pressure, and clear communication with other departments to coordinate responses to incidents or operational changes.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a communications watch officer?

To thrive as a Communications Watch Officer, you need strong situational awareness, analytical skills, and a background in communications or related fields, often supported by security clearances and relevant training. Familiarity with communications monitoring systems, incident management software, and secure messaging platforms is typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, calm under pressure, and effective verbal and written communication skills help you excel in fast-paced environments. These competencies are crucial for rapidly identifying, reporting, and managing critical incidents to ensure organizational security and operational continuity.

What is the difference between Communications Watch Officer vs Radio Dispatcher?

AspectCommunications Watch OfficerRadio Dispatcher
Required CredentialsTypically requires communication certifications or training in emergency protocolsOften requires similar certifications, with emphasis on radio operation and dispatch procedures
Work EnvironmentMonitoring communications, coordinating responses, often in security or emergency servicesReceiving and dispatching calls, coordinating emergency or service responses via radio
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in security, emergency services, transportation sectorsCommon in emergency response, transportation, and public safety agencies

The Communications Watch Officer and Radio Dispatcher roles share similar credentials and work environments, focusing on communication and coordination. While the Communications Watch Officer often oversees broader security or emergency operations, the Radio Dispatcher primarily handles incoming calls and dispatches responders. Both positions are vital in emergency response and public safety sectors, with overlapping skills but different primary responsibilities.

More about Communications Watch Officer jobs
Infographic showing various Communications Watch Officer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,830 per year, or $34.1 per hour.

Communications Watch Officer

The One 23 Group Inc.

Arlington, VA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Monitor and manage mission-critical communications systems and network operations.

  • Coordinate with network operators, communications nodes, and technical teams to rapidly restore service interruptions.

  • Track, prioritize, and escalate incidents while ensuring timely resolution and system availability.


Job description

Description

ย ย **Active Top Secret Clearance with SCI eligibility Required** ย 


Description

At The One 23 Group, our mission is to set the benchmark for excellence in government services. We empower our clients in the Department of War, Intelligence Community, and Federal Civilian sectors to excel with our advanced capabilities. Our dedication lies in fostering a people-first culture, underpinned by steadfast ethical principles. Embracing innovative technologies and process improvements, we are steadfast in our journey toward a future that is both bright and transformative.ย 


Our expertise spans Enterprise IT, Mission IT and Cyber. With our global footprint, we place a strong emphasis on nurturing our people and culture, which forms the core of our successful strategies in leadership and financial management. We pride ourselves on our extensive experience and effective approach, ensuring that we lead with both innovation and integrity.


Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced NMCC Communications Watch Officer (CWO) to support the National Military Command Center (NMCC) within the Pentagon. In this highly visible role, you will help ensure uninterrupted communications and network operations that support senior national leadership, combatant commands, and critical Department of Defense missions.


This position is ideal for IT professionals who thrive in high-pressure operational environments and enjoy solving complex technical challenges that directly contribute to national security. You will serve as a key member of a 24/7 operations team responsible for monitoring, coordinating, troubleshooting, and restoring critical communications and network systems

Requirements

ย ย Key Responsibilities

  • Monitor and manage mission-critical communications systems and network operations.
  • Coordinate with network operators, communications nodes, and technical teams to rapidly restore service interruptions.
  • Track, prioritize, and escalate incidents while ensuring timely resolution and system availability.
  • Oversee scheduled maintenance, upgrades, cutovers, and network changes with minimal operational impact.
  • Validate connectivity between senior government leadership, combatant commands, and ย national security partners.
  • Support secure communications systems including AMHS, Secure Video systems, and ย Defense Red Switch Network capabilities.
  • Monitor warning systems, situational awareness tools, and command-and-control ย communications infrastructure.
  • Troubleshoot ย complex LAN, MAN, and WAN network issues and recommend technical ย solutions.
  • Provide operational status updates and brief stakeholders during outages, ย maintenance events, or mission-impacting incidents.
  • Support ย contingency operations, exercises, continuity planning, and emergency ย response activities

Required Qualifications

  • Active ย Top Secret Clearance with eligibility for SCI indoctrination.
  • High School Diploma or equivalentย 
  • CompTIA ย Security+ CE or equivalent DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification
  • 5+ years of experience supporting military or Department of Defense IT systems.
  • Experience with systems engineering, network operations, incident management, and ย troubleshooting complex communications environments.
  • Strong analytical and decision-making skills in mission-critical environments
  • Led and managed project planning, resourcing, supply, progress reporting, troubleshooting, and NMCC team management to achieve desired / customer results.ย 
  • Experience supporting the NMCC in the Pentagon (Preferred)

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

  • Full-time position working at least 40 hours per week to meet the needs of the ย contract hours requirement.ย 
  • This position requires shift work coverage 24/7, 365 days per year, including ย holidays.
  • The current shift structure consists of three shifts (day, swing, and mid). The day shift begins at 6:00am and ends at 2:30 ET. The swing shift begins at 2:00pm and ends at 10:30pm ET. The mid shift begins at 10:00pm and ends at 6:30am ET.

Physical / Mental Demandsย 

This is primarily a sedentary role; however, some mobility and filing may be required. This would require the ability to move from one location to another, lift files, open filing cabinets, and bending or standing on a stool as necessary. This position requires the ability to make read, analyze and interpret data for long periods and make decisions in a high-pressure environment. ย While working in a remote office, the position requires a safe and ergonomically sound work environment and to hold ICS harmless for injury to others at the remote location.ย 


Work Environment

This job operates in a professional, secure office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. Government or ICS-owned equipment and materials will be maintained in a safe and secure location. If work is performed in a remote or off-site office, the position requires a safe and ergonomically sound work environment and to hold ICS harmless for injury to others at the remote location.

This role requires approximately 2-6 weeks to work a day shift for training and access.


Travel

Limited travel is expected for this position, less than 10% throughout the year. Travel or deployment to alternate sites for training, exercises, or real-world events. The duration of each exercise is typically a day trip of up to 12 hours. On occasion, contingencies and exercises require contractors to stay overnight in the COOP facility under lock-down conditions, working 12-hour shifts.


Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.


Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Minimum active Top-Secret Clearance with the ability to be SCI indoctrinated


Equal opportunity employer, including disability/vets.