Emergency Communication Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $49,025.60 - $52,686.40 Annually
Location : Harrisonburg, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 5502 - (June 2026)
Department: Emergency Communications Center
Opening Date: 06/17/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Description
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center (HRECC) is currently seeking experienced 911 Emergency Communications Officer IIs to make a real difference, where every call is an opportunity to save lives and have a positive impact on the communities and public safety partners we serve! Interested candidates are encouraged to apply today for consideration.
The Emergency Communications Officer (ECO) II role is is a full-time position with benefits and a preferred hiring range of $23.57 - $25.33 per hour (equivalent to $49,025 - $52,686 annually); however, an exact salary will be determined based upon the selected candidate's qualifications and in compliance with City policy.
As an ECO II, your duties will encompass a wide array of responsibilities, including receiving, classifying, processing, and dispatching emergency service calls. For non-emergency service calls, you'll be responsible for receiving, recording, and forwarding them appropriately. Maintaining and preparing computerized and other records and files is also a key aspect of the job.
A full list of essential functions and the ideal candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities is available in the .
Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and moderate (1-3 years) experience in the field of public safety communications, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in a multi-disciplinary emergency communications center.
• Released on at least two specialties (call taking, law enforcement dispatching, or fire and rescue dispatching) in a multi-disciplinary emergency communications center.
• Possession of or the ability to acquire the following within the timelines specified:
  • VCIN Level B Operator (within 3 months)
  • DCJS Basic Communicator Certification (within 12 months)
  • Powerphone Total Response Certification (within 3 months)
  • CPR (within 3 months)
• Any employee of the HRECC may be called upon to work over the scheduled shift or hours, as needed.

The following pre-employment screenings must be successfully completed with satisfactory results for this position:

• Typing Test per National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Standards;
• Industry-Specific Post-Offer Physical Exam, including Audiometry Add-On Exam;
• DMV Driving History Query;
• Drug Screen;
• Psychological Evaluation;
• Criminal Background Investigation, including VCIN Fingerprinting & Security Test.

HRECC employees are subject to random drug/alcohol screenings.
Supplemental Information
To Apply: In order to be considered, all candidates must submit a complete City of Harrisonburg online employment application, including previous work experience and education history. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. This position may close at any time after 10 calendar days. (posted 06/17/2026)
There are two additional documents (the Personal History Statement and Authorization for Release of Personal Information) required for consideration that have been built into the online employment application via the supplemental questionnaire. Once you submit your complete online employment application, you will have satisfied this requirement.
The City provides an excellent benefits package including health insurance, retirement (VRS & MissionSquare), life insurance, paid leave and 15.5 holidays.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or veteran status.
The City of Harrisonburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including 15.5 observed holidays. More information on available benefits is listed on the City's website
01
What is your highest level of education?

• Less than 8th Grade
• Completed 8th Grade
• Attended High School
• High School Graduate
• GED
• Attend College
• College Graduate
• Attended Graduate School
• Master's Degree
• Graduate study beyond Master's
• Ph.D. or professional degree

02
How many years of experience do you have in the field of public safety communications?

• I do not have any experience.
• I have some experience but less than 1 year of experience.
• I have at least 1 year but less than 3 years of experience.
• I have 3 or more years of experience.

03
Do you have experience in a multi-disciplinary emergency communications center?

• Yes
• No

04
Which of the following have you currently/previously been released on within a multi-disciplinary emergency communications center? Please select all that apply.

• Call Taking
• Law Enforcement Dispatching
• Fire and Rescue Dispatching
• None of the Above

05
Which of the following do you currently possess? Please select all that apply.

• VCIN Level B Operator Certification
• VA DCJS Basic Communicator Certification
• PowerPhone Total Response Certification
• CPR Certification
• None of the Above

06
I understand that the remaining questions pertain to my background and will assist in the background investigation to determine my eligibility for future consideration during this recruitment process. If a question does not pertain to me, I will mark the appropriate answer or type "Not Applicable" in the free-form field. Furthermore, I have opened and read the "Instructions to Applicant" document that is hyperlinked in the job advertisement.

• Yes
• No

07
Please list the address where you live (if it is different than the address on your application).
08
Please list any names (other than the one on your application) that you have used or been known by, including your maiden name and nicknames (if applicable).
09
Please list all of your email addresses (not including the one you are using for this application).
10
Are you a United States Citizen? Please Note: All HRECC Employees must provide documentation to validate your response, as required by VCIN and/or the USCIS Form I-9.

• Yes
• No

11
If you are not a United States Citizen, have you been a lawful resident of the United States for the past 10 consecutive years? Please Note: All HRECC Employees must provide documentation to validate your response, as required by VCIN and/or the USCIS Form I-9.

• Yes
• No

12
Please enter your birthdate in the field below using the MM/DD/YYYY format.
13
Please enter your Social Security Number in the field below using the XXX-XX-XXXX format, including dashes.
14
Please enter your Driver's License number, state of issuance, and expiration date in the field below.
15
Disclosure of Arrests and Convictions: This section requires you to report detentions, charges (whether or not physically arrested), and convictions, including diversion programs that were not successfully completed, and in some cases, offenses that may have been dismissed, pardoned or expunged. As a public safety applicant, you are required to disclose this information, unless specifically exempted by state or federal law. Have you EVER been detained by law enforcement for investigation, arrested, indicted, charged, or convicted of any misdemeanor or felony offense in this state or any other legal jurisdiction (including offenses in the Uniform Code of Military Justice)?

• Yes
• No

16
Disclosure of Arrests and Convictions: If you responded "yes" to the question above, please explain each incident below. Be sure to include the charge, approximate date, arresting or detaining agency, and disposition or penalty.
17
Disclosure of Arrests and Convictions: Please check which of the following applies to you. Select as many options as applicable.

• I have been placed on court probation.
• I have been required to appear before a juvenile court for an act which would have been a crime if committed as an adult.
• I have been a party in a civil lawsuit (e.g., small claims actions, dissolutions, child custody, paternity, support, etc.).
• The police have been called to my home.
• I or my spouse/partner have been referred to Child Protective Services.
• I have been the subject of an emergency protective order/restraining order/stay-away order.
• I have settled a civil suit in which I, my insurance company, or someone else on my behalf was required to make payment to the other party.
• I have fraudulently received welfare, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, or other state or federal assistance.
• I have been required to repay welfare payments, unemployment compensation, or other state or federal assistance.
• I have filed a false insurance or workers' compensation claim.
• None of the Above Apply

18
Involvement in Criminal Acts - Part 1: At any time in your life, have you ever committed any of the following acts? Select as many options as applicable. Please Note: You MUST include any acts committed at any time. Additionally, you may NOT withhold any information regarding your involvement in any of the following acts, even if federal or state law relieved you from reporting the detention, arrest, or conviction that arose from it.

• Animal abuse and/or neglect
• Annoying, obscene, or harassing contacts by telephone or other electronic communication device
• Battery (use of force or violence upon another)
• Brandishing a weapon (any type of weapon)
• Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit
• Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
• Defrauding an innkeeper (not paying for food or room at a hotel/motel, campground, restaurant, etc.)
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Drunk in public (being so intoxicated in a public place that you're not able to care for yourself)
• Filing a false police report
• Hit & run collision (no injuries)
• Illegal gambling
• Illegal hunting and/or fishing (for example, without a license, out of season)
• Impersonating a peace officer (pretending to be a police officer)
• Indecent exposure and/or lewd or obscene conduct
• Intentionally writing a bad check
• Joyriding/Unauthorized Use (using a car or other vehicle without owner's permission)
• Peeping (including, but not limited to, looking through a window or opening with the intent to invade someone's privacy)
• Petty theft (value up to $199, including shoplifting/switching price tags)
• Possession of alcohol as a minor
• Possession of falsified or altered identification, including use of another person's ID (for any reason)
• Possession of stolen property (including, but not limited to, vehicles, credit/debit cards, etc.)
• Prostitution or solicitation of prostitution (including, but not limited to, patronizing illegal massage parlors)
• Reckless driving
• Resisting arrest and/or delaying or obstructing an officer (including, but not limited to, running from the police)
• Trespassing
• Underage consumption of alcohol
• Vandalism (including, but not limited to, "tagging," malicious mischief, and/or property damage)
• Any other act amounting to a misdemeanor
• I have never at any time in my life committed any of the above acts.

19
Involvement in Criminal Acts - Part 1: Please describe any additional information (i.e. when, where, circumstances, etc.) in the field below for any responses checked in the question above.
20
Involvement in Criminal Acts - Part 2: At any time in your life, have you ever committed any of the following acts? Select as many options as applicable. Please Note: You MUST include any acts committed at any time. Additionally, you may NOT withhold any information regarding your involvement in any of the following acts, even if federal or state law relieved you from reporting the detention, arrest, or conviction that arose from it.

• Arson (intentionally destroying property by setting a fire)
• Assault with a deadly weapon (struck or threatened to strike someone with an instrument likely to cause great bodily injury or death)
• Blackmail or extortion
• Burglary (entering a structure or vehicle to commit theft or other crime)
• Child molestation (performing unlawful acts with a child, sexual touching of a child)
• Elder abuse and/or neglect (physical and/or financial)
• Embezzlement (theft of money or other valuables entrusted to you)
• Felony drunk driving
• Forcible rape
• Forgery (falsifying any type of document, check certificate, license, currency, etc.)
• Fraudulent use of a credit, ATM, debit, and/or check card
• Grand larceny (value of $200 or more, or any firearm)
• Hit & run (with injuries)
• Hate crime (actions based on religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.)
• Illegal sex acts with another
• Insurance fraud
• Murder, homicide, or attempted murder
• Perjury (lying under oath)
• Possession of an explosive/destructive device
• Robbery (theft from another person using a weapon, force, or fear, or of at least $5 directly from a person without force)
• Stalking
• Theft of a vehicle and/or vehicle parts
• Viewing and/or possessing child pornography
• Any other act amounting to a felony (In Vi