Communications Dispatcher

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

9h • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Dispatcher will be assigned to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD). The HUPD is responsible for maintaining a public safety environment that supports the mission of Harvard University. The dispatcher will be responsible for communications between police units through various occurrences. Dispatchers will undergo extensive training on all aspects of HUPD’s Communications Center. The HUPD’s Communications Center is a 24/7 operation, and mandatory overtime may apply.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of three (3) years full-time, or equivalent part-time, paid experience in a customer service position. (Primary responsibility is triaging incoming calls and recording information for reporting purposes.)
• Experience with Microsoft Windows is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to type 40 words per minute
• Apply police protocol, which includes, but is not limited to, utilizing sound judgment skills, maintaining a calm demeanor under duress, being able to multitask, and sitting for extended periods.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on the details required of the job.
• Flexibility to work overtime, special events, and emergencies on short notice.

Nice To Haves

• Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) certified
• Prior experience as a Dispatcher for a public safety agency, ambulance company, taxicab service, or delivery service.
• Knowledge of the Cities of Cambridge and Boston’s main streets and intersections.
• Bilingual is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Receiving, transmitting, and disseminating information, both routine and emergency in nature, received from calls for service.
• Work alongside the police units in the field, utilizing various telecommunications equipment, including, but not limited to, Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), a Motorola Radio system, and various alarm monitoring systems.
• Receive and respond to requests from police units for information needed to perform their duties.
• Querying various law enforcement databases (e.g., vehicle registrations, Board of Probation records, and warrants) and other related duties.
• Monitor emails from the community to the department and disseminate that information immediately to the appropriate personnel.
• Monitoring and responding to emails from supervisors and other department personnel.
• Keeping up to date on local, domestic, and international news to better serve the community.
• Attend Roll Call (zoom or in person) while on duty when applicable.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED