Public Safety Communicator – 911 Dispatcher

Position Conditions: This competition will include testing and an interview. Successful applicants will be provided with classroom and on-the-job training. After successful completion of training the employment status will be that of a probationary employee. As a probationary employee, shifts may be 8 to 12 hours in length and include days, evenings, and weekends on a rotating schedule.

NOTE:  Successful applicants must pass a criminal background investigation.  

Rate of Pay: $30.03 per hour. (2025 Rate)

Closing Date: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on October 7th, 2025

This competition will include testing and an interview.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The primary responsibility of a Public Safety Communicator is to receive emergency and non-emergency calls from the public for Police, Fire, and Ambulance services. Through effective information gathering, they assess the nature of each call, determine whether a response is required, and contact the appropriate responding agency when necessary. In addition, they are responsible for maintaining accurate logs, completing necessary paperwork, and entering data into computer systems for all calls and responding units.

The Brandon Public Safety Communication Centre provides services to all participating communities across the Province of Manitoba, excluding the City of Winnipeg. The Centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To ensure continuous coverage, Public Safety Communicators work rotating shifts.

Check out our promotional video to hear directly from our staff about what this role is like and to get a behind-the-scenes look at Brandon’s Public Safety Communication Centre: Public Safety Communications is Hiring

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Receive and process emergency and non-emergency calls from the public for Police, Fire, and Ambulance services.
Assess the nature of incoming calls through effective information gathering and determine the appropriate response.
Dispatch emergency services by contacting the relevant agency and providing accurate and timely information.
Maintain detailed records including logs, reports, and computer data entries for all calls and responding units.
Operate communication equipment including radios, telephones, and computer-aided dispatch systems.
Work collaboratively with other dispatchers, call-takers, and emergency personnel to ensure coordinated response efforts.
Follow established protocols and procedures to ensure consistency and accuracy in emergency response.
Participate in mandatory training and maintain certifications required for dispatch operations.
Work rotating shifts including days, nights, weekends, and holidays to ensure 24/7 coverage of the Brandon Public Safety Communication Centre.
Support quality assurance efforts and may assist in training new staff or cross-training existing personnel.
Respond to extraordinary circumstances and may be required to work beyond scheduled shifts to maintain minimum staffing levels.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in handling sensitive information and emergency situations.

NOTE: This description is not intended to limit the assignment of work or be construed as a complete list of the many duties to be performed by the incumbent.

MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Must be 18 years of age or older and have completed Grade 12 or equivalent.
Keyboarding speed of 40 w.p.m.
Ability to pass a police security clearance including full background investigation (including substance use disclosure) and related checks (including Criminal Record Check, Child & Adult Abuse Registry Check, Vulnerable Sector Check).
Ability to meet vision and hearing standards set by the Department.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Knowledge of emergency and medical terminology to be effective in communicating with various agencies.
Experience and knowledge of emergency services processes.
Prior experience providing high level customer service.

NOTE: The qualifications are not intended to limit the opportunities for interested candidates but provide the candidates with an understanding of the level of expertise required in this position.

WORK CONDITIONS

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS & ABILITIES

The duties of the Public Safety Communicator are carried out primarily in an office environment.

Sits at a desk using keyboard and office equipment (daily).

PSYCHOLOGICAL/STRESS CONDITIONS

The Public Safety Communicator’s workload and environment may affect an employee’s emotional stress level.

Interruptions and calls from multiple areas (daily).
Converse with upset, distraught, and/or confused customers (daily).
Ability to work all shifts 24/7, days, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to work without scheduled breaks when workload dictates.
Short periods of intense concentration while assisting customers (frequently).
Brief periods of time in which an extremely short amount of time is available to complete a project or task (frequently).
Extended periods of time in which information sought by the public must be kept confidential (frequently).

NOTE: The conditions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please ensure to follow the link to the Applicant Handbook which contains detailed information regarding the position, qualifications, and the selection process.  It is essential interested applicants read this information prior to applying.

Please contact [email protected] for a complete job description.

The City of Brandon is committed to an inclusive, barrier free environment and will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those advancing in the competition will be contacted. If contacted to participate in the process, please advise if you require an accommodation. If you are interested in finding out more about the City of Brandon job opportunities as soon as they are posted, please follow us on Facebook or X!