Gwinnett seeks 911 dispatchers at $50,398, with no college degree required

GWINNETT COUNTY — Gwinnett County is recruiting 911 communications officers with a starting salary of $50,398.40, educational pay increases and an additional premium for overnight work.

The full-time position does not require a college degree or previous public-safety experience. Applicants need a high school diploma or GED and two years of work in a fast-paced customer-service, business or telecommunications environment.

The opening offers a possible route into public safety for call-center employees, customer-service representatives and others accustomed to handling several tasks at once. It also comes with a demanding schedule and a hiring process that can take two to three months.

Gwinnett has not disclosed how many communications officers it intends to hire or posted an application deadline. Applications are being accepted through the county’s 911 communications recruiting page.

Starting pay rises by 3% for an applicant with an associate degree and 6% for someone with a bachelor’s degree. That brings the initial annual salary to approximately $51,910 or $53,422, respectively.

Employees assigned to overnight shifts receive another 5% differential. The county also advertises a hiring incentive, though it does not specify its current value online. Applicants should confirm the amount and any repayment requirement before accepting an offer.

The schedule and the work

Communications officers answer emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatch responders and record information through telephone, radio and computer systems.

The Gwinnett 911 Center operates around the clock. Employees work 12-hour shifts that include nights, weekends and holidays.

That schedule provides more full days away from work than a conventional five-day week, but it can be difficult for applicants with fixed child-care needs or other daytime commitments. Candidates must be able to rotate shifts rather than applying only for weekday hours.

The work requires a calm, professional manner in high-stress situations, along with accurate typing, clear communication and the ability to handle several sources of information at once.

What applicants must complete

Candidates must be U.S. citizens because the position requires Georgia public-safety communications certification. They also must pass a background investigation covering criminal, driving, controlled-substance and employment history.

The first major assessment is CritiCALL, a job-simulation test that measures data entry, decision-making and multitasking. Applicants who pass also observe work in the communications center and complete an interview.

A conditional offer may follow. Final employment depends on passing a physical examination, drug screening and psychological evaluation.

Gwinnett says the full application process generally takes 60 to 90 days. That makes the opening less suitable for someone who needs an immediate start, even though the county is recruiting now.

Training begins with classroom instruction at the Gwinnett County Police Training Center in Lawrenceville. New communications officers then complete three phases of supervised on-the-job training, each ending with written and performance examinations.

Benefits beyond the salary

Full-time county employees receive 13 annual-leave days, 13 sick days and 13 paid holidays. Available benefits include medical, dental and vision plans, tuition reimbursement and county-paid basic life and long-term disability insurance.

Gwinnett’s employee-benefits package includes a 401(a) retirement plan. Employees contribute either 5% or 7.5% of pay, while the county contributes 7%. Workers who put at least 3% into the county’s 457(b) deferred-compensation plan can receive an additional 1% county contribution.

The position is based in Lawrenceville, so applicants from Duluth, Suwanee, Sugar Hill and Peachtree Corners should factor the commute into the opportunity.

For people able to manage rotating 12-hour shifts and emotionally difficult calls, the job offers a salaried entry into public service without requiring a four-year degree. The tradeoff is a lengthy screening process, intensive training and work that demands steady judgment under pressure.

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