Communications Dispatcher

Please note: Shift hours are primarily 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM and serving a floater (filling in on the 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM or 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM shifts) four days on, two days off rotation.

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.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

(Include, but are not limited to, the following) 

• 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. 

Working Conditions:

• Primary schedule is 11:00 PM–7:00 AM on a four-days-on, two-days-off rotation, with floating coverage on 7:00 AM–3:00 PM or 3:00 PM–11:00 PM shifts. Work is on-site in a climate-controlled environment, sometimes from a Mobile Command Center, and may require relocation to an alternate work location.

• The role requires the ability to sit or stand for long periods, move between workstations (including bending and stretching), and work in close proximity to others while wearing a uniform. Strong vision and hearing are needed to operate computers, phones, and radios.

• This is an essential personnel role with frequent phone interactions, requiring you to triage calls, manage frequent interruptions, maintain periods of intense concentration, and perform well under stress and pressure.

• You must be available to work holidays, weekends, all shifts, overtime (including mandatory overtime), in inclement weather, and during declared emergencies. Remote work is not available.