Career Opportunities

A 911 telecommunicator is the critical first contact for emergencies, answering calls, gathering vital information calmly, prioritizing needs, and dispatching first responders via radio while providing support.

• Answer incoming emergency and routine assistance calls;
• Dispatch emergency response personnel, including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical professionals;
• Receive and accurately relay information and requests for the communications center;
• Provide Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) instructions;
• Enter data into WESCOM and State computer databases;
• Operate radio and telecommunication systems, including computer-aided dispatching (CAD) equipment, telephone devices for the deaf (TDD/TTY), fax machines, and telephones;
• Maintain knowledge of current communication policies and procedures;
• Maintain knowledge of local, state, and national dispatch standards;
• Participate in ongoing training;
• Activate emergency warning notifications;
• Perform clerical and general office functions;
• Provide court testimony as required;
• Monitor bank, business, and residential alarms;
• Operate LEADS systems in accordance with the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division standards.

All training requirements are performed during work hours and are paid for by WESCOM.

Required:

• Must be at least 18 years of age at the date of hire;
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• Must be legally eligible to be employed in the United States;
• Must not have been convicted of a felony;
• Must be proficient in the English language;
• Must have the ability to work any shift, including weekdays, weekends, and holidays;
• Must have a valid state ID or driver's license for IDPH licensure requirements.

Preferred:

• Strong multi-tasking, analytical, and logical problem-solving skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work one-on-one, in a group environment, and both in-person and through communication systems.
  
  

*Benefits and salary are subject to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires April 30, 2028.

• Salary: $54,990 to $84,031, with opportunity for overtime pay
  • Those with prior full-time telecommunicator experience may be eligible to move to a higher pay step upon completion of training.
• Pension: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
• Health Insurance (effective first day of employment):
  • BlueCross BlueShield PPO or HMO
  • Humana Vision & Dental PPO
  • $75,000 employer-sponsored life insurance
• Paid Holidays: 11 days with overtime and double-time pay for holidays worked
• Vacation: Between 80 hours and 200 hours based on years of service at WESCOM
• Other Paid-Time Off:
  • Two personal days each calendar year
  • Eligibility to earn perfect attendance days
  • Opportunity to convert overtime pay into compensatory time off
  • 96 sick hours earned each year and able to accrue up to 960 hours

• Must be able to work in-person in a call center environment;
• Must have 20/20 vision (or correctable to 20/20 vision);
• Must be able to hear out of both ears in the normal range of 30 DB at 500 to 2000 Hz range;
• Must be capable of sitting for long periods of time;
• Must be able to wear a headset;
• Must be able to have a range of motion to the extent that allows the employee to type and activate radio and phone systems.

• Rotation of 8 to 10-hour shifts, 4 days on/2 days off, with a maximum of 12 hours with overtime;
• Shift hours range from 0700 - 1500, 1500 - 2300, and 2300 - 0700, with shift bidding in accordance with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

• Applicants must attend WESCOM's orientation and take the initial dispatching application test on-site.
• Upon receiving test scores, WESCOM will contact eligible applicants to schedule an in-person interview and perform a typing test.
• Applicants will have a background check and criminal history check performed.
• Eligible applicants will be required to take a polygraph on-site.
• After receiving a conditional offer, eligible applicants will be required to take a psychological evaluation (virtual) and a pre-employment physical (off-site).

WESCOM pays for all pre-employment testing.