Casual Dispatcher (Casual Position)

Casual Dispatcher (Casual Position)

Amherst Campus
Part Time
JR6316

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Casual Dispatcher position. The Casual Dispatcher is a part-time, casual position with no benefits.


The expected salary range for this job opportunity is: $23.00-25.00 per hour.

The salary offered will vary based on a number of factors, including but not limited to relevant education, training, and experience, tenure status, and other nondiscriminatory business considerations.

The casual dispatcher may be assigned to work on Saturday or Sunday from 7 AM to 3 PM Casual Dispatchers may also be offered evening or overnight shifts in the absence of a full-time dispatcher.

Adhering to the principles of community engagement and community-oriented problem solving, the Dispatcher provides the initial point of contact for an emergency response to criminal activity, fires, medicals, fire alarms, and intrusion alarms. The Dispatcher also provides community service as the college's operator.


The Dispatcher position is considered an essential position, meaning the employee is expected to report to work even if the College is closed for weather-related or other reasons. Some overtime, weekend, and occasional shift change work is required. Due to the nature of the position, must respond to emergencies as needed.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Public Safety Dispatcher

• Answers five emergency lines, four Police business lines, multiple college operator lines, and the direct line to the Amherst Police and Fire Departments. Collects information from calling parties as well as walk-ins to the station in a timely manner and disseminates that information to the appropriate entities i.e. Police, ACEMS, Safe RIDE, Environmental Health and Safety, Amherst Fire, Facilities, Office of Student Affairs, or any other office on campus.
  
• Utilizes the National Crime Information Center and Criminal Justice Information System to respond to requests for information from on-duty police officers, e.g. license, warrant, and criminal history checks.
  
  
• Monitors fire, intrusion, panic, and other alarms. Monitors cameras on campus.
  
• Activates the college's emergency mass notification system as directed by a ranking officer.
  
• Provides emergency instructions, calls in personnel after hours, and supports and assists the community as a whole in a supportive and professional manner.
  
• Records details in the Automated Record Management System (ARMS) database. The Police Department uses information stored in this system to comply with the state law on Public Police Logs, to keep the administration of the College informed of police department activity, to create records of crime and prosecute criminal cases, and to compile statistics for the Federal Clery Compliance document. This information is often highly confidential, and sensitive in nature, and protected by law.
  

Administrative Support

• Operator: Answers the Amherst College external published general phone line.
  
• Directs visitors and callers to the many diverse events on campus. Utilize the Event Management System (EMS) program to access room reservations and function schedules to provide accurate information.
  
• Pool Vehicles: Verifies the prescheduled use of the Pool Vehicles, ensuring the driver is credentialed and has been authorized to operate a Pool Vehicle utilizing the Event Management System (EMS) scheduling software and the Five College Credentialing site.
  
• Access Control Buildings: Assists authorized contractors and staff in getting keys. They also are a key link in the One Card system, issuing temporary identification, controlling access upon the direction of a police officer.
  
• Parking: Issues parking permits to students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors.
  

Qualifications:

Required

• Related experience in law enforcement, security, or dispatching
  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and ability to learn new software programs
  
• Attention to detail
  
• Strong problem-solving and time management skills, as well as the ability to multitask
  
• Demonstrated interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, as well as exercise diplomacy, and function efficiently under extreme conditions
  
• Requires sensitivity to issues of confidentiality
  
• Successful completion of required reference and background checks
  

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Career icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

To apply, visit

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