What are the responsibilities and job description for the Central Communications Operator position at Sentara?
Overview
Sentara Health is hiring a Central Communications Operators
Sign on bonus of up to $5000 for eligible candidates
This position is on-site in Harrisonburg or Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Position Status: Full-time First , second and third shift opportunities.
Position Location: Rockingham Atrium – Harrisonburg, VA / Sentara Independence – Virginia Beach, VA
Standard Working Hours:
- First Shift -6:00 AM - 4:30 PM / 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM /9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
- Third Shift: 9:00 PM – 7:30 AM ; 11PM-7:30 AM / 9:30 PM - 6:00 AM
Rotating weekends required. Must work 3 holidays.
Central Communications Operators play a critical role in ensuring seamless, timely communication across Sentara hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, and afterhours call services. Operating within a centralized, 24/7 environment, this role serves as the primary hub for emergency and nonemergency communications—supporting rapid response coordination, internal escalation, and exceptional customer service. Success in this role requires the ability to stay calm under pressure, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and communicate with urgency and precision during high impact situations.
Education
High School Diploma or equivalent (Required)
Certification/Licensure
No specific certification or licensure required at time of hire
Experience
2 years of experience in a high-volume, fast-paced communications, call center, or service operations environment, such as healthcare, emergency services, telecommunications, public safety, or centralized customer support (Required)
The ideal candidate will possess the following (Preferred):
Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately
Knowledge of emergency codes and hospital incident command systems
Proficiency with multi-line phone systems, paging systems and emergency notification platforms
Experience with electronic health record systems and call management software
Ability to troubleshoot communication equipment under pressure.
High attention to detail and accuracy in documentation