What are the responsibilities and job description for the Central Communications Operator position at sentara?
City/State Harrisonburg, VA Work Shift Multiple shifts available Overview: Overview Sentara Health is hiring a Central Communications Operators 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 AM - 4:30 PM Shift Second Shift: 2:00 PM – 10:30 PM or 4:30 PM – 1:00 AM Third Shift: 9:00 PM – 7:30 AM ; 11 PM-7:30 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 Benefits: Caring For Your Family and Your Career • Medical, Dental, Vision plans • Adoption, Fertility and Surrogacy Reimbursement up to $10,000 • Paid Time Off and Sick Leave • Paid Parental & Family Caregiver Leave • Emergency Backup Care • Long-Term, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness plans • Life Insurance • 401k/403B with Employer Match • Tuition Assistance – $5,250/year and discounted educational opportunities through Guild Education • Student Debt Pay Down – $10,000 • Reimbursement for certifications and free access to complete CEUs and professional development •Pet Insurance •Legal Resources Plan •Colleagues have the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus if established system and employee eligibility criteria is met. Sentara Health is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on the diversity and inclusiveness of its close to an almost 30,000-member workforce. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a guiding principle of the organization to ensure its workforce reflects the communities it serves. In support of our mission “to improve health every day,” this is a tobacco-free environment. For positions that are available as remote work, Sentara Health employs associates in the following states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Sentara Health is a Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina based not-for-profit integrated healthcare provider that has been in business for over 131 years. Offering hundreds of sites of care including 12 hospitals, PACE, home health, hospice, medical groups, imaging services, therapy, outpatient surgery centers, and an 858,000 member health plan. The people of the communities that we serve have nominated Sentara “Employer of Choice” for over ten years. U.S. News and World Report has recognized Sentara as having the Best Hospitals for 15 years. Sentara offers professional development and a continued employment philosophy!