Communications Operator
City of Navasota | Navasota, TX 77868Date Posted: 2/11/2026 | Last Day to Apply: 4/17/2026
Job Description: COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR
CLASS NO. 1040 EEOC CATEGORY: Office and Clerical
PAY GROUP: C1 FLSA: Nonexempt
Summary of Position
Ensures smooth operation of day-to-day telecommunication functions for the police, fire departments, and EMS.
Summary of Duties
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
- Reports to: Office & Communications Supervisor.
- Directs: This is a non-supervisory position.
- Other: Works closely by 911, telephone, radio, teletype, computer, or in person with other city departments, agencies, and the general public.
Essential Duties
- Receives and records incoming calls on both the telephone and two-way radio (including animal control and 9-1-1 calls), evaluates calls, and directs calls to appropriate staff, officers, and/or agencies;
- Monitors radio frequencies of law enforcement, fire, wrecker, and ambulance personnel;
- Dispatches appropriate units for emergencies;
- Dispatches animal control;
- Performs computer-assisted and manual record checks for officers on individuals, locations, vehicles and other property, sometimes verifying warrants, suspended or expired license, or reports of stolen property with the originating agency;
- Maintains, updates, and accesses various logs and computer data files of officer activities (incident reports, accident reports, stolen or repossessed property logs, maps, shift logs, etc.) and performs data entry of officer activities for logs and records;
- Monitors burglary and fire alarms, and notifies property owners and police as necessary;
- Completes forms and reports either on the computer or typewriter;
- Operates recording equipment for 9-1 -1 and telephone calls;
- Assists local and out-of-state deaf persons using a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD);
- Enters information into Texas and National Crime Information computer systems, and validates information against printed reports;
- Files departmental records;
- Performs trace on 9-1 -1 hang-up calls;
- Alerts state and federal agencies of stolen vehicles and property, missing persons, etc., using a teletype machine;
- Prints computerized forms for officers as necessary;
- Provides directions to citizens;
- Maintains files on repossessed automobiles;
- Maintains on-call status and works overtime as necessary.
Other Important Duties
Performs such other related duties as may be assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of: radio transmission procedures and Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations governing operation of radio and teletype transmitting and receiving; law enforcement practices and procedures.
Skill/Ability to: type or enter information accurately; operate, or demonstrate ability to learn to operate, a computer; use radio and electronic data communications equipment; demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written communication; work tactfully with the general public; speak clearly and concisely; accurately handle several items at one time during stressful situations; understand and follow instructions, policies, rules, and regulations; analyze information and formulate quick, effective and reasonable responses; maintain accurate records; work varied shifts; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers; and maintain appropriate necessary certifications.
Qualifications
ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
- High school diploma or its equivalent (GED), graduation from a state-approved telecommunicator course with a current valid TCOLE license, or the ability to obtain a TCOLE license;
- not have been convicted, placed on probation, or ordered community supervision by a court of a class B misdemeanor or higher in the last ten years;
- not have been convicted of family violence;
- not ever have been convicted of an offense Class A Misdemeanor or above;
- have not been discharged from any branch of military service for less than honorable conditions.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED
Telecommunications Operator Certification from the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement (TCOLE) within one year of employment. Appropriate Texas driver’s license.
Supplemental Information
JOB PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND/OR EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The City will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the American Disabilities Act Amendment Act, and all other Federal, State and Local legislative requirements. The Facility will ensure that reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of that position.
To view the full City of Navasota 2025-2026 Employee Benefits Guide, click here.
- Health Insurance – Health insurance coverage is paid 100% for all employees and subsidized cost for dependents.
- Vision Insurance – Vision insurance coverage is paid 100% for all employees.
- Dental Insurance – Dental insurance coverage is paid 100% for all employees.
- Life Insurance – The City provides basic Life insurance & Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. The policy will pay your beneficiary $50,000 for the employee, $5,000 for the spouse, and $2,000 for children up to age 25 years of age. Supplemental Life and AD&D insurance is also available for employees.
- Retirement: Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)
- 5% - 2 to 1 match (will increase to 6% effective January 1, 2026)
- Vested at 5 years of service
- Retire after 25 years of service in TMRS
- Supplemental Death Benefit of $7,500
- Voluntary 457 Retirement Plan through MissionSquare Retirement
- Vacation– Employees accrue vacation based on years of service (see the below schedule). Employees cannot carry more than 160 hours (20 days) into the following calendar year.
- 0-9 Years of Service is 12 days (8 hours/month)
- 10-14 Years of Service 15 days (10 hours/month)
- 15+ Years of Service 20 days (13.34 hours/month)
- Sick – Sick leave is accrued at 8 hours per month (96 hours per year). Maximum sick leave accrual is 120 days (960 hours).
- Holidays – The City pays employees for 12 holidays per year: New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
- Longevity – After three years of service, receive longevity pay at a rate of $4 per month for each year of service.
- Child-Care – The City of Navasota has partnered with Navasota ISD and their Lil’ Rattler Academy to offer city employees with children needing day-care to participate in the NISD Lil’ Rattler program at a reduced cost to the employee. The city would pay a) ½ cost for the first child, and b) ¼ cost for the second child. No subsidized cost for more than two children; employee would be required to pay full cost for more than 2 children.
- Voluntary Permanent Life Insurance - life insurance you can take with you when you change jobs or retire.
- Voluntary Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance - Disability insurance provides benefits that replace part of your lost income when you become unable to work due to a covered injury or illness.
- Voluntary Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance - voluntary benefits that are designed to complement your health care coverage and allow you to customize benefits to you and your family’s needs.
- Voluntary Legal Insurance - Legal insurance covers a wide range of legal needs to help you address life's legal situations.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)/ Dependent Care FSA - FSAs allow you to set aside a portion of your income, before taxes, to pay for qualified health care and/or dependent care expenses. Because that portion of your income is not taxed, you pay less in federal
income, Social Security and Medicare taxes. - Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Life is full of challenges and sometimes balancing them all can be difficult. We are proud to provide a confidential program dedicated to supporting the emotional health and well-being of our employees and their families. The EAP is provided at NO COST to you and your dependents.
- Tuition Reimbursement - Full-time employees are eligible for reimbursement up to 60% of eligible expenses annually, not to exceed
$40,000.00 per employee over the entire duration of employment at the City, unless determined otherwise by City Manager, including fees for tuition, mandatory fees, and parking permit fees. - Parental Leave - Paid Parental Leave (PPL) is provided to eligible employees who are birth mothers, biological fathers, or adoptive or foster mothers or fathers. Employees eligible for PPL must also be FMLA eligible and must have been full-time employees for at least one (1) year immediately prior to using PPL. Eligible employees will be provided up to three (3) contiguous weeks (120 hours maximum, 126 hours maximum for police, and 160 hours maximum for fire shift personnel) of PPL immediately following birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child.
- Catastrophic Leave - Regular full-time employees with twelve (12) or more months of continuous employment with the City may elect to transfer earned sick leave time to the City of Navasota Catastrophic Leave Pool ("Pool"). The leave time in this Pool may then be used by eligible employees for catastrophic illness or injury, as defined and under the terms and conditions set forth by the City of Navasota and described within the Catastrophic Leave Pool Policy.
- Certification Pay - The City of Navasota encourages its employees to pursue opportunities to earn advanced training relative to their job duties and positions. Certification pay for a wide variety of certifications is available to full-time employees. The maximum total of all certifications pay cannot exceed $250.00 per month/$3,000.00 per year for non-public safety employees and $300.00 per month/$3,600.00 per year for police and fire department employees.
Please view the job details & submit an application here: Communications Operator
