Communications Operator

Posting Number: PN -26-01 Job Type

• Permanent Full -time, 4 Vacancies - Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association
• Casual Part-Time, Multiple Vacancies - Non-Union Group

Salary Range: $73,918 per year to $123,197 per year Posted: Thursday, July 2, 2026 Application Deadline: Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 11:59 pm The Opportunity

Barrie Fire and Emergency Service (BFES) is a team of dedicated professionals delivering a vast array of emergency services to the citizens, business and visitors to Barrie. Originally organized in 1844, BFES has become one of the most respected fire services in Ontario, providing high-level service in: fire inspection/code enforcement, fire protection, technical rescue, training, communications, origin and cause investigations, and emergency management planning.

Under the general guidance and direction of the Communications Officer, the Communications Operator position is responsible for call processing from receipt of call to the dispatching of fire apparatus for Barrie Fire and Emergency Service and for those municipalities or other agencies with which contractual agreements are in effect. Specifically, this position receives calls, collects, and relays information to the appropriate personnel or unit, conveys instructions, information, and direction to the service requester, and maintains radio communication with emergency responders. Additionally, this position maintains documentation of all calls and ensures communications equipment is regularly tested. Overall, this position plays an integral role in delivering timely and appropriate emergency services to the residents of the City of Barrie and the surrounding municipalities.

Our Culture and Qualifications of the Job Corporate Culture: Your workplace values align with our corporate values of Strive, Share and Care and you want to join us in providing exceptional services and programs to build a prosperous, growing and sustainable community.

Equally important to what we do is how we do it - your actions reflect our core accountabilities of Personal Awareness, Teamwork and Collaboration, Respect and Inclusion, Innovation, and Service Excellence, which define how we work together to succeed.

Education (degree/diploma/certifications)

• Secondary School Diploma
• Eligibility for and willingness to obtain the Emergency Services Communicator Certification from an accredited association, organization, or institution
• Eligibility for and willingness to obtain the following National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) qualifications
  • NFPA 1061 - Standard for Public Safety Telecommunications Personnel Professional Qualifications Level I and II

Experience

• Demonstrated dispatching experience
• Demonstrated experience in a customer service work environment

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

• General knowledge of the following legislation, regulations, or requirements:
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA);
  • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
  • Ontario Human Rights Code;
  • Workplace Safety Insurance Act;
  • Fire Protection and Prevention Act;
  • Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA);
  • Office of the Fire Marshal Guidelines;
  • Fire Marshal’s Directives;
  • NFPA 1225 - Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems;
  • Ontario Fire Code; and
  • Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association (BPFFA)
• General knowledge of the following principles and standards:
  • Communications best practices
  • NFPA 1225 -– Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunications Personnel Qualifications
• General knowledge of fire, rescue and emergency incident management and medical services
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • perform calmly and effectively in highly stressful, emergency situations
  • maintain a high standard of public relations at all times
  • interact effectively and courteously with all levels of staff and contacts in a political and community/client service environment
  • enter, transcribe, record, store, and maintain information in written or electronic form
  • listen to, interpret, and understand information and ideas presented verbally
  • communicate and present information to a wide range of internal and external contacts using the appropriate medium
  • exercise discretion and judgment in order to make sound decisions under tight timelines/deadlines or while managing multiple project or conflicting priorities
• Intermediate computer literacy utilizing Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word)
• Intermediate administrative, customer service, interpersonal, written communication skills
• Advanced verbal communication skills
• Basic keyboarding speed of 40 wpm

Conditions of Employment

• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check*

• Please note that this is a requirement for any new employees to the City of Barrie in accordance with the Police Record Check Policy . Existing employees who have met this criteria will be exempt from this requirement.

Other Important Information Location: Barrie Fire and Emergency Services, Station 1, 155 Dunlop Street West, Barrie, Ontario

Hours

• Permanent Full-Time: Will be an average of forty-two (42) hours per week, in accordance with four (4) days on and four (4) days off with repeating schedules: two (2) twelve hour shifts (7:30am - 7:30pm) followed by two (2) twelve hour night shifts (7:30pm - 7:30am), or 9:00am - 9:00pm.
• Casual Part-Time: Schedule to be determined based on operational needs.
• All schedules include weekends and holidays.

Wage

• Permanent Full-Time: Annual salary $73,918 per year to $123,197 per year ($33.73 per hour to $56.22 per hour) and in accordance with the BPFFA Collective Agreement
• Casual Part-Time: $33.73 per hour

What We Offer

• Permanent Full-Time: Comprehensive union (BPFFA) benefit plan, including but not limited to extended health and dental coverage, life and accident insurance, paid vacation, sick leave plan, OMERS pension plan, discounted rate for City Fitness Memberships and Transit Passes, and access to the Perkopolis Perks program.
• Casual Part-Time: Optional enrollment in the OMERS Primary pension plan, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), discounted rates for City Fitness Memberships and Transit Passes, and access to the Perkopolis Perks program.

How to Apply: Click the ‘

’ button at the top and/or bottom of the job posting to start the application process. Please note that emailed applications will not be considered.

Why Barrie?

The City of Barrie is a vibrant, progressive, and growing community with deep connections to our heritage, to nature and to the opportunities surrounding us.

Our community values quality of life; the ability to play year-round with 300 hectares of park space, our beautiful waterfront, our lively downtown core and the nearby hills, wetlands, and forests. We also value connections; to our neighbours and the community, to our road and rail network, and to the opportunity Barrie provides to enjoy life.

Everything Barrie has to offer, from the water we drink to the roads we travel on, has one thing in common - municipal workers. Joining a municipality is one of the most rewarding, engaging, and exciting careers you could choose. It is a career you can take pride in knowing that every day you make a positive impact on an entire community. We are one team, with one goal and we all work together to continue making our community great.