COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
VACANCY ANN: STOI-26-067
TITLE: COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUPERVISOR: LEAD DISPATCHER
LOCATION: WELLPINIT, WA
STATUS: REGULAR FULL-TIME
RATE OF PAY: $23.00 PER HOUR
OPENING DATE: JULY 29, 2026
CLOSING DATE: AUGUST 12, 2026
INTRODUCTION:
Under the general supervision of the Lead Dispatch / Communications Specialist, Communication specialist duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for the handling of all incoming communications via telephone, radio, and in person. Communication specialists are also responsible for recording and documenting such communications. Communications Specialist are responsible for the maintenance of records and various legal documents as well as the performance of various clerical duties. Duties may include the compilation of statistics, creation of reports, reporting, filing, and indexing. Work involves the use of standard office equipment, including radio, audio video, and multiple computer terminals.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- The incumbent must be able to carry out instructions.
- Interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, picture, or schedule form; understand, interpret and apply laws, rules, or regulations to specific situations.
- Prepare routine correspondence; prepare accurate documentation; compile and prepare reports.
- Respond to inquiries from the public and/or officials; communicate effectively.
- Maintain records according to established procedures and policies
- Handle sensitive or technical inquiries from contacts with officials and general public.
- Operate a two-way radio to receive and transmit messages.
- Receives and transmits emergency and non-emergency calls and logs all phone calls and radio transmissions into software system
- Dispatch and direct emergency personnel consider call priority, availability and the number and types of personnel needed
- Coordinates police business with other departments and jurisdictions when needed
- Solicit informational responses, coordinate and communicate responses and monitor on-going activities as received.
- Upload and enter court documents into the Spilman Technologies system.
- Assist in providing on-the-job training for new Operators and other departmental personnel designated for training.
- Exercise discretion in a manner consistent with Departmental Policy, Procedures orders, and directives and Information Privacy.
- Understand and operate within judicial processes and jurisdictional limitations.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with in-house staff as well as other jurisdictions including state, federal and tribal.
- Monitor security cameras for other businesses and or schools.
- Perform all duties in a professional and safe manner
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR POSITION:
- Must have a working knowledge of the layout of the Spokane Indian Reservation
- Good spoken and written English; basic knowledge of (or trainable in) radio procedures; basic knowledge of (or trainable in) departmental policies, practices and standard operating procedures; knowledge and utilization of appropriate resources and the willingness to initiate use of available resources.
- Have knowledge of Crime Reporting Information System (CRIS), Spillman CAD reporting system or similar systems,
- Knowledge of Privacy Act for the purpose of confidentiality.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Possess a valid Washington State driver’s license, have a good driving record
- Must pass a pre-employment drug screen test and random drug testing thereafter.
- Computer experience required, with the ability to use required software; MS Word, Excel and Computer aided dispatching systems.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS REQURED:
- Omnix / ACCESS
- BIA communication certificate (Basic telecommunications)
- Washington Telecommunicator
- Security awareness
Positions with the Spokane Tribal Law Enforcement Division are subject to a one (1) year Probationary Period that begins upon successful completion of basic telecommunications training, unless basic academy criteria are met at time of employment, then probation will begin upon date of hire.
*Indian Preference Applies – Indian Preference grants preference to any enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.
Confirmation receipt of on-line application submission and interview status will be sent to all applicants e-mail address used when applying. Applicants are responsible to regularly monitor their e-mail for interview notifications.
Contact: HR FRONT DESK
(509) 458-6527
E-mail: hrfrontdesk@spokanetribe.com
Applications Must Be Received In The Human Resources Department No
Later Than 4:30 p.m. on the Closing Date
The Spokane Tribe Reserves The Right To Hire According To Its Indian Preference Policy
Applicants May be Subject To A Pre-Employment Drug Test Positions
All Positions With The Spokane Tribe Are Subject To A-90 Day Orientation
HR January 2023
Spokane Tribe Human Resources: January 2023
- Active Employees January 2023: 479
- Positions Advertised January 2023: 7
- Interviews January 2023: 6
- New Hires January 2023 : 5
- New Hires October 2022: 8
- New Hires November 2022: 8
- New Hires December 2022: 6
| Total Tribal Preference – January 2023 | Temporary | Regular Part Time | Seasonal | Regular Full Time | Total | % (Rounded) |
| Spokane (s)11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 244 | 278 | 58% |
| Spouse of Spokane (sp) | 9 | 9 | 2% | |||
| First Decendent Spokane (sd) | 2 | 2 | 15 | 19 | 4% | |
| Member of Other Tribe (m) | 4
|
3 | 3 | 70 | 80 | 17% |
| Hispanic (h) | 3 | 3 | 1% | |||
| Black (b) | 4 | 4 | 1% | |||
| White (w) | 4 | 2 | 80
|
86
|
18% | |
| Total:18 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 425 | 479 | 100% |
Project 2022-2023: Spokane Tribe Policy Manual, Update
The Spokane Tribal Government has been working on the development of a new employee policy manual since early Spring 2022. HR has been working with the Office of the Spokane Tribal Reservation Attorney’s Office (OSTA), Richard McGee Law Office, LLC and the Tribal Business Council (TBC). The initial meeting focus was to gain direction for policy development which will encompass the unique sovereignty of the Spokane Tribe.
The first task has been to receive guidance from the Business Council. The second task will be to establish the necessary input from the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and finalize the new employee manual. The Executive Leadership Team consists of all Directors within the Spokane Tribe’s Government.
January 2023 Update: A draft is currently being finalized with the Legal team. Once the draft is completed, ELT will be introduced to the process of working together to provide more detail to the initial framework done by Legal and the TBC.
Project 2023: Technical Writer, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
At the direction of the Acting Executive Director, the development of (formal) Department SOPs will be underway in 2023. The Tribe has launched the project by seeking professional services to begin working with ELT staff. The project will help to establish formal departmental procedures, which will deliver quality, consistency and transparency for employees, clientele, and the community as a whole.
January 2023 Update: The bids are being scored and reviewed to determine the professional service provider for this project.
Project 2023: Compensation Policy Update
This project began in 2019, pre-Covid. The project was approved by the OED and TBC after at least two other attempts by prior administration in earlier years. The Spokane Tribe engaged the services of the Bluestone Strategy Group.
As a result of Covid-19 impacts and administrative barriers, the project did not reach full implementation as intended. The goal for 2023 is to update the compensation study with current local market comparisons.
Funding challenges are anticipated. Some programs have adequate funding resources, while others do not. The responsibility remains with leadership to ensure funding challenges can be overcome. TBC has been eager to encourage and support leadership’s ability to plan for success. The opportunity is that the Tribe has this compensation structure with guidelines to aim for. The compensation policy and guidelines establish consistent, fair, and equitable compensation for employee recruitment and retention.
January 2023 Update: The project is ready to launch once the initial agreement is signed. The target goal is to launch in February 2023 to be completed by May of 2023 in time for the FY 24 fiscal planning deadlines in July 2023.
Project 2022/2023: Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (PL 202-630)
Pursuant to the Federal Code of Regulations 25 Part 63, SS 63.1, “The Tribe is required to establish minimum standards of character and suitability for employment for individuals whose duties and responsibilities allow the regular contact with or control over Indian children, and to establish the method for distribution of funds to support tribally operated programs to protect Indian children and reduce the incidents of family violence in Indian country as authorized by the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-630”.
The ELT is currently in the process to formally designate the 101.630 positions within the Tribal Government. Additional policy development is also underway to begin working with the FBI to administer the backgrounding process and remain in compliance with the federal mandate.
January 2023 Update: Currently we are awaiting completion and approval of the FBI process to give the Spokane Tribe authorization to conduct FBI backgrounds.





