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Are you seeking a challenging, rewarding, and gratifying career that's more than just a job? The County of San Mateo would like to invite you to begin a career where you will make a real difference and add significant value to public safety.
 
San Mateo County Public Safety Communications is accepting applications for the position of 911 Communications Dispatcher I.
 
In the life of a 911 Dispatcher, no day is ever routine - one call may be a minor traffic accident, while the next is a frantic voice screaming for help. Using state-of-the-art equipment and extensive training, you will provide emergency dispatch services for the people of San Mateo County. You can be the difference in someone’s life.
 
San Mateo County’s Regional Operations Center, located in Redwood City, is home to Public Safety Communications (PSC). The Center boasts state-of-the-art equipment and communication systems, including a brand-new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The facility provides all the tools for dispatchers to be successful both personally and professionally. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Center allow plenty of natural light and employees can enjoy the use of an onsite gym, Quiet Room, and large, fully equipped employee kitchen.
 
PSC’s leadership philosophy centers around a commitment to customer service, dispatcher wellbeing, and overall excellence.  PSC is committed to providing on-going training and strives for a team environment with open lines of communication. We stress career development and provide a variety of opportunities for employees including Training Officers, Training Instructors, Tactical Dispatch, Fire Incident Dispatch, QA/QC, and opportunities to lead various projects.
 
The County of San Mateo offers competitive salary and benefits. The benefits package includes a choice of medical plans, dental coverage, vision coverage, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and a pension plan. Click here to learn more! 

Examples of Duties

Employees in this classification are trained in, and perform the following duties:

• Receive business or emergency calls for law enforcement, fire, medical, and other public service agencies.
• Screen information to determine nature of call, perform call classification, determine priority and jurisdiction, and document activity.
• Screen and prioritize telephone workload. 
• Remain cognizant of workloads and specific systems status.
• Provide support and assistance in a team concept during day-to-day operations, and critical or large-scale incidents.
• Assist in the coordination of mutual aid incidents.
• Develop and foster a positive working rapport with direct and in-direct customers, the public, and co-workers.
• Testify in court regarding legal proceeding related to dispatch call(s) received.
• Prepare and submit various reports such as incident reports.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of highways, streets, buildings, and major points of interest in the County and adjacent areas.
• Remain current on procedures for manual dispatch operations and Communications Center evacuation.
• Provide off hours services as required.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. 

• A typical way to qualify is a minimum of one year of experience receiving and processing calls while performing multiple tasks simultaneously.

Knowledge of:

• English language, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Customer service and interpersonal communications principles.
• Computer operation and use in office and Communications Center environments.
• Basic principles in communicating by means of face-to-face contact, telephone, and/or data terminals.
• Various resources within the County to provide referrals to the public and public safety agencies.

Skill/Ability to:

• Speak, read, and write English clearly.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, in English, both orally and in writing.
• Comprehend, interpret, relay, and document information via telephone, computer software/ data terminals, or other related technology.
• Screen and interpret general data and filter relevant information.
• Learn and operate Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Systems and other related technology.
• Read and interpret various mapping devices and relay pertinent information.
• Work under pressure, exercising good judgment and common sense while making sound decisions in emergency situations.
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Listen, understand, and relay information via telephone and in person.
• Remain calm and controlled under stressful periods while projecting a professional demeanor.
• Establish and maintain positive and courteous working relationships with customers, the community, and co-workers.
• Work with the Communications Center team while maintaining assigned job responsibilities and duties.
• Anticipate and adapt to fluctuating workloads in the Communications Center.
• Communicate and receive constructive feedback and opinions to affect change.
• Access and refer to information using available resources.
• Read, interpret, understand, and follow written and oral instructions and/or information.
• Remain seated for long periods of time.
• Read and interpret text/data on electronic screens, computer printouts, and a variety of maps.
• Remain focused and be able to hear in a noisy environment while communicating via telephone or face to face.

Other requirements of the position:

• Successfully complete a pre-employment medical examination and be subject to polygraph testing.
• Follow strict drug use standards and guidelines.
• Possess good moral character and psychological suitability as determined by a thorough background investigation, including fingerprinting and psychological evaluation.
• Be willing to work the day, swing, graveyard, rotating, holiday, and weekend shifts.
• Be willing to work 12 to 16 hours per day.
• Be willing to accept overtime assignments, including last minute spontaneous mandatory assignments.

Application/Examination

This is an Open and Promotional recruitment.  Anyone may apply.  Current County of San Mateo employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, Confidential or Management extra-help/limited term, or SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. 
 
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
   
The examination process will consist of an application review and the administration of the computer based CritiCall Examination (weight: 100%).  Applicants whose application passes the application review will be invited to take the CritiCall exam. Candidates who achieve a passing on the CritiCall exam will be placed on the Eligible, or Hiring List based on the order of their score on the exam.  The top seven candidates on the Eligible List will be considered to fill one vacancy.  For each additional vacancy, one additional candidate will be added to those who can be considered for the positions.  

Once the recruitment closes and the applications have been reviewed, applicants will be sent a link to the CritiCall exam.  Applicants will have a 14-day window in which to complete the examination.  Because the exam is computer based, applicants can take the exam at their convenience during the ten-day time frame.

The CritiCall exam is a computer based Public Safety Dispatcher Pre-Employment Skills test. The wide array of tests within the CritiCall exam provides a comprehensive inventory of a candidate's skills and abilities.  Achieving a passing score on the exam is a requirement for employment.  

The examination simulates some of the duties and situations a 911 Communications Dispatcher might encounter on the job.  No specialized knowledge or skills are required to take the exam. 

The CritiCall exam tests for skills and abilities in areas such as decision-making, data entry, call summarization, multi-tasking, cross-referencing, vocalization, character comparison, memory recall, prioritization, mathematics, probability, map reading, reading comprehension, spelling, and sentence clarity.
 
Once the recruitment closes and all applications have been screened, applicants whose applications pass the screening will be sent a link to take the CritiCall exam.  Applicants will have up to ten days to complete the exam.  Complete instructions will be sent in the correspondence regarding registering for and taking the exam.  The exam can be taken at the convenience of the test taker, during the ten specified days.  

Candidates who receive a passing score on the CritiCall exam will be placed on the Hiring List (Eligible List) in the order of the scores from the exam.  The top seven candidates from the Hiring List will be considered for one vacancy.  One additional candidate will be included for each additional vacancy.  

Candidates who successfully pass the CritiCall examination and the panel interview and are being offered a position will be required to complete a pre-employment, POST mandated, background investigation that includes a medical examination and polygraph testing. 

To learn more about the CritiCall examination and its contents please click here: CritiCall Exam. (Download PDF reader)

Specific information about a career as a Dispatcher can be found here:  Career Overview - Dispatch - The Academy.

For more information about the County of San Mateo Office of Public Safety Communications, visit our website at https://911dispatch.smcgov.org/.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

• Final Filing Date for Applications:  May 8, 2024, by 11:59 PM
• Application Screening:  May 13-14, 2024
• CritiCall Exam (window to complete the exam):  May 16, 2024 - May 29, 2024
• Departmental Interviews: To begin the second week of June 2024.

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

HR Contact: Chet Overstreet (04182024) (911 Communications Dispatcher I - V050)

POLICE ADMINISTRATION COLLEGE STUDENT INTERNSHIP
Gilroy Police Department
20 – 25 hours per week 
$16.00 – $18.11 per hour

The City of Gilroy is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Join our team! 


ABOUT THE POSITION
The Gilroy Police Department is actively seeking an undergraduate-level or graduate- level Police Administration College Intern to assist police officers and other professional staff in various divisions. The intern will perform general clerical duties related to crime analysis, youth task form and gang prevention, public safety communication, community outreach, handle confidential information, and assist with other police related projects and assignments. The Police Administration Intern will also engage and interact with the community at various local community events.

The Police Intern will work under the direction of a Police Sergeant and/or Police Captain to help streamline the needs of the multiple units in the Police Department.


ABOUT THE TEAM 
The Gilroy Police Department is a progressive and forward-thinking organization that fosters career growth and seeks to utilize our employees to their fullest potential. Our core values of respect, integrity, compassion, teamwork, innovation, and accountability are a foundation to enhancing police services, community relations, quality partnerships, and meeting the needs of our community whom we are dedicated to serve.


VOLUNTEER WORK SCHEDULE 
Internships can start as early as May 31, 2024 and end as late as September 30, 2024. 
 
This paid internship is offered at 20 – 25 hours per week with flexible scheduling. Interns may request a schedule of their choice during standard work hours as described below. 
 
The office start and end date of the internship will be determined at the time of hire. Work hours are generally Monday – Friday between 8:00am – 5:00pm.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Assisting police officers and other professional staff within Police Department. 
• Prepare and produce 911 audio recordings.
• Communicating and Interacting with the community.  
• Participating in the planning of community events.  
• Develop excel spreadsheets for department permitting programs.
• Assist with other Police Department related projects and events. 

The Department: The Suisun City Police Department is a progressive and proactive law enforcement agency. As a result of its proximity to neighboring jurisdictions, the employees of the Suisun City Police Department remain extremely busy as they address the needs of the community. Candidates interested in testing for this position must be prepared to take on the challenges of a fast-paced work environment serving both the Police and Fire Departments.

The Position: Under supervision (Public Safety Dispatcher I) or general supervision (Public Safety Dispatcher II)  the incumbent performs a variety of duties involved in receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and relaying calls for emergency and non-emergency public safety assistance; dispatches appropriate units and coordinates response of emergency personnel; maintains, processes, and distributes police records; operates a variety of telecommunications equipment, including radio, telephone, and CAD systems; and performs a wide variety of specialized clerical duties involved in the preparation, maintenance, and release of materials related to law enforcement activities.

The City of Burlingame is accepting applications for the position of  Per Diem Communications Dispatcher

This application is for Part-Time employment only.

Our diverse family of employees welcomes you to apply. We are a small city that gets a lot done, and each member of our team is vital to our success as an organization.

We recently asked our employees what they enjoyed most about working for the City of Burlingame, and their responses fell into five general categories:

• Colleagues
• Community
• Location
• The Work
• The Benefits

Browse the Burlingame Welcome Brochure for more information about why employees love  working here or view our City of Burlingame is a Great Place to Work Video: 

Welcome Brochure 

City of Burlingame is a Great Place to Work Video

For more detailed information regarding the minimum qualifications and essential functions of the position, please review the Communications Dispatcher job description.

The City of Sunnyvale is seeking to fill the position of Public Safety Dispatcher with an energetic and highly motivated individual who possesses excellent customer service, technical and interpersonal skills.

 
Under general supervision of the Senior Public Safety Dispatcher, processes emergency and non-emergency calls for service; dispatches police, fire, medical, rescue, animal control or other emergency equipment, by telephone or radio, utilizing complex technical aids, such as computer aided dispatch systems (CAD); and performs related work as required.

The minimum qualifications required for this position are - Graduation from high school or tested equivalent; and Two years of experience dispatching police and/or fire services for a public safety agency utilizing contemporary dispatching technical tools, including computer aided dispatching systems; or successful completion of probation as a Public Safety Dispatcher-in-Training with the City of Sunnyvale.

The City of Sunnyvale provides an excellent benefits package. A complete application packet will consist of a City of Sunnyvale employment application, responses to the required supplemental questions and a current (dated within one year of application) typing certificate verifying 35 or more net words per minute (online typing certificates will not be accepted). The next application review date is March 15, 2024.

For complete information regarding this current opportunity, please visit: Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click on JOBS.

Salary $51.52 - $62.62 Hourly

Are you an experienced police dispatcher looking to expand your horizons and take on more hours? 

Our ideal candidate is an individual who:

• Is currently or recently employed by a recognized law enforcement agency
• Has a minimum of one year successful experience working as a police dispatcher
• Possesses a California POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course Completion Certificate
• Meets or exceeds the POST Public Safety Dispatcher Selection Requirements

This role offers flexible hours, allowing you to contribute on an as-needed basis, making it ideal for those seeking supplemental income or a flexible schedule.

If this opportunity has piqued your interest, don't wait – apply today!

The Department: 

The men and women of the Santa Clara Police Department take tremendous pride in providing the community with outstanding service through the "Santa Clara Way" of service.  In partnership with the citizens, the team provides law enforcement services with professional and dedicated staff. The team will always identify and resolve problems utilizing all available resources and perform services professionally and with a high level of integrity. To learn more visit our website.  

The Position: 

This is a management position in the unclassified service.  An incumbent in this position has the responsibility to plan, organize, lead, and control the operations of the Dispatch Division of the Police Department.  The incumbent, using good management and supervisory skills, manages, motivates, corrects, and evaluates assigned subordinate personnel.  Additionally, the incumbent will transmit messages or documents of a confidential nature.

As a member of the City's Unclassified Service, this is an "at-will" position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager. An incumbent in this classification: demonstrates strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills; sets a good example; and correctly applies the tenets of the City's Code of Ethics and values.

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. 

The annual salary range for this position is $156,770.64 - $202,878.00.  This position will be filled at or near the bottom of the salary range. 

Typical Duties:

Under general direction, duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Screens and recommends the selection of operations personnel; 
• Deals effectively with a wide range of personnel matters;
• Assists in the preparation of the annual budget for Communications Operations;
• Supervises operations personnel;
• Prepares statistical data;
• Conducts and oversees training programs for operations personnel;
• Performs liaison duties with other City departments;
• Coordinates emergency operations between various departmental personnel and equipment;
• Operates computer equipment for information essential to the operation of the department;
• Acts as the custodian of record for retention of recorded data;
• Maintains statistical information and other necessary data;
• Investigates and resolves complaints received from the public, user departments and other agencies;
• Counsels employees when appropriate; and
• Performs related duties as required for the position, including dispatching in times of emergency or when needed.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Equivalent to graduation from high school and thirty (30) semester units of college level work with an emphasis in public safety, supervision and management, public administration or related subjects; and
• Five years' experience dispatching in the public safety field, at least two (2) years of which having been at the supervisory level.
Possible Substitutions:
• Administrative or supervisory experience in a public safety department may be substituted for the dispatching experience on a year for year basis.

LICENSE
Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at time of appointment and for duration of employment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
• Willing to respond to callback in case of major emergencies or local disasters;
• Willing to work Saturdays and odd, irregular and unusual hours;
• Will be required to pass a City background investigation, which will include fingerprinting, polygraph and/or psychological testing; and
• Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:
• Two way radio and telephone communications operations; and
• The rules and regulations of the FCC as they pertain to two way radio telephone communications.

Ability to:
• Schedule, organize, train, lead, and manage the work of subordinates;
• Spell correctly and write legibly;
• Enunciate clearly and distinctly;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, fellow workers and related agencies;
• Carry out oral and written instructions;
• Initiate and maintain written records and to write reports of unusual occurrences;
• Oversee the instruction and training of subordinates in operational procedures;
• Work in a team based environment and achieve common goals;
• Effectively handle multiple priorities, organize workload and meet strict deadlines;
• Maintain composure and work accurately in emergency situations;
• Operate computer and other business tools; and
• Bend, stoop, reach, walk up and down stairs and stand or sit for prolonged periods of time.
 

Additional Information: 

You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applications must be filled out completely (i.e. do not write “see resume or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and, 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. This recruitment is open until filled and applications will be screened every 2-3 weeks. A first review of applications will be on January 31, 2024. 

The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov. 

The City of San Mateo Police Department is looking for highly qualified, experienced Dispatchers to join our team!

The Foster City Police Department is seeking a dedicated and highly skilled individual to join our team as an Entry Level or Lateral Police Fire Dispatcher. 

Under general supervision, receives police and emergency calls and dispatches police units following prescribed procedures; answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments; performs a variety of general administrative support duties including record keeping, typing, and filing; and performs related work as required. 

This journey-level non-sworn classification is responsible for independently performing the full range of receiving and dispatching emergency call duties in support of the Police Department. Positions at this level exercise judgment and initiative in their assigned tasks, receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from the Police Dispatch Supervisor in that the latter is the serves as the first level supervisor within the Dispatch Bureau. 

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:  

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and one (1) year of experience working with radio and computer equipment in the field of law enforcement, fire, or medical dispatching. 

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License
• Possess a POST Dispatcher test certificate with a passing score of 55 and higher and meet updated training requirements as per POST guidelines.

Lateral dispatchers do not need to send a copy of the POST certificate but must have experience as a public safety dispatcher.

The City of Menlo Park currently has an excellent opportunity for experienced Communications Dispatchers. Shift work including weekends and holidays is required.

Communications Dispatchers are responsible for receiving and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls for the Police Department and City.  Responsibilities are centered on extensive contact with the public over the telephone, in both emergency and non-emergency situations to receive, transmit, and provide factual information and assistance.  All activities are performed within specified legal guidelines.  Incumbents are expected to work independently and exercise judgment and initiative.

A job description, including examples of typical job functions and qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities, is available by clicking on the Job Description PDF.