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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)

*LATERAL HIRING INCENTIVES

· Hiring Bonus $2,500 - $10,000 (DOE)

· 50 Hrs. Sick & 50 Hrs. Vacation @ Hire

· Reduced Training Period

· Reduced Probationary Period

· Relocation Assistance May Be Available

*Lateral Hiring Incentives Eligibility: Must be currently employed with an adult county, state, or federal correctional institution.

The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department is currently accepting applications to establish an eligibility list for the classification of Correctional Officer.  Under continuing supervision incumbents perform a wide variety of support in two areas: corrections, in which incumbents ensure the security, safety and care of individuals in custody; and bailiff, in which incumbents ensure the safety and security of the courts and their personnel during court proceedings; and perform related work as assigned. Incumbents may be assigned to either County Jail security or Court security. 

About the Sheriff’s Department :

The Yuba County Sheriff's Department is responsible for the administration of the Yuba County Jail and Jail staff. The Mission of the Yuba County Jail is to provide safe, efficient, humane and secure custody of all persons incarcerated. The county prisoner population is made up of those who are sentenced to county jail, those serving state prison sentences in the county jail under AB109, and those who are pre-trial and who have not yet been sentenced. The jail provides a necessary link in the criminal justice system. There are numerous programs operating within the facility including medical, kitchen, exercise, commissary, visiting, law library, inmate education, work programs, work furlough program, and inmate classification.

LATERAL HIRING INCENTIVES

Hiring Bonus $2,500 - $10,000 (DOE)

 50 Hrs. Sick & 50 Hrs. Vacation (@ Hire)

Reduced Field Training Program

Reduced Probationary Period

Relocation Assistance May Be Available

(*Lateral Hiring Incentives Eligibility: Must be currently employed in a California municipal or state police agency, county sheriff’s department or California Highway Patrol, or similar as defined in California Penal Code §830.1 or §830.2)

About The Position:

The County of Yuba is actively recruiting to establish an eligibility list for the position of Deputy Sheriff-Lateral. Deputy Sheriff’s perform a wide variety of patrol officer and related duties required to effectively respond to and resolve the normal scope of peace situations, including the protection of life and property, enforcement of laws and ordinances, criminal investigation, report writing, crime prevention and suppression, case preparation and testimony, and providing information and assistance to the public and perform related duties as assigned. Incumbents may be assigned to a specific geographic area for patrol, investigations, crime prevention or other peace officer-related functions. 

This position performs a variety of work in the monitoring of county, state and federal detainees and maintains the security and safety of inmates and staff.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Performs booking procedures, including receiving, booking and assigning prisoners to cells; performing body searches; fingerprinting, and photographing prisoners, etc.
• Maintains custody of prisoners’ private property.
• Maintains the safe and orderly operation of the County jail facility; monitors security cameras and door warning lights; screens and monitors visitors. Inspects all of inmates’ incoming and outgoing mail and telegrams.
• Inspects facilities regularly.
• Monitors the condition and activities of prisoners.
• Prepares prisoners for court appearances; provides transportation as necessary.
• Administers First Aid in emergency situations.
• Performs general office work, including but not limited to entering computer data, copying and filing documents, etc.
• Prepares and submits required records and reports.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

This position will perform a variety of responsible law enforcement and crime prevention work, including patrolling assigned areas, answering calls and complaints, investigating crimes, serving civil papers, and providing court room security; enforce all federal and state laws and local ordinances related to public safety and welfare.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Performs routine patrol duties, including but not limited to patrolling assigned areas of the County; responding to emergency calls and/or public calls for assistance; investigating disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, vehicle accidents and other crimes; checking buildings for physical security, etc.

• Administers first aid in emergency situations.

• Issues traffic citations.

• Serves warrants, subpoenas and civil documents.

• Apprehends and arrests suspects and violent persons; transports prisoners; seizes property and/or criminal evidence; interrogates suspects, witnesses and complainants; gathers and preserves evidence.

• Assists with County search and rescue operations.

• Prepares various reports on investigations, including arrest and unusual incidents observed.

• Assists with criminal investigations as required.

• Prepares case files; testifies and presents evidence in court.

• Works with other law enforcement agencies in matters related to the investigation of crimes and apprehension of offenders.

• May serve as special duty officer as assigned, including responsibilities such as serving on the narcotics task force, serving as Deputy Coroner, providing court security, serving as school resource officer, serving as K-9 handler, serving on gang task force, etc.

• Participates in other special projects and programs as assigned.

• Performs duties related to crime prevention and community relations.

• Performs general administrative work, including but not limited to attending meetings, preparing correspondence and reports, entering computer data, maintaining files, answering the phone, etc..

• Performs related duties as assigned.

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.

The City of San Mateo is currently taking applications for the position of Dispatcher I. 

This is a continuous recruitment.  Applicants are added to the employment list as they meet the minimum qualifications. 

Experience and Education Guidelines:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Some telephone or dispatch experience is highly desirable.

Education:

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.

License or Certificate:

Verification of successful completion of the P.O.S.T. Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery Examination with a minimum passing "T-Score" of 48 or higher or verification of successful completion of a CritiCall Examination with a minimum passing score of 50 or higher. 

Possession of, or ability to attain, a POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training) Written Examination Certificate

Currently Dispatcher’s hours are scheduled under the 4-10 work schedule.  Employees work ten hours per day, four days per week and shift work is required.  Work schedules will vary and overtime may be required.

The Menlo Park Police Department demands the highest level of professionalism from its employees. We maintain that employee contact with the public should inspire respect and generate cooperation and approval from the public we serve.

The Menlo Park Police Department strives to provide the best possible police services. For more than 80 years, our department has worked hard every day to protect those who live, work and visit the City of Menlo Park. We achieve this through crime suppression and problem solving, crime analysis and development of crime prevention strategies.

The City of Menlo Park is currently accepting applications from motivated individuals who can meet the challenge of a fast-paced multitasking environment.  Successful Police Recruit candidates will actively participate in the P.O.S.T. (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) prescribed police academy training program.  Upon successful completion of the academy program, incumbents of this non-sworn temporary classification may be appointed to the sworn classification of Police Officer.