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City of Los Altos
Invites you to apply for the position of:

Communications Officer

$107,060.49 - $130,132.69 Annually

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY! The Police Communications Center is a fast-paced environment serving first responders and the community during emergency and non-emergency events. Communications Officers interact daily with the public and law enforcement personnel through phone calls, 9-1-1 events, in person and over the police radio system. We are looking for highly skilled professionals who can multi-task and react calmly during emergency situations, while making quick decisions and determining the nature and severity of service calls. If you are looking to make a difference in the City of Los Altos while working in the Communications Center, this position is for you!

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general supervision, the Communications Officer, as a member of the Police Department, transmits and receives information over the police and public works radio system; dispatches routine and emergency calls for service; types, records, and files information; handles emergency and non-emergency telephone calls utilizing complex technical aids, such as computer aided dispatch systems (CAD), and performs related work as assigned.

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receives emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from the public for police, fire, or other emergency services; determines the nature of the call and the resources necessary to respond.
• Monitors police radio communications; maintains contact with police units to track officer status and respond to need for additional resources; monitors various radio channels to keep abreast of county-wide police activities affecting the City and assist other county agencies with mutual aid.
• Prioritizes requests for police and other public safety services; determines availability and location of patrol units; transmits information and dispatches police personnel and equipment in response to calls; routes calls for fire and emergency medical assistance to the Santa Clara County Fire Department.
• Assists police personnel in the field by quickly and accurately researching and relaying criminal history information and other requested data.
• Receives and coordinates requests for emergency Public Works assistance outside of the City’s normal business hours (pertaining to full municipal services in Los Altos, and sewer maintenance requests in Los Altos Hills and the surrounding unincorporated areas).

Click here to view the full job description and duties.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Is highly professional, patient, respectful, and ethical; possesses excellent problem-solving skills; ability to multi-task in stressful situations. Communicates effectively and proactively both verbally and in writing. Enjoys working in a small-town atmosphere with an engaged public, including merchants, property owners and residents.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE OF: Standard office methods, procedures, software and equipment; Geography of the local area; General public safety communications practices; Principles of customer service.

SKILL AND ABILITY TO: Multi-task and prioritize; Efficiently use radio and other communications equipment; Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; Analyze situations quickly and accurately; Maintain composure and work effectively under pressure; Understand and follow oral and written direction; Demonstrate initiative and exercise good judgment in the performance of duties; Establish, maintain, and promote positive working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, & CERTIFICATES:

Any combination of the listed experience and education requirements may lead to a qualifying application. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

• A minimum of one year of public safety radio dispatching and/or basic clerical experience is required

Education:

• Possession of a High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent is required.
• Proof of successful completion of either the Criticall Dispatcher test with a passing score or the P.O.S.T. Entry-level Dispatcher Test with a T-score of 50 or above. (Lateral applicants that are currently employed as a Public Safety Dispatcher (non-probationary) do not need to submit proof of test scores, however a California POST Dispatcher Academy Certificate is required.)
• Completion of college-level coursework is highly desirable

Certificates:

• Possession of a typing certificate with a minimum of 50 wpm dated within one year of the application date must be included as an attachment.
• Possession of Basic P.O.S.T. Dispatch Certificate is highly desirable and may be substituted for work experience.

This position will require the ability to work rotating shifts on an on-going basis, including irregular hours on short notice. This position will also be assigned a uniform to wear during work hours.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Los Altos is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of a person’s race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age or sexual orientation. Candidates with a disability, which may require special assistance in any phase of the application or testing process, should advise City of Los Altos upon submittal of application. Documentation of the need for accommodation must accompany the request.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

The department is seeking to fill two (2) full-time Power Resources Specialist I/II positions. The positions will support the Risk Management, Contracts and Administrative Services Division (1 position) and Account Management and Marketing Division (1 position).

The ideal candidates are skilled and highly motivated individuals, with creative problem-solving skills. Both positions will be part of a fast-paced team, often working on multiple high-priority projects and short deadlines. Good judgment, initiative, and cooperation with other staff and outside stakeholders will be an asset to this position.

Power Resources Specialist I/II – Risk Management, Contracts and Administrative Services Division 

This position will report to the Division Manager and support risk management and power contract oversight.  Under general supervision this position will support a variety of risk management functions in support of the department’s energy portfolio. The Risk Management, Contracts and Administrative Services Division is responsible for providing independent oversight of the risks assumed in the course of transacting for energy products and services as well as ensuring compliance with adopted risk management policies and procedures.  This unit also provides strategic support to facilitate the development and execution of various non-energy contracts, tracks signed energy contracts, and manages the invoicing process.

Duties include the following but are not limited to:

• Verifying that power supply agreements are authorized and executed appropriately and resolving contracting issues; 
• Developing mark-to-market analysis for SJCE power supply portfolio totaling over $1 Billion dollars; and recommending actions to reduce risk and power supply costs.
• Overseeing power supply settlement functions, including verifying power supply deliveries, contract performance, and approval of power supply invoices, totaling approximately $30 million per month;
• Reviewing invoices for accuracy, resolving issues with power suppliers, and providing quality assurance for complex energy-specific contracts;
• Providing analytical support for power supply audits and analysis of power purchases and sale agreements;
• Provide risk management analysis for medium- and long-term contracts;
• Utilize energy trading risk management database to prepare a variety of reports for the power contracts portfolio, utilize data visualization
• Approve energy purchases subject to the risk management policies;
• Provide analysis on emerging technological and procurement options for supply (e.g. distributed energy resources, renewable or storage technologies.)
• Conduct studies and develop analytical models related to energy risk management and forecasting;
• Perform other related duties as required.

Power Resources Specialist I/II - Account Management and Marketing Division

This position will report to the Deputy Director overseeing the Account Management and Marketing. This division is responsible for customer care, billing, marketing and customer outreach, and community programs for San José Clean Energy. This position will support a number of analytical functions related to customer rates and electricity usage.  The ideal candidates should be well versed in PG&E rate structures including residential and commercial rate schedules and have strong analytical skills.

Duties include the following but are not limited to:

• Analyze customer electricity usage and impact of rate changes;
• Analyze revenue collection compared with plan;
• Support division with analysis of financial and greenhouse gas emission impacts of decisions on new product offerings.
• Respond to customer inquiries and interface with and support call center and billing operations contractor;
• Support cost-benefit analysis of potential new Department programs;
• Assist in launch of SJCE’s DAC-GT and energy efficiency programs, in accordance with SJCE’s Programs Roadmap, while incorporating stakeholder input, industry best practices, and market trends to ensure program success;
• Help develop indicators to measure program effectiveness, analyze program outcomes to modify implementation activities, and develop and implement verification protocols to support cost and environmental effectiveness claims;
• Assist with program compliance requirements and reporting;
• Provide financial analysis on impact of alternative contract structures with customers
• Provide quantitative analysis support for City Council and Community Advisory Commission presentations.
• Help develop tools and processes to analyze the potential impact of alternative rate structures (e.g. new time of use variants, low income discounts, etc.)
• Help articulate and implement a strategy for more fully incorporating Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), including Demand Response programs, into SJCE’s business activities.
• Assist in preparation of bids and specifications, and monitoring the timely fulfillment of deliverables by consultants and service providers; Perform other related duties as required.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. 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

Salary Information:

The current salary range for Power Resources Specialist I is: $82,867.20 - $100,963.20

The current salary range for Power Resources Specialist II is: $90,168.00 - $109,844.80

The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. In addition to the starting salary, employees in the Power Resources Specialist I/II classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay.

Competencies:

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise – Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures, policies, and federal and state rules and regulations.

Communication Skills – Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills – Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Analytical Thinking – Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.

Fiscal Management – Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.

Problem Solving – Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.