Entry Level Dispatcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Characteristics ***OPEN & PROMOTIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITY*** Police Dispatcher II - Lateral Please note: this is not an entry level police dispatcher position. You must be a POST certified Dispatcher at a law enforcement agency in order to qualify. The City of Concord's Police Department is currently seeking customer-service oriented individuals who enjoy working in a highly productive yet fast-paced environment to serve as their next Police Dispatcher.

This position is open until filled and may close at any time. The Police Department: The members of the Concord Police Department are dedicated to providing the highest quality police services in order to enhance community safety, protect life and property, and reduce crime and the fear of crime. To do this, we pledge to develop a partnership with the community, lead a community commitment to resolve problems, and improve the safety and quality of life in our city.

What you will be doing in this role: This is the journey-level position which performs the full range of radio and telephone dispatch duties with a high degree of independence. The Police Dispatcher II performs activities related to the processing of service requests including communications and dispatch, status monitoring, information development and communication, entry level dispatcher training, and records and file maintenance in a computer-aided environment. We are looking for someone who: Can assess situations accurately, make quick decisions, and use sound judgement Has excellent oral and written communication skills Is naturally compassionate and comfortable speaking to individuals who are emotional or stressed Can multi-task and quickly prioritize needs Can work in a collaborative team environment and take instruction well Stay composed and control their own emotions Has the technological skills to operate multiple computers, programs, radios and recording equipment Has excellent attention to detail and organization skills Is familiar with or can quickly learn the city of Concord and can read maps to find routes, locations, and addresses Is flexible, resilient, and can adapt to any situation Embraces and embodies the City's Mission, Vision and Values.

RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES Signing Bonus of up to $10,000: $5,000 upon successful completion of the one-year probationary period. $5,000 six months following the completion of probation (i.e., at 18 months of employment). Leave Pre-Accruals: The first year of leave accruals (80 hours vacation and 96 hours sick leave) shall be front-loaded at time of hire

Communications Training Officer Pay Differential: Police Dispatcher IIs who are assigned as Communications Training Officers (CTOs) will receive an additional 5% pay for each hour assigned and engaged in providing formal training to a police dispatcher trainee. EXCELLENT BENEFITS PACKAGE This position is represented by Teamsters Local 856 and receives an excellent benefits package, including but not limited to: $2.00/hour shift differential for night shift and $2.50/hour for grave shift $150/month bilingual pay for qualifying languages Participation in CalPERS pension, tiered based on date of hire A variety of health care plans or a cash-in-lieu benefit of $200 if waiving coverage City-paid dental insurance; employee-paid vision insurance Vacation accruals starting at 10 days per year, 12 days sick leave per year, and 11 paid holidays per year Generous tuition reimbursement program 457 deferred compensation plan Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthcare, dependent care and commuting costs Life and disability insurance A wellness program that offers yoga and fitness classes, annual health expos, health and nutrition education, as well as a variety of mental health resources TYPING CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT A typing certificate issued within the last 12 months is required. The typing certificate must be attached to the online application and scored according to the following method: 5 minute timed typing exercise, showing a gross rate of speed and a net rate of speed

This information MUST be included on the typing certificate. Applications received without a valid typing certificate attached, or not meeting the minimum words per minute (35 net WPM) WILL NOT be considered and WILL NOT be contacted to correct the deficiency. IMPORTANT: Contact with candidates will primarily be via email.

Make sure you list a current email that you check regularly on your application. Background Investigation: All appointments to this position are subject to a fingerprint check, polygraph and background investigation coordinated by the Concord Police Department. The following list describes some areas that are covered in the investigation.

Your relatives, references, and acquaintances are asked to comment on your suitability for a career in law enforcement. The information supplied regarding your educational history is examined and verified. You must list a history of your residences.

Your work history and experience are examined with regard to your dependability, relationships with fellow workers, trustworthiness, and general job performance. Military service records are subject to verification. The background investigation considers your management of personal finances (however, being in debt does not automatically disqualify you).

Your criminal, driving, and insurance records are evaluated. Felony convictions will be grounds for disqualification from the selection process. If you have a history of recent or prolonged use of illegal controlled substances you may be dismissed from the process.

Deliberate misstatements or omissions can and often will result in your application being rejected, regardless of the nature or reason for the misstatements/omissions. In fact, the number one reason individuals fail and/or are disqualified during the background investigation is because they deliberately withhold or misrepresent job-relevant information. Applicants must be truthful in all phases of the process and promptly submit documentation when requested.

Helpful tips when applying: It is important to carefully read the complete job bulletin before submitting your application so you are aware of all requirements of both the position and the process. When preparing your application, consider reviewing the job announcement and classification specification so that you may emphasize work experience relevant to the position for which you are applying. Job duties should be an accurate reflection of the work you completed.

Copying and pasting from your job description is not recommended as there may be duties listed that you did not perform. Answer all required supplemental questions completely and honestly. The information you put in the supplemental questionnaire must also be verified in your work history so if you say you have certain experience in the questionnaire, make sure we can see it listed in your job history as well so we know where you performed those functions and for how long.

Examples of duties include, but are not limited to Receives, interprets, classifies, prioritizes and responds to calls of a routine and emergency nature, including those calls involving life-threatening situations. Enters relevant information by computer keyboard and, as appropriate, transmits message for dispatching. Assigns calls to police units for necessary action, determining how many and which units are required for response.

May coordinate, with patrol supervisors regarding deployment of personnel. Visually monitors video display terminals and aurally monitors police radio frequencies to ensure correct status of officers and pending and dispatched calls, making "on-line changes" via keyboard as appropriate. Calls out Public Works standby personnel, perform call-outs for various local government entities, and monitors local government radio for their status.

Determines appropriate communications or research channels selecting from emergency telephone lines, radio room telephone lines, business telephone lines, police radio channels, other agency radio channels, and manual computerized information systems. Provides information to officers expeditiously in areas such as warrants, vehicles, driver's licenses, parole, and criminal history information. Interprets or clarifies coded responses from various systems for police officers or other parties.

Confirms warrants with responsible agencies, receives warrants and updates status of warrants. Accesses and updates information in a variety of on-line Law Enforcement data systems, including systems which contain confidential data. Develops, confirms, and relays information by contacting persons such as those in the internal chain of command; relatives of those involved in incidents; employers; hospitals; sworn and non-sworn public safety personnel at other agencies; other City departments; ambulance services; detoxification centers; tow companies; attorneys; state parole; animal control; commercial establishments; alarm companies; and schools.

Monitors other public safety and emergency preparedness radio traffic; fire panel and security system boards; local government radio channels; and jail and complaint desk alarms, and takes appropriate actions. Maintains various logs and records of activities, such as radio transmissions, telephone calls received, call-outs and tow requests, equipment failure log, personal time keeping an attendance. Follows defined alternative procedures in the event of computer or other equipment malfunction such as performing shut down and start up procedures.

Performs various tasks to ensure proper operation of equipment such as setting and resetting computer system, video display terminals, mobile data terminals and printers; and changing print ribbons, paper, and recording tapes. Performs activities related to the operation of a county-wide law enforcement radio system (CLERS) such as monitoring radio channel and issuing all points bulletins following county protocol and procedures. Assists in training entry level and per diem dispatchers as required.

Promotes the City's Mission to make Concord a city of the highest quality by providing responsive, cost-effective, and innovative government services; understands and subscribes to the Vision and Values Statement adopted by the City. Performs other work as assigned. To view the full job description please go to www.governmentjobs.com/concord/classpecs Qualifications Knowledge and Abilities: Knowledge of specific data processing and telecommunications equipment used in a public safety Communications Center

Knowledge of relevant sections of various California codes such as the Penal, Health and Safety, Municipal, Welfare and Institutions, and Vehicle codes; interdepartmental regulations, policies and procedures; various hardware and software documentation; Federal Communications Commission Regulations; of the resources, equipment, methods, procedures, and nomenclature included in and associated with computer-aided dispatch and automated information systems. Ability to read, comprehend, and retain. Ability to learn the geographic layout of the City, including location of streets, street names, freeways, shopping centers, industrial parks, hotels, and other landmarks.

Ability to remain calm in situations of stress; to assess events quickly and accurately; to adapt communications and behavioral styles appropriately in response to individuals and situations; to obtain and accurately record required information; to effectively classify and prioritize service requests; to act promptly and decisively; to make acceptable decisions; to quickly search and find information from resource systems, manuals, maps and other documents and to accurately and concisely convey such information orally and in writing; to spell accurately and use correct grammar; to speak clearly, concisely and audibly; to perform multiple tasks simultaneously; to meet the physical requirements of the work; to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; and to establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Education: Satisfactory completion of high school or the equivalent. Experience: Three years of related work experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a law enforcement dispatcher in a computer-assisted environment, including at least one year experience working in a POST-certified law enforcement communications center.

Other Ability to operate an alpha-numeric keyboard with sufficient speed and accuracy to provide efficient input into a computer terminal, measured by the ability to type at a rate of 35 words per minute (net). A typing certificate issued within the last 12 months is required. The typing certificate must be attached to the online application and scored according to the following method: 5-minute timed typing exercise, showing a gross rate of speed and a net rate of speed.

This information MUST be included on the typing certificate. Applications received without a valid typing certificate, or not meeting the minimum net words per minute WILL NOT be considered and WILL NOT be contacted to correct the deficiency. Online typing tests WILL NOT be accepted.

For a list of agencies where you can obtain your typing certificate, please click here. Must have normal (or correctable to normal) hearing and eyesight and a clear and audible voice for radio and telephone communications. Must have successfully completed the POST-certified police dispatcher course and have successfully passed probation as a dispatcher for a POST-certified law enforcement communications center.

Must successfully complete a background investigation as a condition of employment. A California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record are conditions of initial and continued employment. EEO/ADA: The City of Concord is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants.

If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, please contact Human Resources at 925-671- 3308 or hrdept@cityofconcord.org prior to the final filing date.