Lateral Communication Dispatcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $98,924.80 - $118,372.80 Annually
Location : San Rafael, CA
Job Type: Full Time, Regular
Job Number: 0906-26-02
Department: Marin County Sheriff's Office
Opening Date: 01/30/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Signing Bonus: $10,000
Weekly Schedule: 40 hrs.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): The County of Marin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons of color, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and adults of all ages are strongly encouraged to apply.
Individuals with Disabilities: If you are a person with a disability and are unable to complete an online application or require an accommodation to participate in a recruitment, you must contact Human Resources at least five work days in advance of the testing step or interview. Please contact the Human Resources Staffing Division at (415) 473-2126 (CRS DIAL 711) .
ABOUT US
In addition to a competitive compensations package, new, full-time, regular hire experienced Communications Dispatchers are eligible to receive a $10,000 signing bonus which will be split into two equal payments: 50% at time of hire (i.e. first paycheck) and the remaining 50% after successful completion of their probationary period.
Other incentives which may be offered include advanced paid vacation and/or sick leave.
You can also look forward to excellent benefits including:

• Bilingual Premium Pay - An additional 5% on top of the hourly pay rate for fluent bilingual positions
• Differential Pay - 5% for swing and 10% for graveyard/night shifts
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals and 12 paid holidays per year
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance - Cafeteria-style health and welfare benefit plan that allows employees to choose from various health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance plans. More information about our benefits can be found at:
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 6 weeks (240 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• County Contribution for Dependent Care -Dollar-for-dollar match up to $1,200 pretax annually for Dependent Care expenses (Child Care and Elder Care)
• Commute Alternatives Program (RideGreen) - Pre-tax transportation benefit to assist employees who take mass transit, carpool, or ride their bicycles to work. More information is provided here:
• Career Development - Up to 24 hours each year for training classes that lend to upward mobility.
• Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) - eligible employees can apply to get up to $3,000 each fiscal year to help cover tuition costs.
• Retirement - Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at
• IRS 457 Plan - Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum
• Retiree Medical - The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees
• Onsite workout facilities

At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people "I work for the County of Marin." Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture on the Read on to find out more about this opportunity.
The Marin County Sheriff's Office:
The Marin County Sheriff's Office is committed to partnering with our communities to provide leadership and excellence in public safety. We take pride in our department and work hard to provide a safe environment for our residents. The department is divided into three major bureaus; Administrative and Support Services, Detention Services, and Field Services in addition to operating the countywide Major Crime Task Force. The responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office Bureaus include providing general law enforcement services in the unincorporated communities of Marin County, maintaining the county jail, providing security to the Superior Court, operating a countywide communications division, performing death investigations under the purview of the Coroner, operating a documentary services division consisting of records, warrants, civil units, and more. To learn more about the Sheriff's Office, visit our .
ABOUT THE POSITION
Under the general supervision of a Supervising Communications Dispatcher, this journey-level, non-sworn class is assigned to the 24/7 Communications Dispatch Center in the Sheriff's Office. Communications Dispatchers at this level operate a wide variety of complex emergency communications equipment, including a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), 9-1-1 phone system and countywide radio system. Dispatchers are responsible for processing calls and dispatching emergency law enforcement, and other public safety equipment and personnel with relative independence upon completion of a training program. Communications Dispatchers may also be assigned as a trainer.
For more information about this exceptional career opportunity, including the complete recruitment brochure and required qualifications, simply .
ABOUT YOU
Our Highly Qualified Candidate:
The highly qualified candidate will have experience in call taking and dispatching in a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) providing dispatch services to law enforcement agencies while utilizing a CAD and 911 phone systems. They will be an effective communicator with the ability to multi-task while providing excellent customer service. The highly qualified candidate will have experience using CLETS and other law enforcement databases and can work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment, possess strong interpersonal skills and good judgment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• The cities, highways, main streets, major buildings and geography of Marin County.
• The function, organization, purpose and procedure of a public safety communications center.

Ability to:

• Operate a variety of telecommunications equipment, including two-way radios, multi-line systems and automated equipment.
• Obtain and record accurate and detailed information by telephone and personal contact.
• Dispatch information quickly, efficiently and exactly as received.
• Exercise judgment and discretion in resolving problems.
• Speak clearly and concisely in English.
• React quickly, efficiently and calmly in an emergency situation and adopt an effective course of action.
• Dispatch public safety equipment in a coordinated manner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Age: Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Education: Equivalent to graduation from high school.
• Experience: Two (2) years of journey level experience dispatching law enforcement and/or fire/medical resources within the last three (3) years. Must successfully complete the Marin County Sheriff's Office training program for laterals within twelve (12) months of appointment.
  Applications indicating felony convictions will not be accepted as per California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) requirements.
  Applicants must be able to work shift assignments and any hours of the day or night, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required to operate a 24-hour, 7-day per week public safety facility.

Certifications and Licenses:
Possession of a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Certificate.
Failure to maintain the Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Certificate during employment will result in the termination of employment.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you have questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Linda Kline at
All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.
Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.
Open & Continuous Recruitment: This recruitment is Open and Continuous. Applicants are encouraged to submit completed applications as soon as possible. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for this position may be certified directly to the Sheriff's Office for a selection interview. The filing period for an Open and Continuous recruitment may be closed at any time.
Special Requirements: Ability to successfully pass the pre-employment controlled substance use standards, a background investigation and polygraph examination (or computer voice stress analyzer examination), medical exam, and job-simulating psychological examination as conducted by the Marin County Sheriff's Office.
Drug Use Standards:
Personal Appearance Standards - Tattoos: No tattoo or body art that is offensive, demeaning, or prejudicial to good order shall be visible. Examples of offensive tattoos include but are not limited to those that exhibit or advocate discrimination, those that exhibit gang, supremacist, or extremist group affiliation, and those that depict or promote drug use, sexually explicit acts, or other obscene material. Details of the full policy are described in the The appropriateness of tattoos as defined by the policy shall remain at the sole discretion of the Sheriff or designee.
NOTE: There is a waiting period for those applicants who are disqualified during the selection process. Applicants who withdraw from the process or are interviewed and not selected (INS) must wait six months; applicants who withdraw when in background or fail the psychological assessment must wait two years; and applicants who fail background (DQ) must wait three years.
Disaster Service Workers:All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095.
PLEASE NOTE: The benefits described herein do not apply to temporary (contingent) or to part-time employees that work less than 50%.
COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL
Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.
Health Plan: Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.
Retirement: Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at www.mcera.org.
IRS 457 Plan: Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical: The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.
For specific questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at (415) 473-6104. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the Benefits Division at (415) 473-2197.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01
Have you graduated from high school or possess an acceptable equivalency such as the General Educational Development Certificate?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you possess two years of journey level experience dispatching law enforcement and/or fire/medical resources?

• Yes
• No

03
Are you currently employed in this capacity?

• Yes
• No

04
Please describe your two (2) or more years of journey level experience dispatching law enforcement and/or fire/medical resources. In your response, include the name of your employer(s), dates worked, and the specific duties you performed.
05
I confirm that I have read the and understand the requirements as outlined.

• Yes

06
As an adult, have you ever been convicted of a felony?
Note: Any felony convictions will preclude you from being hired as a Communications Dispatcher per California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) requirements.

• Yes
• No

07
I confi