Communications/Operations Dispatcher Level I/II

The Position

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge Of

• Office procedures, methods, and equipment used within a communications center including computers and applicable software applications, multi-channel radios, telephone communication consoles with multiple lines and other communications equipment
• Radio codes
• Rules, regulations, and dispatch procedures related to non-emergency and emergency/trouble service calls
• Map and GIS reading for major streets, highways and districts in City/County
• Federal communication rules and regulations
• Report writing techniques for basic report preparation
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Principles of effective customer service

• Operate a computer aided dispatch system, multi-channel radio and/or telephone, and other communications equipment
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Respond quickly and calmly to emergency and other stressful situations
• Prioritize, plan, coordinate and organize simultaneous incidents and assignments
• Receive and transmit information accurately
• Notify and dispatch to multiple agencies quickly
• Maintain tact and self-control when dealing with difficult/irate people and those in stressful situations
• Learn geography of County/City areas; read and locate main geographical reference points
• Learn and perform the principles and techniques of radio communication
• Follow written and verbal directions, policies, and procedures
• Work with frequent interruptions
• Memorize numbers and locations
• Develop and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with others
• Interpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Apply customer service skills, including the identification of customer needs and follow up with customers as needed based on departmental requests

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Either: 1. Six (6) months of full-time paid experience performing work where the primary duties included use of a computer, and contact with the public via telephone, and/or in person, and/or an assignment providing customer service and resolving queries, and/or work experience with closely related duties.

Or: 2. Six (6) months of full time, paid experience in radio dispatching, call directing, or operating communication equipment such as radio transmitter and receiver or radiotelephone; involving public contact while receiving, recording and transmitting messages.

Note: The word "experience" referenced in the minimum qualifications means full-time paid experience unless the job announcement states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

General Qualifications

Criminal History and Background Checks: The County may access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for this class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602, Personnel Policies, and applicable federal and state laws. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate’s ability to perform the job duties of this
class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history checks where authorized by Labor Code section 1024.5, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and
disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

Physical Requirements:
Positions in this class require the incumbents to be able to:

• Have sufficient hearing to perform all the required duties.
• Have sufficient color vision to perform all the required duties.
• Good hand/eye coordination and finger dexterity.
• Work in a confined environment.
• Wear head-sets that restrict physical movement in the work area.
• Sit and view video displays for extended periods of time.

• Work weekends, holidays, and shift assignments.

Application and Testing Information

APPLICATION

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut-off date.

County of Sacramento
Department of Personnel Services
Employment Services Division
700 H Street, Room 4667
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 874-5593; 7-1-1 California Relay Service
Email EmployOffice@Saccounty.net
Inter-Office Mail Code: 09-4667
www.SacCountyJobs.net

• Employment applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut-off date.
• Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.
• A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.

• Supplemental Questionnaires must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• The supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification.
• Please provide place of employment, pertinent dates, and concise, descriptive and detailed information for each question.
• If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely.
• Resumes or referral to the application or other questionnaire responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question.
• If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
• For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses to the supplemental questions in a word processing document and then paste them into the final document to be submitted. Changes or corrections to your Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.
• If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score. While scoring the Supplemental Questionnaire, the candidate's application and/or attachments will not be reviewed, therefore, a candidate's responses to the questions should be accurate, thorough, detailed, and complete.