What are the responsibilities and job description for the 911 Communications Dispatcher I (Open and Promotional) position at Smc Gov?
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 .
Join us for an informational session to learn about the 911 Communications Dispatcher I position with the County of San Mateo. This session will cover the department's mission, key responsibilities, and the benefits associated with this role. You’ll also gain insights into the ideal candidate profile and the recruitment and selection process. Don’t miss this chance to learn about the position and get your questions answered. This session will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 , from 1 : 00 PM - 2 : 00 PM PST. Register here
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.
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.
Education and Experience : Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.
Knowledge of :
Skill / Ability to :
Other requirements of the position :
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 online CritiCall examination (weight : 100%). Applicants whose application passes the application review will be invited to take the CritiCall exam. Candidates who achieve a passing score 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 applications have been reviewed, applicants will be sent instructions for completing the CritiCall exam. Applicants will have a 14-day window in which to complete the examination. Because the exam is online, applicants can take the exam at their convenience during the 14-day time frame.
The CritiCall exam is an online Public Safety Dispatcher pre-employment skills test. The various modules within the CritiCall exam provide a comprehensive assessment of a candidate's skills and abilities. Achieving a passing score on the exam is a requirement for employment.
The CritiCall exam tests for skills and abilities 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.
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
Info session : January 29, 2025 at 1 : 00 pm PST
For a complete understanding of this opportunity, and what will be required to be a successful applicant, read on.
Close recruitment : February 5, 2025 at 11 : 59 pm PST
Application Screening : February 6-7, 2025
CritiCall Exam : February 10-20, 2025
Interviews : Last week of February 2025
About the County
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, as an employer, 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 : Shannon Oh (01152025) (911 Communications Dispatcher I - V050)
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