Police Communications Dispatcher (Continuous)



Job Details

Police Communications Dispatcher (Continuous)
Employer

City of Oakland

Salary

$78,998.40 - $87,401.60 Annually

Location

Oakland, CA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

18-PS162-03

Department

Oakland Police Department

Opening Date

06/26/2017

Closing Date

Continuous

The Position

Are you looking for a career in the Police Communication Services?

The City of Oakland is accepting applications for an exciting opportunity in the Oakland Police Department's Communications Center. Come and join a wonderful team of professionals dedicated to serving the citizens of Oakland in this critical role.

Responsibilities include a full range of technical skills to answer incoming emergency and non-emergency 911 calls; dispatch required personnel and equipment by operating a variety of telecommunications equipment including telephone, 2-way radio, and Computer Aided Dispatch systems; access computerized systems for automated information retrieval and incident documentation; perform routine clerical work; may provide training to new employees; and perform other duties as assigned.

Police Communications Dispatchers receive approximately one year of training on-the-job, and must attend a POST-certified basic dispatcher course.  During training, working hours and days off vary.  After successful completion of training, dispatchers are eligible to draw for permanent shift assignment, based on seniority.  New dispatchers are often assigned to various shifts, including the 3pm - 11pm shift or the 11pm - 7am shift, 5 days of 8-hour shifts or 4 days of 10-hour shifts, weekends and holidays.  Dispatchers may be scheduled to work any of three shifts in a 24-hour period; may be required to work a schedule with rotating days off; often work weekends, holidays and overtime as required by emergencies or Departmental needs.
 
Because of the sensitivity of the communications dispatcher position, applicants must be emotionally stable and mature.  Applicants must also have a satisfactory record as a law abiding citizen.  Final candidates for the position will be required to take a polygraph examination, medical examination and undergo a background investigation.  Excessive alcohol usage, drug abuse, a poor work record or any falsification of employment information are grounds for disqualification from employment consideration.
 
Applicants with full-time work experience comparable to Police Communications Dispatcher in the City of Oakland, who possess a dispatch certificate or equivalent experience may be hired at the mid-step, or higher, of the salary range.
 
SELECTIVE LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION - This is a public contact position.  The eligible list for this recruitment will also be used to fill current vacancies that do not require bilingual skills.

A Typing Certificate demonstrating proficiency at a rate of 35 net words per minute must be included with your application packet.

The eligibility list established from this recruitment may be used to fill other vacancies that may occur within The City including full-time and permanent part-time positions, if applicable, and including vacancies for Fire Communications Dispatcher within the Oakland Fire Department.

Examples of Duties

  • Receive and screen telephone calls for ambulance, fire, tow, Police, and/or Ranger services and other emergency and non-emergency City services.
  • Receive and record caller data and critical update information on incidents as they develop; analyze call for priority level of emergency; record information completely and accurately; take or recommend an effective course of action to protect life and property.
  • Coordinate rescue and emergency operations with outside jurisdictions.
  • Monitor display screens for dispatch status information, messages or service requests; monitor C.A.D. system for adequacy of response.
  • Provide information to Police field units; order services requested by field units; dispatch and/or cancel field unit back-up assistance; monitor field units for service availability.
  • Query automated warrant information system (P.I.N., N.C.T.C., and C.L.E.T.S.) for data.
  • Communicate instructions and civil and criminal legal information to emergency and non-emergency callers.
  • Answer questions or complaints from public, agencies, or City departments; make referrals to appropriate sources for service or information.
  • Log all departmental activities; compile data and prepare reports of reported emergencies, equipment dispatched, and/or position of emergency.
  • Work irregular days and variable shifts.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements for Application

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications is acceptable.
 
Education:    Equivalent to graduation from high school.
 
Experience:   Two years of recent full-time equivalent of responsible work experience. College education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.

CERTIFICATE:
Typing certificate from a recognized educational institution, employment agency, or other organization certifying ability to type at least 35 words per minute (35 WPM). Typing certificate must be based on a five minute typing test and have been issued within the last six (6) months.  Certificate must include name of school, agency, or institution conducting the testing, and the number of errors; the signature of the individual responsible for the testing; and the testing date.  Copies are accepted and may be attached with your online application. 

A Typing Certificate demonstrating proficiency at a rate of 35 net words per minute must be included with your application packet.  Applications submitted without the required typing certificate will be considered incomplete.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
  • Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
  • Must pass a thorough background investigation.
  • Must pass the P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatchers' Basic Course within one year of appointment as a condition of continued employment.
KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Knowledge of:
  • Emergency dispatch operations; communications dispatch.
  • Emergency rules, regulations, and response terminology.
  • Computer aided dispatch systems.
  • Report preparation.
  • 9-1-1 operating procedures.
  • Telephone answering skills.
  • Correct English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Ability to:
  • Analyze emergency situations and adopt quick, effective course of action.
  • Work under stress and exercise good judgment in emergency situations.
  • Enter data completely and accurately into automated information systems; operate the City's computer aided dispatch system; operate modern office equipment.
  • Apply Oakland Police Department law enforcement policies and procedures.
  • Query automated warrant systems, P.I.N., N.C.I.C., and C.L.E.T.S. for data.
  • Speak clearly and concisely.
  • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Perform responsible clerical work of moderately high difficulty.
  • Make decisions.
  • Read and interpret maps.
  • Follow oral and written directions.
  • Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

Supplemental Information

The Selection Process

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ONLINE

This is a Continuous Recruitment which may close at any time. 
Next screening of applications will be: TBD

 
Stage I: Complete Employment Application. The first stage in the selection process will consist of a review of each applicant 's employment application, typing certificate and supplemental questionnaire for minimum qualifications weighted pass/fail. Be sure to scan and attach a copy of your typing certificate to your on-line application. Applications submitted without all required materials will not be given further consideration.  The next exam is anticipated to be held in late July, early August.  

Stage II: Supplemental Questionnaire Review.  The second stage may consist of subject matter experts evaluating and rating the completed supplemental questionnaires. Applicant responses to the supplemental questions must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities listed in the qualifications section of this announcement. The evaluation of supplemental questions may be weighted 100% of an applicant score (before residency and/or veteran points) and may determine rank on the eligible list. If a sufficient number of quality application packets are received, the supplemental screening may be followed by a third stage and the most qualified applicants will be invited to the next stage. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement to Stage III.

Stage III: Written Exam.  The third stage may consist of a written and performance examination and that will test the knowledge, skills and abilities listed in the qualifications section.  

The ranked eligible list may be developed directly from the supplemental screening OR the results of Stage III. Candidates must earn a scale score of 70 in this examination process to be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity.
 
Additional Information

Background Investigation & Pre-Offer Psychological Assessment.  This will consist of the departmental screening and selection, including a background suitability assessment and pre-offer psychological assessment.  Candidates who earn placement on the eligibility list will be certified in order of their rank on the list to the Police Department.  At this stage, background investigators will contact references, friends, family, former and current employers and other contacts in order to verify information provided in the PHQ.  In addition, they will perform a criminal records check, driving record check and credit check.  Candidates will be required to submit to a polygraph exam in connection with the background investigation.  Unfavorable information revealed during the background investigation is grounds for rejection or discharge during the selection process.

Post-Offer Processing.  The final phase is the post-offer processing.  After a conditional job offer has been made, candidates will be assessed for compliance with Police Department medical and psychological standards.  Any remaining background issues will be resolved during the post-offer phase.  Character-related information discovered during the post-offer stage may be grounds for revocation of the conditional job offer and removal from hiring consideration.  In addition, the City Physician will evaluate each candidate to determine their ability to meet the physical demands of the job.  The medical exam includes a drug-screening test.
 
How to Apply
Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least an hour to submit your application if you are a new user on the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:  http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm
 
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also work stations at the Department of Human Resources Management, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Work stations are available during regular business hours (normally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).  
 
Our on-line application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact the Help Desk at (877) 204-4442.
 
You may also call the City of Oakland Department of Human Resources Management at (510) 238-3112 for information.
 
Typing Certification Notice
  
A Typing Certificate demonstrating proficiency at a rate of 35 net words per minute must be included with your application packet. (Be sure to attach your certificate to your on-line application.)  Below are some of the local agencies that offer typing certification. The fees charged for the Certificate vary depending on agency and an appointment is usually required. 
 
Net words per minute shall be determined by subtracting the number of errors from the total words per minute typed. This information must be included in your typing certificate, which must be issued within the last six (6) months and based on a 5-minute or longer typing test. Online typing certificates will not be accepted.
 
The City of Oakland does not endorse any of the agencies below and you may secure a typing certificate from other agencies not on this list that meet the requirements mentioned above. 
  
 
Alameda One-Stop Career Center
(College of Alameda Campus)
555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway, Portable P
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 748-2208
 
Berkeley Adult School
1701 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 644-6130
 
Eden Area Multiservice Center
24100 Amador Street, 3rd Floor
Hayward, CA 94544
(510) 670-5700
 
East Bay Works Career Center - Oakland
1212 Broadway, Suite 200
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 768-4446
 
America's Ca. Job Center of East Bay Works 
4071 Port Chicago Highway #250
Concord, CA 94612
(925) 671-4500
 
East Bay Works Career Center – San Pablo
2300 El Portal Drive, Ste. B
San Pablo, CA 94806
(510) 412-6740
 
Snelling Personnel Services
2203 Harbor Bay Parkway
Alameda, CA 94502 
(510) 769-4400
 
Various Community Colleges/Adult Schools
 
This list is developed to assist applicants, but it is not all-inclusive. Please be aware that business locations and phone numbers change periodically. It is the applicant's responsibility to submit a proper typing certificate described in the job announcement.

Date Of Examination:
Late July or Early August

The City of Oakland is an EEO/ADA Employer

Employee Benefits Information

(if you click on the link, use the Back button on your browser to return to the job announcement you were viewing.)

01
This recruitment is being announced in accordance with Section 5.04 of the Civil Service Rules which states eligible candidates whose names are certified to the hiring authority shall be the highest ranking candidates willing to accept employment and who possess bilingual skills in the following languages: Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Please note, identified bilingual skills will be tested prior to a final offer of employment. Identify the language(s) for which you have bilingual conversational proficiency. If you do not have bilingual conversational proficiency in any of the identified languages, check the appropriate box.
  • Spanish
  • Cantonese
  • Mandarin
  • I do not have bilingual conversational proficiency in any of the identified languages, but I am still interested in the position.
02
Do you have a High School Diploma or GED?
  • Yes
  • No
03
Do you have two years of recent full-time equivalent of responsible work experience? College education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.
  • Yes
  • No
04
Have you attached the REQUIRED typing certificate from a recognized educational institution, employment agency, or other organization certifying ability to type at least 35 words per minute to your online application? You will need to attach your typing certificate indicating you type at least 35 words per minute in order to move forward in the recruitment process.
  • Yes
  • No
05
What is your level of experience working as a public safety dispatcher?
  • No experience or training
  • Education or technical training only
  • Less than one year
  • One to two years
  • Two to three years
  • Three years or more
06
How often did you work as a public safety dispatcher?
  • Not performed
  • Performed once a year
  • Performed every six months
  • Performed monthly
  • Performed weekly
  • Performed daily
07
Do you have experience working with the public?
  • No experience
  • Education or technical training only
  • Less than one year
  • One to two years
  • Two to three years
  • Three years or more
08
How often have you worked with the public?
  • Not performed
  • Performed once a year
  • Performed every six months
  • Performed monthly
  • Performed weekly
  • Performed daily
09
Do you have experience responding to inquiries and/or assisting the public over the phone?
  • No experience or training
  • Education or technical training only
  • Less than one year
  • One to two years
  • Two to three years
  • Three or more years
10
How often did you respond to inquiries and/or assist the public over the phone?
  • Not performed
  • Performed once a year
  • Performed every six months
  • Performed monthly
  • Performed weekly
  • Performed daily
11
Do you have experience working with radio communications equipment?
  • No experience or training
  • Education or technical training only
  • Less than one year
  • One to two years
  • Two to three years
  • Three years or more
12
How often have you worked with radio communications equipment?
  • Not performed
  • Performed once a year
  • Performed every six months
  • Performed monthly
  • Performed weekly
  • Performed daily
13
Do you have experience working in a call center environment?
  • No experience or training
  • Education or technical training only
  • Less than one year
  • One to two years
  • Two to three years
  • Three years or more
14
Do you have experience talking over a headset and typing at the same time?
  • No experience or training
  • Education or technical training only
  • Less than one year
  • One to two years
  • Two to three years
  • Three years or more

* Required Question

Employer
City of Oakland
Address
150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza - 2nd Floor

Oakland, California, 94612
Phone
(510) 238-3112

Apply

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