Radio Dispatcher

Full Job Description

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets!
At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people, we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city.
With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live.

Seattle is growing fast, and we’re growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving.
We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone together!

Position Overview:
SDOT has an exciting opportunity for a highly collaborative and detail-oriented Radio Dispatcher to join our 24/7 Radio Dispatch Office within Maintenance Operations. This office is staffed continuously and operates 24/7, 365 days a year. The Radio Dispatcher receives calls from both internal and external customers. The Radio Dispatchers are given general guidelines and apply judgment to determine priorities of calls or requests. The Radio Dispatcher creates work orders in the work management system where they are provided to field staff for a response.

This important work requires the ability to understand, recall, and relay information, communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing, remain flexible while priorities are changing, and work on several different tasks simultaneously with interruptions and while tracking ongoing situations. This position requires regular contact with the general public and departmental staff to gather or provide information necessary to relay information and check the status of work activities.

This position will report to the Customer Service and Dispatch Supervisor.

Requirements

•Answer phone calls from citizens regarding public safety hazards or conditions in the community that need attention, evaluate the nature of the call to determine the response needed, and dispatch field personnel or contact other agencies as appropriate.
•Operate two-way radios to communicate during daily activities and during an emergency.
•Provide excellent customer service information to citizens regarding work in progress and answer questions.
•Relay information or requests from citizens to work crews, field personnel, or supervisors.
Receive and route information among field crews.
•Write or type work orders, code and assign project numbers, send and distribute requests to appropriate department units or field offices, and maintain logs of department activities.
•Compile payroll information, maintenance statistics, and/or personnel information for processing and records maintenance.
•Monitor various equipment such as building alarms, Close Circuit TV cameras (CCTV), and dispatch information as needed.
•Perform data entry (e.g., timecards, equipment time and asset updates).
•Type simple correspondence and reports.
•Document and log calls and field crew activity.
•Support department goals in promoting diversity and social justice.
This position is considered essential personnel and is required to respond during an emergency. These responsibilities are only a summary of typical functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. This position may perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
• Two (2) years of clerical work experience, including one (1) year of public contact or communication, such as radio communication, switchboard operation, reception work, or clerical office work that requires receiving and relaying information.
• Ability to type required for most positions.
OR: An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position's duties.

Though there are no requirements, strong candidates will have some of the following experience or are able to describe comparable experience:

• At least two (2) years of customer service, call center communications, dispatching or related background.
• Experience handling a high volume of phone calls (80-100 calls a day).
• Experience with traffic incident management or emergency management (such as 9-1-1 operator).
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to type a minimum of 50 words per minute and make corrections to text quickly and accurately.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse group of internal and external customers in fast-paced surroundings and handling difficult situations in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and make decisions following general guidelines.
• Ability to successfully demonstrate conflict management skills and maintain a professional composure.
• Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural workplace with a diverse customer base.
• Capacity for adapting to changing priorities and handling multiple tasks with ease and accuracy.
• Experience relaying information or requests from customers to work crews, field personnel or supervisors.
• Detail oriented; strong organizational, time management, and customer service skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office productivity tools (Word, Excel, Outlook) and the ability to quickly learn new computer applications.
• Familiarity with the geography and streets of Seattle.
• Support department goals in promoting diversity and social justice.

Other Requirements:
Work Environment / Physical?Demands:
• Work is conducted in a shared office environment.
• Work involves answering multiple incoming phone lines and continual transmittal of information to field personnel on a two-way radio and cell phones.
• The Dispatch Office operates 24/7/365.
• Position may require night, weekend, and/or holiday work.

Additional Information

Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.

Hiring Process

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:

1.Completed NEOGOV online application.
2.Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
3.Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.
4.Supplemental questionnaire responses.

Job offer is contingent upon verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process and may include a criminal history background check, a pre-placement medical examination, a review of driving history, and reference information.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The full salary range for this position is $33.10 - $37.06 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, veterans and those with diverse life experiences.

Accommodations for people with disabilities is provided on request.
The City is a Drug Free Workplace.