Sheriff's 9-1-1 Dispatcher

Full Job Description

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office is currently recruiting to fill multiple Dispatcher positions at either the I or II levels.

If you are interested in being considered at the different levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for each level.

If you are an experienced Dispatcher, please view our Communications Dispatcher II recruitment.

Become a 9-1-1 Sheriff's Office Dispatcher

Supporting safety and emergency situations is an exciting and challenging opportunity for people who thrive in a fast-paced work environment and enjoy using complex communication systems.

Although being a Dispatcher can be demanding, those with the determination and passion for supporting public safety will be rewarded with the ability to help others when they need it most and the camaraderie of the Sheriff's Office team.

In this entry-level Dispatcher position, you will receive significant training on how to effectively handle a variety of emergency situations. Once on-the-job training is complete, Dispatchers take emergency calls, dispatch, track, and monitor situations happening in the community, and assist Deputies in the field in a wide variety of situations ranging from looking for a missing person to responding to a robbery in progress. The most successful Dispatchers will possess excellent judgment as well as many of the following:

• The ability to remain calm, clear, and in control during times of stress
• Experience working swiftly in stressful circumstances to manage multiple, simultaneous situations
• Compassion, empathy, and excellent communication while utilizing problem-solving skills
• Experience working with the public and people in distress
• The ability to direct distressed callers through emergencies, read maps, and provide clear directions
• Proficiency in basic computer programs, including Microsoft Office applications Word and Excel, and demonstrate the ability to type quickly and accurately

In our 24/7 environment, overtime is required and Dispatchers must have the flexibility to work all shifts (nights, swings, weekends, holidays, and mandatory overtime/holdovers). As you gain experience and seniority, there is more flexibility in selecting shifts.

Please note that skills and abilities testing will be conducted by the Sheriff's Office for referred applicants using CritiCall.https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants Top scoring applicants will be contacted for department selection interviews by the Sheriff's Office. This is not a P.O.S.T. test. A T-Score or pass/fail letter will not be provided by the County of Sonoma Human Resources or the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities.

You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Communications Dispatcher II (41.52 - $50.47/hour)
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, and 12 paid holidays per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

The Sheriff's Office is currently recruiting to fill multiple 9-1-1 Sheriff's Office Dispatcher positions at both the I and II levels. This 9-1-1 Sheriff's Office Dispatcher employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title of the position is Communications Dispatcher I.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Additional information can be found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association Memorandum Of Understanding (SCLEA MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Requirements

Experience and Education: Any combination of experience, training, and education which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities.

Normally, this would include graduation from high school or possession of a G.E.D.

Some experience receiving information over the phone, radio, or communications system, and simultaneously entering data into a computer is desirable.

Special requirement: Within one year of employment, and as a condition of probation, employees in this classification shall complete a P.O.S.T. certified Public Safety Dispatcher’s Basic Course.

Special skill requirement: This classification requires the ability to type at a corrected speed of 45 words per minute.

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Qualifications

Some knowledge of: streets, roads, major buildings and geography of Sonoma County; the functions of the Sheriff’s Office and other public safety agencies; communications equipment; data entry techniques and computer operations; techniques for effectively working with members of various ages, ethnicities and socio-economic groups; standard office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to: speak clearly and concisely in English; react quickly, efficiently and calmly in an emergency situation, and adopt an effective course of action; handle inquiries from the public in a courteous and effective manner; learn rules and regulations, including applicable Federal Communications Regulations and their application; understand and follow complex written and oral instructions; learn to operate communications equipment; keep records; type on a keyboard; and work a shift schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Additional Information

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (Weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position.

Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments.

This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate’s personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process.

Personal information includes the applicant’s name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race.

This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for invitation by the Sheriff's Office for online skills based testing using CritiCall.

Please Note: Skills and abilities testing will be conducted by the Sheriff's Office for referred applicants using CritiCall. Top scoring applicants will be contacted for department selection interviews by the Sheriff's Office. As this is not a P.O.S.T. test, a T-Score or pass/fail letter will not be provided by the County of Sonoma Human Resources or the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants/

Additional Information

Being part of the Sheriff's Office and being expected to keep the public safe requires a thorough background investigation process.

This process includes an assessment of prior work history, verifying educational experiences, court reports, public records searches, and understanding past patterns relating to drug usage, financial patterns, etc.

This entails gathering a significant amount of information from job candidates and speaking to former employers, friends, family members, etc.

Polygraphs, drug tests, and medical and physical examinations are also part of this process. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process.

Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment. This process can take anywhere from 3-5 months.

Many factors are taken into consideration and one should not assume a credit issue or prior drug use is automatically disqualifying.

Candidates will be given the opportunity to present mitigating information they feel should be considered.

You are encouraged to be as responsive as possible while this process is taking place to help expedite the timeline, and we encourage you to stay patient and interested in this great career opportunity while this process is taking place.

You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

Please read the Sheriff's Office Pre-Employment Drug Use Guidelines for further information.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail.

All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement.

Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging.

We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve.

The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JL
HR Technician: RR