Sheriff’s Communications Dispatcher I

Summary

Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher ISupport your community in a personally rewarding career by joining the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office family as a Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher I. No experience required and multiple positions available! Starting salary up to $45.96/hour ($95,924/year), and a competitive total compensation package!Note: If you are an experienced Communications Dispatcher who has worked in a law enforcement environment for one or more years, the Sheriff's Office is currently recruiting for Sheriff's Office Communications Dispatcher IIs. If you are interested in being considered for the II-level opportunity, you must apply to the separate recruitment.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 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 rangeCareer Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Communications Dispatcher II (annual salary up to $108,530)Bilingual Premium Pay* - An additional $1.15/1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positionsShift Differential: Up to 10% premium added for shifts worked during evening and night hoursPaid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, and 12 paid holidays per yearCounty Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan optionsStaff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up $850, and ongoing education/training opportunitiesPost-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefitsRetirement - A pension fully integrated with Social SecurityPaid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employmentStudent Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education*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.Become a Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher ISupporting public safety during emergencies is a rewarding career for individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy solving problems under pressure, and excel at using advanced communication systems. While the work is challenging, dispatchers play a vital role in helping protect the community. Those with the dedication, resilience, and passion for public service are rewarded with the opportunity to make a difference when people need help most, while becoming part of the strong teamwork and camaraderie that define the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.Whether you're driven by a desire to serve your community, grow professionally, or take on new challenges, a career as a dispatcher with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office offers meaningful work and opportunities for advancement. As a dispatcher, you'll coordinate emergency and non-emergency communications for ground, marine, and air units in a dynamic environment where every shift presents new experiences. As your career progresses, you'll have opportunities to develop specialized skills and pursue unique assignments. As two examples, Tactical Dispatchers work alongside deputies in the field during specialized tactical operations or may provide communications support for law enforcement services at major events including Sonoma Raceway.Beyond serving the Sheriff's Office, our Communications Center provides dispatch services for the Sonoma and Windsor Police Departments, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and Sonoma County Probation. This diverse range of responsibilities provides valuable experience and the opportunity to support multiple public safety agencies throughout Sonoma County. If you're looking for a career that is challenging, meaningful, and offers continuous opportunities to learn and grow, consider joining the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office as a Dispatcher. You'll receive the training, resources, and support needed to succeed while making a lasting impact on the community you serve.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. In addition to compassion and empathy, the ideal candidates will possess excellent judgment and:Remain calm, clear, and in control during times of stressWork swiftly in stressful circumstances to manage multiple simultaneous situationsDemonstrate excellent communication and problem-solving skillsHave experience working with the public and people in distressHave the ability to direct distressed callers through emergencies, read maps, and provide clear directionsDemonstrate the ability to type quickly and accuratelyIn 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.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.Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.Minimum QualificationsExperience 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 positions advertised on this announcement do not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesSome 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.Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When ApplyingYour 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.Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

Job Description

Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher ISupport your community in a personally rewarding career by joining the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office family as a Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher I. No experience required and multiple positions available! Starting salary up to $45.96/hour ($95,924/year), and a competitive total compensation package!Note: If you are an experienced Communications Dispatcher who has worked in a law enforcement environment for one or more years, the Sheriff's Office is currently recruiting for Sheriff's Office Communications Dispatcher IIs. If you are interested in being considered for the II-level opportunity, you must apply to the separate recruitment.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 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 rangeCareer Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Communications Dispatcher II (annual salary up to $108,530)Bilingual Premium Pay* - An additional $1.15/1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positionsShift Differential: Up to 10% premium added for shifts worked during evening and night hoursPaid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, and 12 paid holidays per yearCounty Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan optionsStaff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up $850, and ongoing education/training opportunitiesPost-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefitsRetirement - A pension fully integrated with Social SecurityPaid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employmentStudent Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education*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.Become a Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher ISupporting public safety during emergencies is a rewarding career for individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy solving problems under pressure, and excel at using advanced communication systems. While the work is challenging, dispatchers play a vital role in helping protect the community. Those with the dedication, resilience, and passion for public service are rewarded with the opportunity to make a difference when people need help most, while becoming part of the strong teamwork and camaraderie that define the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.Whether you're driven by a desire to serve your community, grow professionally, or take on new challenges, a career as a dispatcher with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office offers meaningful work and opportunities for advancement. As a dispatcher, you'll coordinate emergency and non-emergency communications for ground, marine, and air units in a dynamic environment where every shift presents new experiences. As your career progresses, you'll have opportunities to develop specialized skills and pursue unique assignments. As two examples, Tactical Dispatchers work alongside deputies in the field during specialized tactical operations or may provide communications support for law enforcement services at major events including Sonoma Raceway.Beyond serving the Sheriff's Office, our Communications Center provides dispatch services for the Sonoma and Windsor Police Departments, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and Sonoma County Probation. This diverse range of responsibilities provides valuable experience and the opportunity to support multiple public safety agencies throughout Sonoma County. If you're looking for a career that is challenging, meaningful, and offers continuous opportunities to learn and grow, consider joining the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office as a Dispatcher. You'll receive the training, resources, and support needed to succeed while making a lasting impact on the community you serve.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. In addition to compassion and empathy, the ideal candidates will possess excellent judgment and:Remain calm, clear, and in control during times of stressWork swiftly in stressful circumstances to manage multiple simultaneous situationsDemonstrate excellent communication and problem-solving skillsHave experience working with the public and people in distressHave the ability to direct distressed callers through emergencies, read maps, and provide clear directionsDemonstrate the ability to type quickly and accuratelyIn 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.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.Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.Minimum QualificationsExperience 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 positions advertised on this announcement do not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesSome 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.Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When ApplyingYour 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.Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.