Communications Dispatcher (Lateral)

East Bay Regional Park District; Castro Valley (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The East Bay Regional Park District is seeking a Communications Dispatcher to support the Public Safety HQ in Castro Valley, CA. The role involves dispatching police, fire, and park operations resources, handling 911 calls, and coordinating emergency responses as part of a non-sworn, rotational duty assignment.

Requirements include a high school diploma, two years of public safety dispatch experience with CAD, and a valid California Class C driver's license.

Qualifications

• Education: Completion of the twelfth grade.
• Experience: Two (2) years of recent public safety dispatching experience involving heavy call volume while performing multiple tasks utilizing a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
• License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record is a condition of initial and continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Type 40 net words per minute.
• Multi‑task.
• File and prepare accurate reports.
• Manual dexterity to operate telephone, radio, and computer keyboard equipment.
• Speak English proficiently, clearly and audibly.
• Memorize and retain information quickly.
• Meet physical requirements.
• Learn operating procedures and policies of assigned division.
• Follow instructions, reason clearly, analyze situations accurately, act quickly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, the public, and park users.

Skills

Typing 40 WPM

Multitasking

Clear communication

Report writing

Office software

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

MS Access

Job description

The Position

This job is posted on a continuous basis, and applications will be reviewed monthly for consideration. Be sure to stay attentive to email communication regarding panel interviews.

About Us

The East Bay Regional Park District's Public Safety Department serves over 25 million annual visitors. Our area of patrol includes 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres, 1,330 miles of trails, and 55 miles of shoreline in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Our Police Department is a full service POST-recognized law enforcement agency with 76 sworn officers. Our department includes a variety of units and patrol opportunities such as Air Support, Marine, Equestrian, Special Enforcement (including off-road vehicles), Investigations, and a 24‑hour per day 911 Communications Center. Our Fire Department provides all typical emergency services, including fire suppression, hazardous materials responses, search and rescue, auto extrication, emergency medical services, prescribed burns for fire hazard reduction and resource management. Working closely with neighboring agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, we provide emergency response services when called upon by CAL FIRE and the Office of Emergency Services. Fire also includes a Lifeguard Services Unit that renders support to 15 different environments including pools, lagoons, lakes, and coastlines. Our LS Unit offers an array of services including public instruction on water safety, rescuing distressed swimmers, and providing first aid.

Our Mission

EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

Our Values

• Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
• Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
• Transparency – We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

Why Work for EBRPD?

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Park District is currently recruiting for lateral Communications Dispatchers to work at our Public Safety HQ located in Castro Valley, CA. The hiring pools established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur during the one‑year life of the hiring pools.

We're Looking For Individuals Who Are

• Passionate about helping others;
• Great communicators both orally and in writing;
• Capable of establishing and maintaining positive and cooperative working relationships;
• Comfortable and confident in making decisions when faced with limited information;
• Able to exercise authority and take control in emergency situations.

What You'll Be Doing as a Communications Dispatcher

Under supervision, performs a wide variety of dispatch and routine, non‑hazardous law enforcement functions in a non-sworn capacity on a rotational basis within the public safety department; performs related duties as assigned.

• Performs tasks necessary to effectively dispatch police, fire and park operations resources, as required;
• Receives telephone calls from members of the public, employees, or other agencies requesting general park information, police or fire assistance, including “911” and other emergency calls;
• Transmits and receives radio messages;
• Analyzes situations and dispatches the appropriate units;
• Dispatches mobile units and other equipment to specified locations as ordered;
• Makes telephone requests for ambulance, vehicle towing, or other emergency services as requested by officers in the field;
• Monitors other law enforcement and fire agencies’ radio frequencies and rebroadcasts pertinent information;
• Communicates with other agencies to coordinate a medical response;
• Operates and makes minor adjustments to radio telephone transmitting and receiving equipment;
• Responds to in‑field requests for communications aid at critical incidents or any aid when requested by a supervisor including: responding to a Mobile Incident Command center or off‑site communications center in emergency situations, assists in the facilitation of emergency evacuation of the communications center via patrol vehicle, Mobile Incident Command vehicle, or personal vehicle;
• Participates in mandatory off‑site department trainings including but not limited to out of jurisdiction locations;
• Performs varied clerical duties such as typing, maintaining message logs, assisting on reports and records, filing, answering phones, and responding to inquiries from the public and other agencies;
• Processes police (court cases and parking citations), fire, medical, and field reports;
• Performs data entry and retrieves data;
• May be required to collect monies from members of the public for the purpose of paying fees for towing, dog permits, copies of reports, other services, or for paying fines;
• Serves as Communications Supervisor in their absence;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade;
• Experience: Two (2) years of recent public safety dispatching experience involving heavy call volume while performing multiple tasks utilizing a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
• License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record is a condition of initial and continued employment.

Knowledge Of

• The purposes and general methods of police and fire dispatching;
• Routine clerical operations;
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access

Ability to:

• Type 40 net words per minute;
• Multi‑task;
• File and prepare accurate reports;
• Manual dexterity to operate telephone, radio, and computer keyboard equipment;
• Speak English proficiently, clearly and audibly;
• Memorize and retain information quickly;
• Meet physical requirements (e.g., eyesight and hearing to satisfactorily complete job tasks); spell correctly;
• Learn the laws, regulations, and rules applicable to area of assignment;
• Learn operating procedures and policies of assigned division;
• Follow instructions, reason clearly, analyze situations accurately, act quickly and effectively in emergency situations;
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers and park users.

Conditions of Employment

• Must pass a Level 3 background screening
• Must be willing to work evenings, weekends, and holiday shifts
• Must wear a Park District uniform
• Possession of current First Aid and CPR certificates must be obtained within the probationary period of this classification and maintained for continued employment. Failure to obtain and subsequently maintain the required certifications could result in incumbent’s removal from position.

Union Affiliation

POLICE ASSOCIATION: The Park District's Police Association (PA) represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Park District and the PA. The probationary period for this classification is eighteen (18) months.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.