Public Safety Communications Dispatcher (Lateral)

City of Redwood City; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Redwood City Police Department is seeking an experienced Communications Dispatcher to join a fast-paced team. You will use a sophisticated Computer Aided Dispatch terminal to receive emergency calls, determine priority, and dispatch police, fire, medical, or other units.

You will coordinate with other agencies and manage data across networks. Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, customer-service focused, and able to work varied shifts, including nights and weekends, with a strong

Qualifications

• One year of experience as a public safety dispatcher or equivalent.
• Completion of the 12th grade.
• POST-certified Basic Dispatcher training is desirable.
• Knowledge of standard radio and telephone communications equipment.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining contact with status and location of all units on assignment.
• Coordinating emergency calls and relay information to other agencies.
• Entering, updating and retrieving information from networks relating to warrants, property, vehicle registrations and other data.
• Managing text-to-911 communications, photos, videos, and drone feeds as NG911 systems are implemented.
• Training new employees in dispatch procedures may be required.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Customer service

Multitasking

Work ethic

Reliability

Initiative

Independent judgment

Team player

Sense of humor

Education

12th grade completion

Job description

WHY JOIN THE REDWOOD CITY TEAM?

We offer a wide range of meaningful career opportunities with potential for growth, training and development, competitive salaries, flexible work schedules, paid time off, and robust benefits. The Redwood City team is guided by the core values of excellence, integrity, service, collaboration, inclusion and innovation. Inherent in these values is a great organizational culture based on trust, strong and supportive leadership, respect, risk-taking, empowerment, and effective communication.

The community is known for its inclusivity, strong engaged neighborhoods, and civic pride. The City works diligently to maintain positive and productive relationships with community partners, together providing outstanding services, programs and opportunities for residents and businesses. This mix of tradition and progress, community, and diversity, makes Redwood City an extraordinary place to work and call home. If you're looking to grow your career as a part of a professional and progressive Police Department team that fosters innovation, creativity and collaboration, we hope you'll apply.

THE REDWOOD CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

We are a progressivePolice-Department, which recognizes that by working in a partnership with our community, we can best meet our goals of protecting life and property, improving the quality of life, and reducing crime and the fear of crime. Our motto is:

Providing Excellent Service with Integrity and Respect.

The men and women of the Police Department areproud of our department and of our community and we look forward to working closely with all segments of our community to build and maintain and great environment in Redwood City.

The Department consists of two organizational divisions: Patrol and Support Services. We are a professional and progressive organization that takes great pride in providing quality service to our diverse community.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This is an excellent opportunity for anexperienced dispatcher seeking variety and challenge in a fast-paced environment. Using a sophisticated Computer Aided Dispatch terminal, the Communications Dispatcher receives emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, medical, or other emergency service; determine priority, and dispatch police, or other emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures.

Typical duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Maintaining contact with status and location of all units on assignment.
• Coordinating emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other agencies.
• Entering, updating and retrieving information from networks relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles and other information.
• As Next Generation 911 technology is implemented, receive and manage text-to-911 communications, photos, videos, live drone feeds, and information from multiple integrated public safety systems to support emergency response.
• Supervision is received from the Communications Supervisor, and responsibilities may include training new employees in dispatch procedures.

Job Description URL: https://www.redwoodcity.org/home/showpublisheddocument/25884/638067812526630000

Job PDF: Final - Communications Dispatcher LATERAL - Job Announcment #26A-23-updated 8.14.26.pdf

Ideal Candidate

Will embrace the City's emphasis on excellent customer service; will be detail-oriented and able to manage multiple tasks; will have a strong work ethic and a track record of reliability and successful performance; will use initiative and independent judgment; will be a team player who likes working with a variety of City staff and the public and have a sense of humor.

NOTE: This job announcement is intended for experienced dispatchers, non-experienced applicants should apply to the Entry Level Dispatcher recruitment (when posted).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities are qualifying. A typical way to obtain knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience & Education

• One year of experience equivalent to that of a public safety dispatcher
• Education, equivalent to completion of the 12th grade.

Licenses & Certificates

• Possession of a valid California Driver's license and satisfactory driving record.
• Completion of a POST-certified Basic Dispatcher training course is desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Standard radio & telephone communications receiving & transmitting equipment.
• Geographic features & streets of Redwood City.
• Public safety classification codes & computer commands.
• Standard broadcasting procedures & rules.

Ability to:

• Work various shifts assigned, including weekends, holidays, overnight shifts, and overtime.
• Work under pressure, exercise good and independent judgment, and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
• Effectively communicate with and elicit information from upset and irate members of the public.
• Exercise independent judgment and work with minimal supervision.
• Type with accuracy at least 30 words per minute.