Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor

City of Reno; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Reno seeks an experienced supervisor for the Public Safety Dispatch Department. This internal promotional opportunity focuses on employee development, coaching, and effective day‑to‑day operations in a 24‑hour dispatch environment.

The ideal candidate will oversee staff on an assigned shift, manage resources, and lead training while navigating shifting priorities and complex situations. This internal recruitment aims to establish a future talent list.

Qualifications

• Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent with specialized training in emergency service communications.
• Three years of increasingly responsible public safety dispatch experience including acting in charge and training as a certified training operator.
• Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review staff responsible for providing public safety dispatch on an assigned shift.
• Establish schedules and allocate resources; review needs with management and allocate accordingly.
• Participate in development and implementation of policies and procedures; monitor activities and suggest improvements.
• Participate in staff selection; provide or coordinate staff training; evaluate performance and apply discipline.
• Prepare and administer the public safety dispatch program budget; monitor expenditures.
• Coordinate training programs; develop course materials and coordinate instructor assignments.
• Monitor dispatch operations to ensure courteous, expeditious handling and effective communication.
• Coordinate dispatching activities with other departments and outside agencies.

Skills

Public safety dispatch leadership

Coaching & training

Performance management

Staff supervision

Communication

Budget oversight

Bilingual (preferred)

Education

High school diploma + specialized training in emergency service communications

Job description

Promotional Opportunity

This is an internal recruitment only for current qualified classified City of Reno Employees.

The ideal candidate will bring exceptional public safety dispatch experience to a supervisory role focused on employee development and effective day-to-day operations. This position oversees staff and resources on an assigned shift, providing coaching, training, performance management, and leadership while helping employees navigate shifting priorities, complex situations, and the demands of a 24-hour dispatch environment.

We currently have one vacancy in the Public Safety Dispatch Department in which hiring will begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies, which will be filled as they occur.

This is an internal recruitment to provide a promotional opportunity for all qualified current classified City of Reno employees.

The City of Reno is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone. This commitment is an integral part of our efforts to ensure that we have a diverse and representative workforce that serves the community of Reno.

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, review and participate in the work of staff responsible for providing public safety dispatch services on an assigned shift.
• Establish schedules and methods for providing public safety dispatch services; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; allocate resources accordingly.
• Participate in the development and implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitor work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; make recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards and procedures.
• Participate in the selection of dispatch staff; provide or coordinate staff training; evaluate employee performance and work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of the public safety dispatch program budget; submit budget recommendations; monitor expenditures.
• Perform the most technical and complex tasks of the work unit.
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of department goals and objectives.
• Perform the more technical and complex tasks of the work unit including coordinating, implementing and conducting public safety dispatch training programs; develop course materials and coordinate instructor assignments.
• Evaluate training program participants and assign participants to appropriate dispatch positions.
• Monitor dispatch and incoming calls to assure courteous, expeditious handling and good communication techniques; assist employees and the public in difficult situations as needed.
• Monitor dispatch employees who enter, update and retrieve information from teletype networks into computer aided dispatch console relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles and various other information.
• Monitor dispatch employees who maintain contact with all public safety units on assignment; monitor status and location of field units; establish and maintain a daily log of all field calls and units dispatched.
• Conduct inquiries into complaints regarding dispatch employees on an assigned shift; may forward recommendations to higher level staff.
• Coordinate public safety dispatching activities with other departments and outside agencies.
• Represent the Department on various boards, commissions, and committees; testify in a courtroom setting regarding records and recordings.
• Maintain records concerning operations and programs; prepare reports on operations and activities.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public safety dispatch; incorporate new developments as appropriate into programs.
• Perform related duties as required.

The following minimum qualifications are required to be met at the time of application.

Education/Training:

Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent supplemented by specialized training in emergency service communications, public safety dispatch or a related field.

Work Experience:

Three years of increasingly responsible public safety dispatch experience including acting in charge responsibility and conducting training as a certified training operator.

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Questions and Updates: Questions about the information on this announcement and updates to application information should be directed to Civil Service at [phone] or [e-mail].

The City of Reno is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association, or any other protected class status applicable under federal or state law or City Charter.