Public Safety Dispatcher I & II LATERAL ONLY NOV 2026

City Of Ceres; Ceres (CA); Sur place; USD 55 000 - 85 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Health benefits

Pension plan

Paid time off

Résumé du poste

The City of Ceres is seeking a Lateral Dispatcher entry-level candidate for the Public Safety Dispatch team. The role involves receiving and prioritizing calls, coordinating emergency responses, and operating multiple dispatch and radio systems.

Eligible candidates must have prior public safety dispatch experience and meet the qualifications outlined. The position is full-time with opportunities for advancement and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Requires completion of high school or equivalent and basic dispatcher training.
• Two years of clerical experience in a public-facing, high-traffic setting.

Responsabilités

• Receive, evaluate and prioritize calls for emergency/non-emergency public safety assistance.
• Dispatch appropriate units and coordinate response of emergency personnel.
• Operate radio, telephone and computer aided dispatch systems; perform clerical duties related to law enforcement activities.

Connaissances

Dispatcher operations

Emergency calls handling

Radio communications

Public safety procedures

Map reading

Data entry

Formation

Twelfth grade + basic dispatcher course

Two years clerical experience in a high-traffic environment

Outils

Computer aided dispatch systems

Radio communications equipment

Teletype

Description du poste

• Public Safety Dispatcher I & II LATERAL ONLY NOV 2026

Public Safety Dispatcher I & II LATERAL ONLY NOV 2026

Category Public Safety Dispatch

Region Central Valley

Job Type Full-Time

Close Date 12/15/2026 at 5pm or until 100 applicants

The City of Ceres is located in the Central San Joaquin Valley, 80 miles south of Sacramento and 95 miles east of San Francisco, in the heart of Stanislaus County. Ceres is in one of the Central Valley's richest and most diverse agricultural areas and is the home of the new $14 million County Agriculture Center. Even the name "Ceres" originates from the Roman goddess of agriculture. The City enjoys a comfortable climate, with 12 inches of rainfall annually. The average low winter temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit, the average high temperature in spring and fall is 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average high in the Summer is 90 degrees. The Tuolumne River forms part of the northern boundary. Ceres is a growing community with a heartfelt commitment to retaining its small neighborhood personality. Businesses, organizations, and nonprofit community service groups band together for a number of activities throughout the year. Events such as the annual Downtown Street Fair in May, summertime concerts in the park, Halloween Fun Festival, and the Christmas Tree Lane opening are well attended by the community. City government: City Manager’s Office/Administration (City Clerk, City Attorney, Economic Development), Finance, Human Resources/Risk Management, Public Safety (Police, Fire), Engineering, Community Development (Planning, Building/Permits), Recreation, Public Works, Water, and Wastewater Utilities.

LATERAL DISPATCHER ONLY - MUST HAVE PREVIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER EXPERIENCE.

CLOSES 12/15/26 AT 5:00PM OR 100 APPLICANTS (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST)

Public Safety Dispatcher I is the entry level class in the Public Safety Dispatch series. Performs a variety of duties involved in receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and relaying calls for emergency and non-emergency public safety assistance; dispatches appropriate units and coordinates response of emergency personnel; operates a variety of telecommunications equipment including radio, telephone, and computer aided dispatch systems; and performs a wide variety of specialized clerical duties involved in the preparation, maintenance, and release of materials related to law enforcement activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of

• Operations, services, and activities of a public safety telecommunications and dispatch center.
• Operational characteristics of modern public safety telecommunications equipment including computer aided dispatch systems and multi-channel radio systems.
• Law enforcement and emergency service procedures for responding to and handling reported incidents.
• Techniques of questioning for both emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Methods and techniques of receiving, prioritizing, and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls for service.
• Functions of the Public Safety Department and other City departments.
• Geographic features and locations within the area served.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Methods and techniques of telephone etiquette.
• Methods and techniques of conflict resolution.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.

Ability to

• Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Effectively communicate and elicit information from upset and irate callers.
• Speak clearly and concisely in an understandable voice via radio and telephone and in person.
• Hear and distinguish radio voice traffic within normal levels and over background noise.
• Make independent decisions that affect the safety of public safety personnel, citizens, and property such as those involved in determining the urgency of requests received and the appropriate action to take.
• Dispatch police units quickly and effectively.
• Think quickly, calmly, and clearly in emergency situations.
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Operate a variety of telecommunications receiving and transmitting equipment including radio transmitting communication equipment, teletype equipment, and computer equipment.
• Operate specialized public safety computer systems and applications.
• Read and interpret maps and other navigational resources and give directions.
• Type and enter data accurately at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
• Work under pressure, exercise good judgment, and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Interpret, apply, and explain applicable federal, state and local policies, procedures, laws, codes and regulations including police records retention and dissemination policies and procedures.
• Maintain composure, alertness and concentration while working for extended periods of time.
• Compile, maintain, process, and prepare a variety of records and reports.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public reporting emergencies and seeking information or filing a report.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines -

Dispatcher I

Education/Training:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by successful completion of the basic dispatcher course within specified time period.

Experience:

Two years of increasingly responsible clerical experience that includes customer service in an environment with frequent interruptions.

Dispatcher IIEducation/Training:Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by successful completion of the basic dispatcher course.Experience:Two years of experience comparable to that of a Dispatcher I with the City of Ceres.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Environment: Work is performed in an office and emergency services dispatch center setting with extensive public contact; incumbents are required to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts; incumbents may be called back or held over to maintain staffing levels. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. The office is a low-light environment. The type and nature of calls can create periods of extended stress.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office and emergency dispatch center setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Communications switchboard, including computer-aided systems, desktop and laptop computers including word processing software, copy machine, fax machine and two-way radio system.

SELECTION PROCESS

Application Evaluation: The qualifications of each applicant, as set forth in the application, will be continuously reviewed by the Police Department and Human Resources. Applicants who pass the initial Application Evaluation Test will advance to the next testing phase, the Interview. Note:Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement in the selection process.

Those candidates who successfully pass the Interview phase of testing will be certified to a Hiring Eligibility List and the top three (3) scorers will be referred to the Police Department for a selection interview with the Chief of Police. A select number of candidates will be authorized by the Chief to advance to the Background Investigation, including Fingerprinting.

Conditional Offer of Employment: Candidates who pass the Background Investigation will receive a Conditional Employment Offer and will advance to the pre-employment medical examinations,which will include medical psychiatric and physical examinations, including drug testing.

NOTE: Information contained herein does not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and is subject to change without notice.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

If you are a qualified individual with a disability as defined by the ADA and you need reasonable accommodations to participate in any of the examinations administered by the City of Ceres, you must notify the Human Resources Department in writing by the final filing date or review date for the specific job. Official documentation of your functional limitations to support your request may be required.

THE CITY OF CERES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in employment in accordance with applicable federal and California law. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The City of Ceres provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities during the recruitment and selection process, as required by applicable law. Applicants requiring an accommodation may contact Human Resources at [e-mail] to request assistance.

LATERAL DISPATCHER - PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NEED ONLY APPLY

• Fast-paced Environment
• Flexible
• Adaptable

For more information about Public Safety Dispatchers and resources, follow this link:

Health: The City contributes toward the combined monthly premiums for medical, dental and vision a maximum of $810, $1,600 or $2,250, dependent on level of medical coverage enrollment. One of the monthly plan premium options are currently at no cost to the employee only coverage! Any employee contributions to health premiums are taken as pre-tax deductions. Employees eligible to waive medical coverage receive $200 per month in additional taxable compensation. Carriers include: Two Sutter Health HMO's, Sutter Health HDHP HMO, Two Kaiser HMO's; DeltaDental and VSP Vision.

Retirement/Pension: The City offers a generous defined benefit plan pension (membership required) in the Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement Association (StanCERA), as governed by County Employees’ Retirement Law of 1937 and Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA). “Classic members” (within the last six (6) months a member of StanCERA or reciprocal retirement plan, e.g. CalPERS) are enrolled in the City’s 2% @ 55 plan; final compensation at retirement is based on the single highest year. Non-classic or “new members” are enrolled in the 2% @ 62 plan, and employees are required to pay 100% of the normal contribution rate as prescribed by PEPRA, currently 9.57%, on a pre-tax basis; final compensation at retirement is based on the average of the three highest years.

Other Benefits: See the Memorandum of Understanding for your group - MOU

Voluntary Benefits & Leave: Employee Assistance Program, voluntary options for Deferred Compensation (457), Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage, 96 hours of sick leave accrued each year with unlimited accrual; vacation accrual based on years of service with maximum accrual of 480 hours and 14paid holidays (including one personal day) each year.

The City also participates in Social Security, which has a mandatory 7.65% contribution for Social Security and Medicare.

Special Instructions

LATERAL DISPATCHERS WILL PROVIDE COPY OF POST TESTING.

DISPATCHER I/II: REQUIRED POST TESTING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 3 1/2 HOURS FOR ALL NEW DISPATCHERS.

Strict standards are in place and rigid background investigations are conducted for these positions of authority and trust. The list of issues that can disqualify you in your background check is long and distinguished. Here are some common background check disqualification factors which often prevent candidates from moving forward in the process: