Communications Dispatcher Trainees work in the Communications Center and receive on-the-job training in routine and emergency public safety communications, specific day-to-day direction, and are closely supervised. Training includes call-taking and radio-dispatching techniques for law enforcement and fire/medical. After completing the probationary period, trainees are expected to advance to Communications Dispatcher where they will perform the full range of assigned duties.

Our Highly Qualified Candidate:

The highly qualified candidate will have experience involving heavy public contact and handling several tasks simultaneously while entering information into an automated system. The highly qualified possesses excellent communications skills to enable the trainee to effectively respond to the various public safety agencies and citizens reporting anything from the routine to a serious emergency. Additionally, he/she will have the ability to work as part of a team in a hectic environment, possess strong interpersonal skills and good judgment. He/she has the flexibility to successfully adapt to changing work assignments and has the ability to execute progressively difficult tasks with increasing independence and reliability. Must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness and be able to meet the demands of a career in public safety communications. Typing skills of at least 35 words-per-minute are also desired.

We recognize your time is valuable, so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency certificate such as the General Education Development Certificate and one year of experience involving heavy public contact and handling several tasks simultaneously. Experience within a law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, or similar public agency and experience entering information into an automated system are highly desirable. Applications indicating felony convictions will not be accepted as per California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) requirements. Applicants must be able to work shift assignments and any hours of the day or night, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required to operate a 24-hour, 7-day per week public safety facility.

Certification:

Possession of, or ability to obtain a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Certificate within twelve (12) months of appointment and possession of, or ability to obtain an Emergency Medical Dispatch Certificate within six (6) months of assignment to Fire/Medical.

Special Requirements: Applicants must be willing to work any shift including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Any email notifications regarding the recruitment process will come from noreply@governmentjobs.com. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

Open & Continuous Recruitment:

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as this recruitment may close at any time once a sufficient number of acceptable applications have been received.

Testing and eligible list:

All candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and pass the highly qualified review for this position will be certified to the Sheriff's Office to begin the selection process. The first step of the selection process is a CritiCall test. CritiCall is software that tests the pre-employment knowledge, skills and abilities critical for public safety dispatchers. CritiCall testing includes, but is not limited to sections related to decision making, multi-tasking, memory recall, deductive reasoning, map reading and data entry and will take approximately 2 - 2½ hours. Candidates obtaining a passing score will be invited to a selection interview and mandatory Communications Center sit-in. You may reference CritiCall at http://criticall911.com.

The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur in this assignment while the list remains active.

Background Process:

Applicants successful in testing will be subject to a thorough and rigorous background investigation which may include, but is not limited to, a criminal records check, interviews with friends, relatives, neighbors and employers; verification of DMV records; and overall employment and education history. An applicant may be disqualified for past criminal convictions, poor driving record, providing false background information, and other reasons.

Please note that there is a waiting period for those applicants who are disqualified during the selection process. Applicants who withdraw from the process, or are interviewed and not selected (INS) must wait six months; applicants who withdraw when in background or fail the psychological assessment must wait three years; and applicants who fail background (DQ) must wait three years.

Drug Use Standards:

No use of any illegal drug in the past three years. No felony drug use (e.g. cocaine, amphetamines, etc.) in the past five years. No hallucinogenics ever. No intravenous drug use or drug sales ever. Applicants successful in testing will be given a polygraph examination and/or computerized voice stress analysis and will be asked about illegal drug use. (See pre-employment drug use guidelines (Download PDF reader).)

County Employees as Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.