Employment - City of Sacramento

Job Title:

Dispatcher Recruit (Online Applications Only)

Closing Date/Time:

Fri. 11/27/09 5:00 PM Pacific Time

Salary:

$18.62 Hourly
$1,489.38 Biweekly
$38,724.00 Annually

Job Type:

Full-Time Career

Location:

Sacramento, California

Description Benefits Supplemental Questions

Exam# 09113-09-1

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Dispatcher Recruit is a training-level classification while incumbents attend the Police Public Safety Communication Academy. Incumbents undergo a formal training program in the Academy where they receive basic training answering telephone requests from the public for law enforcement services, including 9-1-1 emergency calls. This Academy must be completed even if similar training has been completed elsewhere. Failure to complete the Academy successfully will result in release from the Academy.

Upon successful completion of training and graduation from the Academy, a Dispatcher Recruit is eligible for probationary appointment to Dispatcher I (monthly salary + incentives currently up to $3,679.90). Dispatcher I’s are assigned to the Communications Center for further on-the-job training.

After 18 months as a Dispatcher I incumbents are eligible to promote to Dispatcher II without further testing (monthly salary + incentives currently up to $4,406.25).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A Dispatcher Recruit attends training sessions to receive instruction and learn dispatching methods in:

Telephone answering techniques.
Identifying and entering calls for service or referrals.
Distinguish between calls for service and referrals.
Proper use of various telephone/radio equipment.
Map reading, geographics and jurisdictions of the City of Sacramento.
City, Departmental, and Division organization.
Civil and criminal law.
Computer systems.
Departmental policy and procedures.
Alarm activation procedures.
Police codes, priorities and abbreviations.
Stress management/Crisis intervention.
Handling emergency situations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

English grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation.
Basic effective principles and practices of excellency in customer service.

Skill in:

The use of computer programs and keyboards.

Ability to:

Communicate clearly and precisely, both orally and in writing.
Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Use a computer and keyboard to enter data provided verbally and in writing.
Learn City street system and physical layout of Sacramento.
Learn standard broadcasting rules and procedures.
Work under pressure and exercise good judgment in emergency situations.
Learn to effectively communicate with and elicit information from upset or irate citizens.
Exercise independent judgment and work with a minimum of supervision.
Value customers and co-workers through provision of excellent customer service.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

A high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
Experience with computer terminals and radiobroadcasting equipment is highly desirable.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE:

FINAL FILING INFORMATION – Cut-off deadline is by 5:00 p.m. on the date listed below:

Cut-Off Date: Friday, November 27, 2009
Test Date: To Be Determined

Note: Cut-off date and test date are tentative and are subject to change without prior notification.

1. Application: (Pass/Fail) – All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by final filing deadlines. Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.

Employment applications that do not list current and/or past job-related experience in the "Work Experience" section will be considered incomplete and will be rejected.
Incomplete applications will not pass the application review; information omitted from that section cannot be considered or assumed.
A resume or answers to the supplemental questions will not substitute for the information required in that section.

2. Computer Test: (Pass/Fail) - The computer test will be job related and may test your ability to:

Follow rules and directions.
Make decisions quickly and accurately based on rules you are provided.
Enter data or information (such as names, telephone numbers, license plate sequences, etc.) into a computer using a keyboard.
Hear, comprehend, summarize, and/or answer questions about information told verbally in short story form.
Use written information provided on lists (such as an alphabetically-sequenced telephone book).
Recognize if bits of information, such as addresses or names, are similar or different.
Quickly learn and later recognize information that is shown in writing, such as descriptions (e.g., red car, blue boat, green shirt).
Perform basic arithmetic (such as addition, subtraction, percentages) without a calculator or other tools.
Hear and remember pieces of information, such as telephone numbers or license plate numbers, for a short period of time.
Evaluate information provided in order to prioritize or categorize incidents.
Evaluate information and identify the most correct solution based upon that information.
Determine routes and/or locations using very basic maps. (No prior map-reading training or experience is required to correctly respond to these questions.)
Correctly spell commonly-used words which sound alike that might delay badly-needed
assistance if misspelled (e.g., patience instead of patients).
Communicate using sentences or phrases that clearly express the intended meaning.
Read and comprehend written passages.

DISPATCHER RECRUIT ORIENTATION: The 9-1-1 Communication Center will host an orientation, offered only to applicants that are invited to the Criticall test. Please call (916) 277-1740 if you have questions about the orientation.

ABOUT THE ELIGIBLE LIST – If you meet the minimum qualifications and pass the CritiCall test, your name will be placed on the Dispatcher Recruit eligible list for a maximum of one (1) year only. You may reapply for this position after one (1) year.

CONTINUOUS FILING INFORMATION – Candidates who are not successful in the CritiCall test may reapply to re-take the test up to two (2) more times within a one (1) year period (you must wait thirty (30) days after the date of disqualification to reapply). Candidates must submit a new application to reapply.

QUESTIONS? – If you have questions concerning the drug use standards or the background process, log on to the Police Department web site at www.sacpd.org or call the Police Recruiting Office at (916) 433-0880 or Police Personnel at (916) 433-0840.

If you have questions concerning the Police Dispatcher Academy, call (916) 277-1740.

If you have questions concerning this job announcement log onto our web site at www.cityofsacramento.org/personnel or visit the City of Sacramento Employment Office, Historic City Hall, 915 I Street, Plaza Level, Sacramento, CA 95814, or call (916) 808-5726.