Communications Dispatcher (Entry-Level)

The Position

This job is posted on a continuous basis, and applications will be reviewed monthly for consideration. Be sure to stay attentive to email communication regarding panel interviews. Attention: There are four (4) required parts of the application. You must attach your typing certificate and POST/CritiCall test results in addition to submitting an application and answering the supplemental questions. Information links to sign up for testing dates are found under the application materials description. The East Bay Regional Park District's Public Safety Department serves over 25 million annual visitors. Our area of patrol includes 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres, 1,330 miles of trails, and 55 miles of shoreline in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Our Police Department is a full service POST-recognized law enforcement agency with 76 sworn officers. Our Fire Department provides all typical emergency services, including fire suppression, hazardous materials responses, search and rescue, auto extrication, emergency medical services, prescribed burns for fire hazard reduction and resource management. Working closely with neighboring agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, we provide emergency response services when called upon by CAL FIRE and the Office of Emergency Services. Fire also includes a Lifeguard Services Unit that renders support to 15 different environments including pools, lagoons, lakes, and coastlines. Our LS Unit offers an array of services including public instruction on water safety, rescuing distressed swimmers, and providing first aid. Looking to start a career in a position that supports emergency services in open spaces? Join an agency that will value your work and professional development and apply to be an entry-level Communications Dispatcher today! For more information about the District's Public Safety Division, please visit the District's website.

Our Mission: EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities. Our Values:

• Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
• Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
• Transparency – We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

Why Work for EBRPD?

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

The Opportunity

The Park District is currently recruiting for entry-level Communications Dispatchers to work at our Public Safety HQ located in Castro Valley, CA. The hiring pools established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools. We're Looking for Individuals Who Are:

• Passionate about helping others;
• Great communicators both orally and in writing;
• Capable of establishing and maintaining positive and cooperative working relationships;
• Comfortable and confident in making decisions when faced with limited information;
• Able to exercise authority and take control in emergency situations.

What You'll Be Doing as a Communications Dispatcher:

Under supervision, performs a wide variety of dispatch and routine, non-hazardous law enforcement functions in a non-sworn capacity on a rotational basis within the public safety department; performs related duties as assigned. Application materials for this position consist of four (4) required parts: 1. A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online; and 2. Completed supplemental questions; and 3. A valid Typing Speed Certificate; and 4. Proof of successful completion of ONE of the following:

• POST Entry-level Dispatcher Test Battery T-Score OR
• The CritiCall Pre-Employment Skills Test

Typing Speed Certificate Requirements: This position requires that you type a minimum of 40 net words per minute. You must attach a valid Typing Speed Certificate meeting the following criteria:

• Demonstrating that the applicant passed a five (5) minute typing test;
• Must be dated within 12 months of the posting closing date;
• Must be from an accredited business school or college, adult education center, skills/business center, or a public agency; internet certificates are acceptable.
• Must display the following items: Candidate name, date and duration of the test, gross words typed per minute, number of errors, name and signature of the examiner administering the test, and name, address, and telephone number of the testing agency.

POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test Battery T-Score: Cost is $35 (Testing dates and times are found on the website linked above.) CritiCall Pre-Employment Skills Test: Cost is $77 (Testing dates and times are found on the website linked above.) Tentative Date of Onsite Examinations Skills Tests (POST or CritiCall): Results submitted with application Best Qualified Review (supplemental responses review) and oral panel interviews will take place on a roughly bimonthly basis. Department selection interviews will follow the oral panel interviews. The timing of the department selection interviews will vary based on the department's current hiring needs.

Essential Functions

• Performs tasks necessary to effectively dispatch police, fire and park operations resources, as required;
• Receives telephone calls from members of the public, employees, or other agencies requesting general park information, police or fire assistance, including "911" and other emergency calls;
• Transmits and receives radio messages;
• Analyzes situations and dispatches the appropriate units;
• Dispatches mobile units and other equipment to specified locations as ordered;
• Makes telephone requests for ambulance, vehicle towing, or other emergency services as requested by officers in the field;
• Monitors other law enforcement and fire agencies' radio frequencies and rebroadcasts pertinent information;
• Communicates with other agencies to coordinate a medical response;
• Operates and makes minor adjustments to radio telephone transmitting and receiving equipment;
• Responds to in-field requests for communications aid at critical incidents or any aid when requested by a supervisor including: responding to a Mobile Incident Command center or off-site communications center in emergency situations, assists in the facilitation of emergency evacuation of the communications center via patrol vehicle, Mobile Incident Command vehicle, or personal vehicle;
• Participates in mandatory off-site department trainings including but not limited to out of jurisdiction locations;
• Performs varied clerical duties such as typing, maintaining message logs, assisting on reports and records, filing, answering phones, and responding to inquiries from the public and other agencies;
• Processes police (court cases and parking citations), fire, medical, and field reports;
• Performs data entry and retrieves data;
• May be required to collect monies from members of the public for the purpose of paying fees for towing, dog permits, copies of reports, other services, or for paying fines;
• Serves as Communications Supervisor in their absence;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade; AND Experience: Two years of recent, responsible work experience. License or Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.

Additional Information

Knowledge of:

• The purposes and general methods of police and fire dispatching;
• Routine clerical operations;
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and software

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