Placer County

To plan, organize, direct, schedule, and supervise public safety dispatch operations within the Sheriff's Office; to administer the County emergency communications system; and to perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

Positions at this level perform full, second-line supervisory responsibilities that include directing, planning, assigning, and evaluating work of subordinates as well as responsibility for an organizational section within the Dispatch Unit of the Sheriff's Office.

This class is distinguished from the Dispatch Services Manager in that the latter provides full functional management responsibility for the entire Dispatch function in the Sheriff's Office, whereas this class oversees multiple shifts and/or a particular section or program within the Dispatch Unit.

Receives general direction from the Dispatch Services Manager or sworn administration staff.

Exercises general supervision over first-line supervisory staff.

Essential duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Recommend and implement unit goals and objectives, policies, and procedures; establish schedules and methods for a central communications dispatch center.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of staff involved in public safety dispatch, including reviewing and processing timesheets.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities; prepare and maintain radio and phone logs, including incident logs; and preparation and maintenance of other reports and records; prepare Fire Department communication statistics as required.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; submit justifications for equipment, software systems, materials, and supplies as needed; monitor and control expenditures; participate in the coordination and development of agreements for communication services for contracted Fire Departments.
• Participate in the selection of staff; supervise assigned Dispatch staff; direct training and staff development in coordination with the Dispatch Services Manager; prepare first line supervisory dispatch performance evaluations and oversee preparation of line staff evaluations; recommend discipline; implement discipline procedures as directed.
• Make minor repairs to the communications system; analyze system problems and refer significant failures to the proper source of service; consult with vendors regarding communications equipment and techniques; coordinate vendor purchases; assist in systems analysis and make recommendations for efficiency.
• Administer the 911 public safety answering point (PSAP) and the computer aided dispatch system; work closely with the Dispatch Services Manager to ensure system consistency throughout the county; work closely with Department management staff to procure and maintain dispatch equipment and technology.
• Oversee the Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) quality assurance program; run reports and ensure compliance with employee certification requirements. 
• Supervise training activities of assigned work unit or section; train and mentor first-line supervisory staff; ensure that new staff are trained in the systems and procedures related to the communications functions including operation of the 9-1-1 call handling equipment, computer aided dispatch system, and other related software systems; troubleshoot problems and respond to questions and inquiries from other Department staff; may be required to provide relief dispatching, as necessary.
• Assure that subordinate staff understand and comply with all policies and procedures of the Sheriff's Dispatch Unit; draft and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations. 
• Work with Department staff and the public in the areas of assigned functional responsibilities.
• Provide technical assistance on special projects for Department and County management staff.
• Represent the Placer County Dispatch unit to outside agencies and organizations as directed by higher level management staff; participate in outside community and professional groups and committees; provide technical assistance as necessary. 
• Research, collect data, and prepare statistical, technical and administrative reports as required; prepare written correspondence; participate in the preparation of procedural and training manuals for dispatch staff.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Provide back-up to the Dispatch Services Program Manager as required.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Work is typically performed in an indoor dispatch center environment with controlled temperature conditions and varying noise levels and may require travel to and from locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions. Position may require working on weekends, holidays, and odd or irregular hours and may be subject to emergency call-out as well as unusual and prolonged work schedules, and working multiple shifts during emergencies, critical incidents, or as required to meet service needs.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in public safety dispatch within a 911 communications center, including one (1) year of lead or supervisory experience.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college course work in criminal justice or a related field is desired.  Completion of the experience requirement is proof of sufficient education for this class.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Successful completion of the P.O.S.T. certified Basic Dispatcher course prior to appointment.
• Must maintain a valid CPR certificate.
• Successful completion of the P.O.S.T Civilian or Sworn Supervisory course within twelve months of appointment.
• Successful completion of the P.O.S.T. certified Emergency Medical Dispatch course within twelve months of appointment. 

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public safety dispatch administration, organization, budgeting, and personnel management.
• Equipment, tools, and materials used in an automated public safety communications center.
• Principles, practices and operating characteristics of manual and computerized call-taking and dispatching systems in local government public safety environments.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, and conflict resolution.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, and rules.
• Operations and structure of a criminal justice system.
• New and emerging technologies related to dispatch center operations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; collect, understand, analyze, interpret, recall, and explain information received from a variety of sources including policies, procedures, rules, work papers, and regulations; identify different voices and sounds on the radio and telephone; listen and interpret radio codes correctly and translate information to the public and law enforcement staff; know various locations and addresses; refer to multiple computer screens for messages and other relevant information; read maps quickly and accurately; receive information from the public problem solve the situation; manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and quickly switch between tasks; focus on a single task for long periods of time, work with frequent interruptions; work under time pressure; complete a high volume of tasks; quickly and accurately receive and process auditory information in an environment with frequent interruptions and that includes various background noises such as telephones ringing, multiple frequency radio traffic, and general conversation; and decipher and differentiate various verbal and non-verbal auditory sounds and cues at variable intensities. 
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk or console for long periods of time. Intermittently walk, stand, bend, twist, squat, and reach to access office equipment; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; speak, use a telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; lift light weight. 
• Organize and implement the operations and activities of a public safety communications/dispatch center.
• Explain to the public how their concern will be handled. 
• Plan, assign, supervise and evaluate assigned staff.
• Develop and provide staff training as needed; prepare understandable and concise program documentation for staff training materials.
• Interpret and explain pertinent county and department policies and procedures.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of an assigned program budget.
• Draft and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Understand the organization and operation of the County and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Perform complex administrative work.
• Analyze a situation and determine proper course of action; adjust quickly to changing situations; perform several tasks at once and assign reasonable priorities to incoming calls; monitor multiple frequencies.
• Maintain an efficient, calm demeanor in handling adverse or emergency situations and direct other staff to do the same. 
• Operate, update, and oversee all public safety communications equipment and equipment associated with the dispatch function including, 911 (basic and advanced), telephone and radio, audio logger, emergency alert, computer-aided Dispatch (CAD), record management (RMS), and case management (CMS) systems. 
• Operate computerized keyboards and other related equipment at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
• Work assigned shift, including weekends, holidays, and odd or irregular hours; be subject to emergency call-out and unusual and prolonged work schedules, work multiple shifts during emergencies, critical incidents, or as required to meet service needs. 
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and efficient manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Length of Probation: