Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher (911 Operator)

Job Description:

Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher (911 Operator)

Description

THE POSITION

The City of Ventura is accepting applications for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher. The Public Safety Dispatcher is a critical position and is responsible for receiving, screening and responding to incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for police assistance. The position also has the responsibility to dispatch appropriate units as necessary and maintain necessary communication with units during their response to calls. Dispatchers also perform a variety of clerical, record-keeping and general support duties related to communications activities.

The ideal candidate for this position will 1) be an experienced public safety dispatcher, with another police or fire agency; 2) enjoy being part of the communications team and contributing to public safety in the community; 3) be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, making quick, logical decisions in high-pressure situations; 4) remain calm and able to continue working when violent or highly emotional situations are occurring; and 5) respond diplomatically and tactfully to people of diverse backgrounds and when they may be confused, irate, upset, under the influence, or irrational.

The City offers a total compensation package that includes both a generous salary and other benefits! Refer to the benefits tab on the job posting for more information.

If you meet the qualifications for the position and are interested in a career with the City of Ventura Police Department, please complete an online City Job Application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Open until filled.

For additional information on the duties and responsibilities of the position, refer to the job descriptions located on the City's Career Page at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs or by selecting here Public Safety Dispatcher .

Employee Referral Program

This position has been designated “hard to fill” and is eligible for the employee referral program. If you have been referred to apply for this position by a current City staff member, please indicate their name as the person who referred you in the supplemental question.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

A combination of education, training and experience equivalent to completion of high school, keyboarding sufficient to perform the duties of the job, and one year of experience involving public contact, computer usage, or heavy telephone traffic are required. Experience in a dispatching role is preferable.

In addition to the requirements above, one year of experience equivalent to that of a Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee with the City of Ventura OR one year 911 Dispatcher Operator experience is required.

License: Depending on assignment, possession of a valid California Class C driver's license may be required.

Certificate: Typing speed of 35 words per minute is desirable.

APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS

Applications and supplemental questions will be accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply promptly. Open until filled.

If you have one year of public safety dispatching experience, submit a City application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline. The preferred method to submit your application is on-line. If you are unable to submit an online application, you may request paper application materials by calling (805) 654-7853 during regular business hours or emailing recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov. Paper applications and answers to the supplemental questionnaire can be Faxed to (805) 648-4467 or hand delivered to City Hall at: 501 Poli Street, Room 210; Ventura, CA 93001. If you FAX, it is highly recommended that you also send the original documents via mail.

It is important that your City job application show all the relevant education, training and experience you possess. Resumes and cover letters may be attached to your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed job application. Submitting an incomplete application, may disqualify you from further consideration in the recruitment process.

If you are interested in the entry-level Public Safety Dispatcher TRAINEE position, please sign up to be notified by clicking Job Interest Notification . You may select to be notified for employment in "911 Telecommunications". At that point, you may submit a new on-line application when the Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee position opens.

The Eligibility List established for this classification may be used to fill other regular and temporary vacancies at the discretion of the City.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need an accommodation in a selection process, please notify the Human Resources Department in writing by the final filing date of the position you are interested in. The Human Resources address is: 501 Poli Street, Room 210, Ventura, CA 93001, (805) 654-7853, e-mail: recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov .

THE ORGANIZATION

The City of Ventura operates under the Council/ Manager form of government under a charter adopted by voters in 1934, with an elected seven-member City Council. This full-service municipality is supported by 11 major City departments: City Manager, City Attorney, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Fire, Police, Public Works, and Ventura Water. The City’s Adopted FY 2024/2025 Operating and Capital budget totals approximately $531 million. The City Council and the City Manager are dedicated to the highest standards of integrity, public service, and innovative approaches to governing.

To learn more about the City of Ventura, please visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov and view the FY2024-25 Adopted Budget.

CITY OF VENTURA
The City of Ventura is located just north of Los Angeles County and south of Santa Barbara County and is frequently considered one of America’s most desirable places to live. The City is a full-service municipality that was founded in 1782, incorporated in 1866, and serves nearly 110,000 residents within its 32 square miles. With nearly 700 employees, the City is dedicated to delivering key services to our businesses, residents, and visitors to ensure Ventura remains a fiscally stable, economically vibrant, safe, clean, and desirable community.

Locals and visitors enjoy Ventura’s impressive park system that includes 32 parks and historic sites, and more than 800 acres of open green space. The City offers a remarkable year-round climate, friendly people, and a spectacular coastline. Ventura is an exciting location for a variety of outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, sailing, surfing, whale watching and windsurfing. Other activities include the Channel Islands National Park, championship golf, world-class shopping, wine tours, and more. Learn more about the City of Ventura at www.CityofVentura.ca.gov

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

The City of Ventura values human rights, goodwill, respect, inclusivity, equality, and recognizes that the City derives its strength from a rich diversity of thoughts, ideas, and contributions. As leaders in public service, we aspire to be an employer of choice by promoting an organizational culture that reflects these core values. We seek to attract, develop, and retain a talented and dedicated workforce where people of diverse races, genders, religions, cultures, political affiliations, and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that empowers our employees to provide the highest level of service to our community of residents and businesses; they’re counting on us.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to attract qualified applicants from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create an environment that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our workforce. We welcome you to join our team!

Employment Information:

Right to Work : Before employment candidates must submit documentation verifying legal right to work in the United States.

Background Check : A pre-employment verification of background, references, and medical examination will be conducted. A drug screening may be required for some positions. Applicants for positions using City vehicles may be required to submit a DMV report.

Probationary Period : Twelve months

Deferred Compensation: $442 per year will be matched in a 457 Plan.

Medical & Dental Insurance: Up to $691 monthly towards a selection of plans. Medical and dental insurance is effective the first of the second month after date of hire.

Optional Benefits: $469 monthly, applied toward medical insurance premiums. Cash-out option is not available.

Vision Insurance: City paid coverage for employees and dependents. Vision insurance is effective the first of the second month after date of hire.

Life Insurance: City paid term life insurance equal to the employee's annual salary, and dependent life insurance of $2,000 per dependent.

Disability Insurance: City paid short and long-term disability coverage.

Retirement:

Tier I - 2% @ 55/Single Highest Year of Compensation for Classic CalPERS members who worked for the City prior to December 31, 2012 and are returning to City employment. Employees make a 7% member contribution, and may be subject to compensation limits per Section 401(a)(17) of the IRC.

Tier II - 2% @ 60/3-Year Final Compensation Period for Classic CalPERS members with less than a six-month break in service from another CalPERS or CalPERS'-reciprocal agency. Employees make a 7% member contribution, and may be subject to compensation limits per Section 401(a)(17) of the IRC.

Tier III - 2% at 62/3-Year Final Compensation Period for New CalPERS members. Employees make a 6.25% member contribution, and are subject to compensation limits per Government Code Section 7522.10. Additional details regarding the City's retirement plan will be provided to candidates during the job offer process.

Social Security: CalPERS members do not participate in Social Security retirement. Receiving a CalPERS benefit may affect your social security upon retirement. For further information contact a Social Security office or www.socialsecurity.gov/form1945 .

Medicare: Employees participate only in the Medicare portion of Social Security. There is a 1.45% payroll deduction for this benefit.

Annual Leave: 14.5 days per year, increasing to 24.5 days after 15 years service, for vacation or sick leave. Employees may use vacation after successful completion of probation.

Personal Leave: 27 hours per calendar year.

Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.

Winter Holiday Break:18 hours of Winter Optional Holiday time. City Hall closure December 25th to January 1st.

Part-Time Benefits: Regular part-time employees receive insurance, optional benefits, vacation, holidays, sick leave and disability programs proportionate to their regular work hours.

Tuition Reimbursement: $2,500 per year for tuition and books for courses taken at accredited institution after completion of probation.

Student Loan Forgiveness: The City currently qualifies as an eligible employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Direct Deposit: Paychecks are automatically deposited to employee accounts.

Flexible Workweek: A 9/80 workweek is available for some positions.

Wellness Program: A comprehensive program is available, including on-site gym, exercise classes, downtown/beach walking routes, weight loss, and tips on nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

Professional Development: The City of Ventura is a LinkedIn Learning organization. LinkedIn Learning online classes are available with a library of more than 13,000 courses taught by real-world experts. Users can download certificates and customize learning paths that match their roles and competencies.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$35.82 - $43.55 Hourly