Position Information
The Sheriff's Office seeks experienced, emergency law enforcement dispatchers.
Come to beautiful Sonoma County and become a Sheriff's Communication Dispatcher II! STARTING SALARY UP TO $46.45/HOUR ($96,946/YEAR)* PLUS a $25,000 Signing Bonus ^ When you join the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, you become part of a strong work family that makes a difference in our community. You can also look forward to excellent benefits including: - Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Premium pay of $1.15/hour for basic bilingual and $1.50/hour for fluent bilingual, in addition to the hourly pay rate, for bilingual assignments
- Differential pay for evening and night shifts
- Additional premium for POST Intermediate and Advanced Certificates, up to 6.75% of base salary
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals and 12 paid holidays
- County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
^Hiring Incentives
The Sheriff's Office is currently offering a $25,000 signing bonus paid over three installments during the first three years of service.
Other incentives which may be offered, if applicable, include:
- Advanced paid vacation and/or sick leave (up to 24 hours per leave type)
- Relocation reimbursement up to $5,000
About the Position In the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, the Communications Dispatcher II supports both the public and law enforcement by receiving requests for information and providing pertinent data over the phone and radio. Responsibilities include:
- Monitoring radio frequencies
- Receiving and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls from the public
- Setting priorities among competing incoming events and dispatching appropriately
- Utilizing a computer-aided dispatch system
In our 24/7 environment, Dispatchers must have the flexibility to work all shifts including holidays (day, swing, grave), and overtime is required.
This full, working-level position in the Dispatcher job series is for individuals who have completed a year of law enforcement, emergency dispatch experience with a city, county, state, or federal agency.
Possession of a California Commission of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatcher's Certificate is highly desired. Being a Dispatcher can be demanding, but for those who have the fortitude and passion for this work, you will be rewarded with camaraderie, and the ability to help others during the times when they most need the support. You also get to have the satisfying feeling that comes from hearing your colleagues confirm, "We have the suspect in custody." To learn more about this assignment, and how we serve the community, please visit the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office website . T he most successful Dispatchers will:
- Possess significant experience advising callers on how to handle medical and other emergencies
- Work swiftly, in stressful situations, to manage multiple things happening at once
- Remain calm, clear, and in control
- Demonstrate excellent communications skills as well as problem solving skills, empathy, and compassion
- Have the ability to read maps, and provide clear directions
- Be proficient in basic computer programs, including Microsoft Office applications, Word and Excel
- Demonstrate the ability to type quickly and accurately
Serving the community since 1850, the Sheriff's Office employs over 650 employees to protect and secure the half-million residents within the 1,768 square miles of Sonoma County. Supporting safety and emergency situations is an exciting and challenging opportunity for the type of person that thrives in a fast-paced environment. You can be confident that a career with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office will be anything but monotonous.
We Want to Hear from You! Would you like to learn more about joining the Sheriff's Office? Visit our Personnel Bureau website or contact us and speak to the Sheriff's recruiting team at
707.565.2779 or email Sheriff-Recruitment@sonoma-county.org .
When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. Please visit www.sonomacountyconnections.org and www.santarosachamber.com for additional information about the community.
*Salary is negotiable. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association's Memorandum Of Understanding (SCLEA MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory . Bilingual positions require English and Spanish skills at either the basic (conversational) or fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) level. A bilingual examination will be conducted prior to employment to confirm level of skill. The bilingual premium pay begins upon the assignment of a bilingual caseload.
This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. The Civil Service title is Communications Dispatcher II.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include graduation from high school or possession of a G.E.D, and one year of dispatch experience in a law enforcement setting comparable to Communications Dispatcher I.
Special requirement: Within one year of employment, and as a condition of probation, employees in this classification must obtain a P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher's Certificate, as awarded by the State of California, Commission on Police Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.).
Special skill requirement: This classification requires the ability to type at a corrected speed of 45 words per minute.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of: streets, roads, major buildings, and geography of Sonoma County; functions of the Sheriff's Office and other public safety agencies; applicable rules, regulations, and procedures including those of the Federal Communications Commission and their application; communications equipment; data entry techniques and computer operations; techniques for effectively working with members of various ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic groups; standard office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.
Ability to: accurately dispatch, coordinate and direct public safety equipment and personnel; speak clearly and concisely in English; operate communications equipment; operate a keyboard; react quickly, efficiently and calmly in an emergency situation, and to adopt an effective course of action; handle inquiries from the public in a courteous and effective manner; interpret rules and regulations to others; understand and follow complex written and oral instructions; keep records; and work shift schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Being part of the Sheriff's Office and being expected to keep the public safe requires a thorough background investigation process. This process includes an assessment of prior work history, verifying educational experiences, court reports, public records searches, understanding past patterns relating to drug usage, financial patterns, etc. This entails gathering a significant amount of information from job candidates and speaking to former employers, friends, family members, etc. Polygraphs, drug tests, and medical, psychological, and physical examinations are also part of this process. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment. This process can take anywhere from 3-5 months. Many factors are taken into consideration and one should not assume a credit issue or prior drug use is automatically disqualifying. Candidates will be given the opportunity to present mitigating information they feel should be considered. You are encouraged to be as responsive as possible while this process is taking place to help expedite the timeline, and we encourage you to stay patient and interested in this great career opportunity while this process is taking place.
Please read the Sheriff's Office Pre-Employment Drug Use Guidelines for further information.
You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted on-line at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma prioritizes and is committed to continuously providing a workplace where equal employment opportunity is afforded to all people. Please view the County's Equal Employment Opportunity Policy for further information.
HR Analyst: JL/CG
HR Technician: EV
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan :Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution towards the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit.For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU).A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
