Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee

THE POSITION

The City of Ventura is Hiring!

Answer the call! Start a rewarding career in public safety with the Ventura Police Department as the first point of contact for 911 emergency services. If you perform well under pressure, making logical decisions while gathering information in a fast-paced environment, the Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee position is for you!

Effective 7/6/24

Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee Salary-$67,777.22 - $82,383.81 Annually DOQ

Hourly: Step A: $32.5852 - Step B: $34.2145 - Step C: $35.9251 - Step D: $37.7218 - Step E: $39.6076

Effective 7/6/24

Public Safety Dispatcher Salary - $74,514.96 - $90,574.02 Annually DOQ

Hourly: Step A: $35.8245 - Step B: $37.6160 - Step C: $39.4967 - Step D: $41.4719 - Step E: $43.5452

Public Safety Dispatcher Trainees are normally expected to advance to the Public Safety Dispatcher level after one year.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE A DISPATCHER?

• The Communications Center runs 24/7, 365 days a year. It never closes.
  
  Dispatchers work holidays and weekends. Overtime is usually voluntary. However, if not filled, overtime is mandated to maintain minimum staffing levels.

• All Police Department calls are answered by the team, including 911 calls. Fire-related calls are transferred to the Fire Department.
  
  All after hours calls for Public Works and Records are handled by this team. We are a primary Public Safety Answering Point (PCAP) dedicated call center.

• There are eight (8) workstations in the call center. Each shift will have between five and eight dispatchers on duty.
  
  There is a supervisor on duty from 0600-0200 daily. Staffing depends on hours of day (determined by call volume) and varies from 2-5 people

• Dispatchers at VPD work four (4) ten-hour shifts, 4/10. Schedules are picked annually and are selected for the year. Schedules rotate every 4 months are based on seniority.

• Current Communication Center call volume (2023):

• 191,900 total calls

• 50,444 emergency 911 calls

• 13,399 transfers to other agencies

• 21,203 officer-initiated calls

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Check out this video, for a glance inside the daily happenings of the Ventura Police Department Communications Center.

Not every important job wears a badge...

"Our community depends on the skills, expertise, and commitment of the men and women who work in public safety communications," said Police Chief Darin Schindler. "They remain calm during every emergency, have a unique ability to multi-task under very stressful conditions, and play a key role in response and safety."

WHO YOU ARE

As an ideal candidate, you will:

• perform well under pressure
• multitask, displaying solid memory retention
• excel in fast paced environment, thinking fast on your feet
• act as a problem solver
• enjoy nonroutine work
• be able to type while listening and providing direction
• communicate with clarity verbally, providing information with little time to spare
• be able to work at a computer for long periods of time
• interact with a variety of people daily serving a diverse, multicultural, and multilingual community
• act with professionalism always, understanding your performance is recorded and highly visible

THE PROCESS TO BECOME A PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER TRAINEE

The journey to working in our Communications Center is a rewarding process.

• Step 1. Application/Testing:Applicantsundergo a rigorous testing and background process before being hired.

• Step 2. Training:Once hired, Trainees attend a Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Dispatcher Course.

• Step 3. The Communications Training Program:The training is on-the-job, taking 6-12 months where Trainees are evaluated by a Communications Training Supervisor throughout each shift.

• Step 4. Probation: Once a Trainee has successfully completed the Communications Training Program, they will serve our community as a solo dispatcher under the supervision of the Department's Professional Standards Unit.

Every Public Dispatch Trainee will go through an offsite, paid 120-hour academy that will be completed within the first year of being hired. The training is rigorous and typically lasts between 6-12 months. For more information, go to https://post.ca.gov/public-safety-dispatchers-basic-course

Onsite, the Public Safety Dispatcher Trainees will receive training designed to provide the skills to handle local emergency and non-emergency calls, radio traffic, after-hours records duties and after-hours public works call outs. This includes extensive training on the Computer Aided Dispatch system, VESTA phone system, Motorola radio system, criminal justice system, various laws and procedures, law enforcement tactics and techniques, and familiarization with the city geography.

MORE INFORMATION

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 clicking here PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER TRAINEE.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The City offers a total compensation package that includes both a generous salary and other benefits!

• SALARY: See Above
• BENEFITS:Refer to the benefits tab on the job posting for specific information on City benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please complete an online City Job Application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline, Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 5:30 pm. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications will be invited to a testing process.

Please note the recruitment may close without notice, candidates are encouraged to apply promptly.

If you have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO QUALIFY

Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee: 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.

Public Safety Dispatcher: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.

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

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

APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS

YOUR APPLICATION

Submit an online City job application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline or first review date at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs. It is important that your City job application show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess.

Resumes, CVs and cover letters may be attached to your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed job application or supplemental questionnaire. Submitting an incomplete application or supplemental questionnaire, may disqualify you from further consideration in the recruitment process.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:

Apply Today! Applications and supplemental questions will be accepted until

Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 5:30 pm

APPLICATION REVIEW:

All applications and supplemental questionnaires submitted will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. Candidates will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Candidates will be notified about their status after their application has been reviewed.

TESTING PROCESS:

The testing process may consist of one or more of the following exam components: Keyboarding, Data Entry/Call Summary, MS Office Skills Assessment, Customer Service Interaction, and qualifying Department selection interview process.

NEXT STEPS:

Eligibility List: Applicants that meet the examination requirement by passing each test component, will be certified to an eligibility list.

From the eligibility list, your name will be sent to the Police Department for further consideration. The Police Department will administer the remaining processes outlined below.

Personal History Statement Completion: All applicants certified to the eligibility list are required to complete and return the POST Personal History Statement to the Police Department. To locate and print a copy of the Personal History Statement- Public Safety Dispatcher (Form 2-255), please visit the POST website at: https://www.post.ca.gov/forms.aspx.

Department Selection Interviews: Upon review of the completed Personal History Statement, the Police Department will invite a limited number of candidates to participate in department selection interviews. Select candidates will be notified of specifics.

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 2023/2024 Operating and Capital budget totals approximately $428.8 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 FY2023-24 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!