Public Safety Communicator/911 Dispatcher (Lateral)

Public Safety Communicator/911 Dispatcher

The City of Gilroy is recruiting for the full-time position Public Safety Communicator in the Police Department. This recruitment is for the lateral position requiring two and one-half years of related public safety dispatching work experience. The general goal of the Communications Unit is to provide 24 hour emergency communication response for all police, fire, and medical emergency calls for service in a courteous and professional manner.

Under the direct supervision of the Communications Supervisor and under the functional supervision of the Watch Commander, answer emergency and routine calls from the public for Police, Fire, and medical assistance and general service and dispatch necessary personnel and equipment, perform other related duties as required. Work shifts including weekends, holidays, nights and evening hours.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have strong prior experience serving as a 911 dispatcher for a busy community.
• Have experience dispatching both police and fire personnel to calls for service.
• Have a heart for public service with the ability to use compassion and empathy with callers when appropriate and needed.
• Have experience handling complex and challenging calls for service.
• Be skilled in handling difficult calls in a calm and professional manner.
• Have excellent interpersonal and professional customer service skills.
• Have superb listening skills and the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Be adaptable to changing situations; work well under pressure, and be comfortable making quick or critical decisions.
• Possess strong multi-tasking skills.
• Be proficient with computers and with the use of software and technology, including systems specific to public safety services.
• Have participated in "sit-alongs" with the City of Gilroy Police Department Communications Unit.
• Have a willingness to learn and improve on skills and be receptive of constructive feedback.

Additional steps (Step F, Step G, and Step H) included in the salary range listed above are available to employees in this job classification after completion of five years of service (Step F), ten years of service (Step G), and 15 years of service (Step H), and one year at the prior step, and good performance evaluation. Placement in the Step A - Step E portion of the salary range is based on years of directly related public safety communicator work experience.

Compensation, benefits, and additional information persons appointed to this position on a full-time basis will receive the following benefits: Health Allowance and Flexible Benefits Plan, Other Benefits, Vacation, Sick Leave, Holiday Pay, and Shift Differential Pay, Bilingual Pay, Uniform Allowance, Medicare/Social Security, Payroll, Representation.