Public Safety Communications Dispatcher - Department of Emergency Management (8238)

City and County of San Francisco • San Francisco, CA

7d

About The Position

The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM) leads the City in planning, preparedness, communication, response, and recovery for daily emergencies, large scale citywide events, and major disasters. In charge of the city's 911 dispatch center and large-scale emergency operations, DEM is the vital link in emergency communication between the public and first responders, and provides key coordination and leadership to City departments, stakeholders, residents, and visitors. For more information on the Department of Emergency Management, please visit: http://www.sfdem.org/ .
Under general supervision, a Public Safety Communications Dispatcher (“Dispatcher”) receives incoming emergency (911) and non-emergency telephone calls from the public and public safety agencies. This position dispatches police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) field units to respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service over a 2-way radio system utilizing a computer-aided dispatch system. The Department of Emergency Management’s (DEM) Division of Emergency Communications operates 24/7/365. Dispatchers may be assigned to work various schedules including day, swing, and night shift, weekends, holidays, and overtime. Dispatchers work 8 or 10-hour shifts (or longer) and must be willing and able to respond, report, and mobilize as necessary. Essential duties can be reviewed in detail here and include:

Requirements

• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent (GED or High School Proficiency Examination).
• Two (2) years of experience in a public contact position providing information and/or a service, or in a position where the primary responsibility is interacting with people.
• Completion of thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units of coursework from an accredited college or university may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience as described above.

Responsibilities

• Receives emergency and non-emergency calls and efficiently gathers, evaluates, prioritizes, and documents information from callers.
• Dispatches police, fire, and EMS field units to specific locations using a computer-aided dispatch system, multiple video display terminals, 2-way radio dispatch console, and related equipment.
• Evaluates incoming reports of police, fire, and medical emergencies; immediately transmits complete and accurate information to appropriate field personnel.
• Monitors, coordinates, and accurately maintains the status of incidents and records of dispatched emergency service personnel and apparatus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees