Public Safety Dispatcher I

Salary : $73,809.63 - $80,661.57 Annually

Location : Berkeley, CA

Job Type : Career

Job Number : 2025-06-7016

Department : Police

Opening Date : 06 / 03 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR BERKELEY

is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay.

As an employer, the City of Berkeley offers all the benefits of a career in the public sector while fostering diversity, creativity, and innovation. Join a team of high-caliber, experienced staff with a shared mission of serving the Berkeley community and promoting an accessible, safe, healthy, environmentally-sound and culturally-rich city.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher I in the Police Department! In this role, you will have the opportunity to receive 911 system emergency and non-emergency calls, operate various dispatch center equipment including computer terminals; maintains records.

The Public Safety Dispatcher I is the entry-level class in the professional public safety dispatching series. Under close supervision, incumbents are trained in providing technical communications support and computer information processing for police, fire, animal control, parking enforcement, and public works functions in a limited capacity, in addition to call screening and record-keeping and information retrieval in support of public safety activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is :

Equivalent to graduation from high school.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a typing certificate verifying the ability to accurately type a minimum of 35 net words per minute (wpm). Certification may be from an online typing test or a recognized business school, an employment or temporary agency, and must be dated within the past twelve (12) months from the application final filing date.
• Candidates may be required to take an on-site typing test as part of the selection process.
• Must be able to pass a medical and psychiatric evaluation.
• Must be willing to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, the incumbent is required to maintain a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must submit :

Online typing test

The typing certificate must be dated no more than twelve (12) months prior to the date of application. The typing certificate must contain the date it was taken, applicant name and net words per minute.

Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request toPlease allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.

EXAM PROCESS

The exam process will include, but may not be limited to :

Upcoming City of Berkeley exam dates :

You may also take the POST Dispatcher Test at other sites as well see link to the Academy :

Applicants who have previously taken the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test may waive the written exam only by submitting a T-score of 48 or higher provided the test was taken no more than two years prior to the date of application. Applicants must submit their results, including the total T-score and date of the test, on the testing agency's letterhead.

If you have previously taken the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test and would like to retest with the City of Berkeley, you must wait 30 calendar days before being eligible to take the test again.

Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.

Reasonable Accommodations : The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to at the time of application.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background / reference check that may include, but is not limited to : employment history, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including driver's license, registrations, certificates, other credentials, credit check, criminal history check, and Live Scan fingerprinting.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER

The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans' status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency / disaster.

Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other , including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.

Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week. Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.

Retirement

CalPERS

City employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members).

Deferred Compensation

The City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower. Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.

Medical Plans

Employees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plus HMO. The City contributes up to the full family premium for the Kaiser plan, or up to 99% of the full family premium for the Sutter Health Plus plan. Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Dental Plan

The City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California. The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person. Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person. Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.

Life Insurance

The City provides employees with a Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy in the amount of $25,000 (Maintenance and Clerical Chapters) or $50,000 (Community Services and Part-Time Recreation Activity Leaders). Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.

Sick Leave

Employees earn one day of paid sick leave per month.

Vacation

New employees accrue 2 to 4 weeks of vacation annually, depending on classification (see )

Holidays

15 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually

Uniform Allowance

Employees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see )

SEIU)