COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR Salary $60,734.04 - $76,352.40 Annually Location Visalia, CA Job Type Regular Full-Time Job Number 01924 Department Police Opening Date 05/24/2024 Closing Date Continuous Description Benefits Questions Description The City of Visalia Police Department is recruiting for Communications Operator (Dispatcher). The recruitment is open continuously and will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they arise. A typing certificate dated within one year of the filing deadline MUST be submitted verifying typing speed of 40 corrected WPM before hire.Click here for the recruitment announcement. THE DIVISIONThe Operations Division consists of the Patrol Bureau and Communications Unit that provide patrol, traffic, commercial, and emergency communications services for the Visalia Police Department. The Patrol Bureau operates out of two District Substations, one in each policing district, and the Visalia Emergency Communications Center. In 2023, the Department fielded more than 145,000 police calls for service. Examples of Duties THE POSITIONThe Communications Operator works under direct supervision of the Communications Supervisor. They will receive and transmit routine and emergency telephone and radio traffic, dispatch and coordinate police, fire and animal control. They will maintain and process a variety of communications paperwork, records, and logs. As an Emergency Services employee, the applicant must be available for all shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays. Qualifications / Requirements THE IDEAL CANDIDATEThe ideal candidate will be capable of assertively taking command of situations in a sensitive yet straightforward manner, while showing consideration and respect to others, and will have the ability to deal with stressful and pressured situations in an efficient and controlled manner. Candidates must demonstrate good decision making skills under pressure, work with minimum direct supervision, and be a team player with a positive attitude. Additionally, candidates should have the ability to work all shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays. EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAny combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge, skill and ability is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skill and abilities would be:Possession of high school diploma or GED.One year of 911 emergency dispatching experience with a law enforcement agency, within the last three years.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTSPossession of a California P.O.S.T. Dispatcher Basic Certificate.Keyboarding speed of 40 CWPM (correct words per minute).Possession of a valid California Drivers License by time of appointment.TYPING CERTIFICATE DATED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE FILING DEADLINE AND DISPATCHER BASIC CERTIFICATE MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION Additional Information SELECTION PROCESSApplication and supplemental materials will be evaluated and applicants who appear to be most qualified will be invited to participate in a job related interview and/or examination process. Successful candidates may be required to pass a background, physical examination, and/or drug screen.COMPENSATION AND BENEFITSThe City of Visalia offers a competitive total compensation package that includes:$5,061 - $6,363 MonthlyCalPERS retirement programHealth, Dental and Vision InsuranceLongevity PayOnsite City Health and Wellness Clinic (no out of pocket expenses)Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick Leave and much more...Review the Benefits tab for more information.COMMUNITY OVERVIEWIf work-life balance is important to you, consider living in a thriving community that offers the most affordable housing in California with a typical commute time of less than 20 minutes. With a population of over 145,000, Visalia offers small town charm with metropolitan amenities. Visalia has a world class health care system, our own Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, a flourishing arts community, a minor league baseball team, a downtown convention center, and numerous fine dining establishments. As the Tulare County seat, Visalia is the principal retail center in the region, and home to several large industrial employers. Visalia has a vibrant downtown district, safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, institutions for higher learning, and low cost of living. The City has many community parks, organized team sports, a municipal golf course and private country club, a multi-sport family-oriented regional sports park, and numerous outdoor and recreational activities. Located in the heart of Californias San Joaquin Valley, Visalia offers easy access to the nearby mountains, national parks, lakes and rivers which provide year-round opportunities for sports and recreation within an hour or less. Visalia was ranked as the top Central Valley community and one of seven California cities in the top 25 of Gallup Sharecares latest State of American Well Being Index. Our strong sense of community and social well-being keeps Visalians happy, healthy and moving forward. Come discover all Visalia has to offer!The City of Visalia is an equal opportunity employer. The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in the announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. Please refer to the MOU for further information.Bargaining Unit: Employees in this class are represented by the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council (Group M bargaining unit). This bargaining unit may establish and collect dues for their members independent from the City of Visalia. Those that elect to join may be required to pay dues per the provisions in the MOU.Salary Policies: The salary range for the job is stated on the job announcement. Candidates are normally hired at the minimum of the salary range. Salary increases are given based upon employee work performance, up to a maximum of 5% per fiscal year.Longevity Pay: Association members are eligible for longevity pay based on all years of full-time service with the City of Visalia as a percentage of base wages at the following intervals: 2.0% at 5+ years, 10+ years, 15+ years, and 20+ years. Bilingual pay of $900 per year, pro-rated on a pay period basis, is available to those who are eligible and qualify.Communications Training Pay: Communications Operators certified and assigned as "Communications Training Officers" will receive $1,000 per year, prorated and paid bi-weekly as part of regular payroll.Uniforms and Uniform Allowances: The City shall provide the necessary uniforms and safety equipment needed to perform the job. In lieu of the City providing boots, for those required to wear protective safety footwear, employees will be given an annual boot allowance of $300 for boots and related accessories (laces, insoles, etc.) paid in the pay period that includes July 1st. Group M employees of the police department shall receive a uniform allowance of $800 per year, prorated and paid bi-weekly as part of regular payroll for the maintenance of appropriate uniforms and equipment. Employees working in the following areas of the Police Department that are required to wear a uniform are eligible for uniform allowance: Dispatch, Records, CSO personnel, Property and Evidence, Crime Lab, Duty Officer personnel, Parking Enforcement, and Digital Evidence Technicians.Holidays: Regular non-shift full-time City employees receive 11 paid holidays and one (1) floating holiday per year. In lieu of holidays, Police shift employees receive 4 hours of compensatory time off and 4 hours of regular pay in the pay period the holiday falls. In addition, shift employees receive one floating holiday in the pay period that includes January 1.Vacation: Regular full-time employees earn 10 days per year. After 2 years, employees are eligible for 11 days; after 4 years, 14 days; after 9 years, 17 days; and after 16 years, 20 days of vacation per year. Employees are eligible for vacation usage after six (6) months of service. Employees hired from another governmental agency may be entitled to receive years-of-service credit for their vacation accrual rate for such previous employment and applies only to the government agency the employee was employed with immediately prior to employment with the City of Visalia.Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees earn 96 hours of sick leave per year, accrued per pay period. Employees are eligible for sick leave usage after three (3) months of service. Annual Sick Leave Buy Back: For employees covered under the Sick Leave I provision of the policy, the City will automatically cash out all sick leave hours over 480 hours at 40% of the employees base rate of pay.Administrative Leave: Employees classified as FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime pay) currently receive 56 hours of administrative leave per calendar year. Any unused administrative leave hours are automatically paid out on the first paycheck in December.Compensatory Time Off: Regular full-time employees classified as FLSA non-exempt (eligible for overtime pay) currently receive eight (8) hours compensatory time off per calendar year.Health Insurance: The City provides employee health insurance which includes medical, dental, and vision care. Employee contribution rates are determined by employees bargaining unit and plan selected. Health benefits are also available for an employees dependents for an additional contribution rate. Eligibility for health insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire. Contribution rates are reviewed for adjustment annually.Life Insurance: The City pays the premium for a life insurance and accidental death or dismemberment policy of $30,000. A supplemental life insurance policy may be purchased and paid through payroll deduction. Eligibility for life insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire.Retirement: The City of Visalia is a member of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). New employees are covered under the 2% @ 62 plan. [Employees with previous PERS qualifying service (Classic employees) may fall under the 2% @ 60 plan.] Each pay period, the employee pays an employee contribution at the CalPERS established rate. The City pays an employer contribution towards the retirement benefit and employees are responsible for contributing 4% of the employer contribution in addition to the required employee contribution. Social Security/FICA: City employees are not subject to regular Social Security (FICA) deductions. However, Federal law requires that the Medicare portion of the FICA is deducted.Section 125: The City offers a voluntary Section 125 program whereby tax-free contributions are put into a trust account and are available for withdrawal with documentation of an unreimbursed healthcare or dependent care expense (i.e. premium, dependent care, medical care).Long Term Disability: Regular full-time City employees are eligible for disability insurance (up to 2/3 of their salary) in the event they are disabled for more than ninety (90) days. LTD premium cost is paid by the employee.Workers Compensation: Full-time and hourly employees who sustain an occupational injury or contract occupational illnesses receive standard Workers Compensation benefits as prescribed by law.Other Benefits: The City also offers additional benefits such as an employee assistance program (EAP), a pre-tax deferred compensation plan, education assistance up to $1,500 per fiscal year, as well as a City-sponsored clinic staffed by clinicians 6 days per week available to all full-time employees and covered dependents. Services include general medical care and health and wellness coaching. No deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses.**As a potential applicant, you are about to participate in a series of events collectively called the employment process. Because the goal of the employment process is to obtain the most qualified candidates to fill City positions, examinations are administered to qualified applicants. These examinations are conducted in a variety of ways (written, oral, practical, and/or performance), yet they share a common purpose - to test applicants based upon the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job.The employment process occurs in several stages which are described below:Application: Perspective employees must submit a City of Visalia application and other documents required as outlined in the announcement by the closing time specified on the final filing date. Final filing dates and times are listed on the front of each announcement. Separate original applications must be submitted for each recruitment/position applied for.Examination: Applicants will be evaluated and applicants who clearly appear to be more qualified in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities will be invited to take an examination or combination of examinations. Written, practical, oral, and/or performance examination scores, or a pre-determined combined examination score, will determine standing on the eligible list.Exam Accommodations: If you are most qualified for the job, but need reasonable accommodations to take the exam, contact the Human Resources Division at least five (5) days prior to the exam. We want to work with you to design a fair and effective means by which you can demonstrate your ability to perform the essential functions of this job. Be prepared to furnish proof of the need for accommodation. Such proof should normally be a signed statement on letterhead by a professional who is qualified to make a diagnosis.Eligible lists: Eligible lists contain names, in descending order of score, of applicants who have obtained passing scores. Eligible lists are maintained for no less than six (6) months and no more than one year unless otherwise determined by Human Resources. The City retains the authority to reestablish an eligible list for a specific job opening when deemed necessary. Separate eligible lists are established for each recruitment.Selection: A departmental interview is conducted with the top candidates from the eligible list. The number of candidates interviewed depends on the number of vacancies.Background Review: Depending on the position, prospective employees will be subject to clearing a background investigation which may include, but is not limited to, a reference check, credit check, criminal history review, social security verification, DMV record check, polygraph, and psychological evaluation.Post Offer Medical Examination: Prior to starting work, all prospective employees are required to take a drug/alcohol screening administered by the Citys medical provider and/or pass a medical examination. Candidates are cautioned not to quit or give notice to present employers until the medical examination has been completed and passed.Probationary Period: Employees appointed to a new position through an open or promotional process are required to serve a twelve (12) month probationary period. Employees appointed to Assistant Communications Operator or Communications Operator positions are required to serve an eighteen (18) month probationary period. An employee may be terminated without recourse for any reason and at any time during the probationary period.Immigration Law: Prior to employment, applicants will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, alien registration, or authorization to work in the United States at time of appointment, and complete an I-9 form. Failure to do so within three (3) days from date of hire may be cause for termination. Once hired, failure to maintain authorization to work in the United States may be cause for termination of employment.Drivers License: Some City positions may require possession of a valid California Drivers License. Employees may also be required to submit a DMV printout with proof of automobile insurance as some positions may require the use of your vehicle on the job. Additionally, employees may be required to drive City vehicles or equipment.Non-Smoking Policy: A non-smoking ordinance adopted by the City provides a smoke-free environment.Drug-Free Workplace: The City is a drug-free workplace and has adopted a comprehensive substance abuse policy.Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy: A zero-tolerance discrimination and anti-harassment policy adopted by the City provides employees and volunteers with a professional work environment in which they are not exposed to harassment and illegal discrimination of any kind.The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions contained in the announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. 01 Describe your knowledge of Police and Fire Department operations and procedures as related to dispatching. 02 Describe your experience dispatching fire and police units to emergencies. 03 Describe your experience using the following systems: CAD system, 911 system, and E911 system. 04 Describe your emergency dispatch training. 05 Do you have a California POST Dispatcher Basic Certificate? Yes No 06 If you answered yes to question number 5, what date did you complete the Public Safety Dispatchers Basic Course? 07 As an Adult, have you ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation? If yes, give dates and explanation. (Conviction does not automatically disqualify you) 08 Did you attach a typing certificate to your application indicating 40 correct/net wpm or greater? (A typing certificate is required before hire) Some of the most common resources used to obtain a typing certificate include online certifications, community colleges, adult schools, temporary agencies and local Employment Connection. Yes No Required Question Employer City of Visalia Address Online applications only Visalia, California, 93292 Phone 5597134300 Website http://www.visalia.city