QUALIFIED BILINGUAL PERSONS WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AND ARE ALSO FLUENT IN SPANISH, CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, CAMBODIAN, LAOTIAN, KOREAN, MIEN, TAGALOG, AMHARIC, FARSI, DARI, TIGRIGNA, RUSSIAN, ROMANIAN OR SIGN LANGUAGE ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL BI-WEEKLY COMPENSATION FOR PERSONS IN POSITIONS DESIGNATED BILINGUAL.

THE POSITION(S): The Emergency Services Dispatcher I is assigned in the Sheriff’s Department at the Dispatch Center. This is an entry-level classification which is flexibly staffed to the class of Emergency Services Dispatcher II after satisfactory completion of the training period. Duties include receiving training in public safety, emergency complaint taking and radio dispatching methods and techniques; dispatching personnel and equipment for one or more public safety operations, including Sheriff’s Patrol, Fire, Medical and Animal Control Services; operating a variety of communications equipment such as radio transmitters and receivers, dispatch consoles, electronic data terminals, telephone and lease line teletype; compiling and typing detailed reports on communication activities. This position performs clerical work and other related duties as assigned, and is required to work various shifts, holidays and weekends.

THE REQUIREMENTS: These are entrance requirements for admission to the examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. A candidate's performance in the examination will be judged in comparison with the performance of other candidates.

EXPERIENCE: The equivalent of six months of full-time experience in the class of Clerk II or an equivalent or higher level clerical class in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts). Experience must have included public contact.

EXPERIENCE: The equivalent of six months of full-time general clerical experience that involved public contact, and completion of a public safety dispatch training course from an accredited school.

EXPERIENCE: The equivalent of six months of full-time general dispatching experience (such as ambulance, service vehicles, etc.).

EXPERIENCE: The equivalent of one year of full-time general clerical work experience that involved public contact.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Hearing must be normal in each ear. Ability to type at least 25 net words per minute.

The examination may include but may not be limited to: KNOWLEDGE OF the highways, main streets, major buildings and geography of Alameda County; simple record keeping. ABILITY TO read, write and alphabetize; follow written and oral instruction; retain oral information; learn the operation of two-way radio and telephone communications equipment; speak clearly and concisely in a well-modulated voice; learn to dispatch public safety equipment in an effective manner; deal tactfully with the public; react with sound judgment under stress and emergency situations while doing several tasks simultaneously; learn statutes, rules and regulations applicable to communications; learn to operate electronic data terminals.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following three steps: A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process, a written test which will be qualifying only. The final step is an oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.