Job Description

APPOINTMENT TYPE: TEMPORARY AS-NEEDED. This position is for as-needed (on-call assignments) for up to a maximum of 1040 hours. This position is excluded by the charter from the competitive civil service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the appointing officer. In order to be considered for a permanent appointment, incumbent will be required to successfully compete in a Civil Service Examination.

The Communications Dispatcher I is the entry-level class in this series. Under supervision, the Communications Dispatcher I performs a variety of specialized duties in connection with communications dispatch functions. Communications Dispatcher I operates a variety of communications equipment, including two-way radio, telephone and radio-paging services, to dispatch and transmit information with mobile field units and communicate with the public.

NATURE OF WORK: The nature of the work may require working variable shifts including weekends and holidays.

Essential Job Duties:

1. Operates a variety of communications equipment and information transmitting devices such as, multi-line telephones, two-way radio and pager systems utilized to receive information, request reports and emergency calls from several mobile radio field units and telephones, or to transmit messages to field units and/or to route calls to the proper bureau or detail for action.
2. Verifies and evaluates messages received to determine if information is accurate. May follow up to ensure proper receipt and understanding of the message to determine type of action necessary and the appropriate staff and/or agency to be notified.
3. Dispatches mobile units and equipment to specific work locations, including locations where traffic control, citing and towing services are needed; makes phone requests for ambulance, tow-truck or other emergency services; makes inquiries of other agencies as requested by field units; reads maps and gives directions on how to get to location of emergency.
4. Records essential information and facts by entering and retrieving data from computer, time stamping and logging messages for permanent recordkeeping, maintaining continuous records of the status of units assigned, and maintaining a regular log of all messages transmitted and received by radio and telephone.
5. Assists communications dispatchers to coordinate emergency procedures by working with staff from various City departments (e.g., Police, MUNI, Fire, Sheriff & PUC,) and communications dispatchers from 911 and DPW, during accidents, emergencies, and natural or other disasters.
6. Transmits alarm information to supervisor on duty when the department needs assistance; notifies the Police department daily of streets scheduled for no-parking zones; prepares records and performs other clerical duties related to these procedures. May monitor surveillance equipment and intrusion alarms from on-site buildings.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. One year of verifiable experience operating a two-way radio communications base station, receiving, recording and transmitting messages from one source to another; OR                                                                                                      
2. ​​​​Combined total of one year of verifiable experience operating a multi-line telephone, and a two-way radio communications base system. Six months of this experience must have been operating a two-way radio base station.

Applicants must fully meet the minimum qualifications by the final filing deadline unless otherwise stated. Note on Qualifying Experience: Experience with hand-held two way radios is not qualifying. Applicants must have operated a two-way radio base-station in order to be considered qualified to participate in this recruitment process.

VERIFICATION:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

NOTE: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Additional Information

SELECTION PROCEDURE:  The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluation qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited for an interview.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND SELECTION INFORMATION:

1. MEDICAL EXAMINATION: Prior to appointment, eligible candidates must successfully pass a medical examination to determine his/her ability to perform the essential function of this job.
2. MEDICAL TESTING: Prior to appointment, eligible candidates must successfully complete the TB testing Process.
3. SECURITY CLEARANCES AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS: Positions in this classification may require that successful candidates who become eligible for appointment may be required to go through a background investigation to determine the candidate’s suitability for employment in this classification. Factors considered in the investigation may include employment history, use of illegal/controlled substances. Reasons for rejection based on this investigation may include, but not limited to: applicable convictions, repeated or serious violations of the law, inability to accept supervision, inability to follow rules and regulations, falsification of application materials and/or other relevant factors. Failure to obtain and maintain security clearance may be basis for termination.
4. DRUG TESTING REQUIREMENT: Applicants for positions in this classification, who are not currently employed by the City and County of San Francisco in a safety-sensitive position represented by Local 261,are required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. All employees in this classification may also be subject to drug and alcohol testing upon reasonable suspicion or after a work-related accident. Applicants with a positive result from a pre-employment drug test will be restricted from hire in safety-sensitive function positions for six months after the date of the positive test.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. FAILURE TO RECEIVE THIS EMAIL MEANS THAT THE ONLINE APPLICATION WAS NOT SUBMITTED OR RECEIVED.

EXAM ANALYST INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Exam analyst Eric Chan at Eric.K.Chan@sfdpw.org

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.