Emergency Services Dispatcher I
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCHER I
INTRODUCTION
Applications and supplemental questionnaires will only be accepted online: Job Announcement: Emergency Services Dispatcher I - County of Alameda
Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed supplemental questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the application or supplemental questionnaire will result in disqualification.
Applications and supplemental questionnaires must be submitted no later than November 3, 2026, by 5:00PM
ABOUT THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is a full-service law enforcement agency accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for its law enforcement services, its Regional Training Center, and its Dispatch Unit; the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board for its Crime Lab; the Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board for its Explosive Ordinance Unit. Additionally, the agency's health care provider, Wellpath, has experience working with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).
The Sheriff's Office has a current budget of approximately $600 million and has over 1600 authorized positions, including in excess of 1000 sworn personnel. The agency's Chief Executive Officer is Sheriff / Coroner Yesenia L. Sanchez, who is assisted in the operation of the agency by Undersheriff April Luckett-Fahimi, Assistant Sheriffs Daniel McNaughton and Pace Stokes.
THE POSITION
This is an entry-level classification in the Dispatcher series which is flexibly staffed to the class of Emergency Services Dispatcher II. Emergency Services Dispatchers I work in the Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Dispatch Center and receive on-the-job training. After satisfactory completion of the training period, employees are expected to qualify for appointment to the next higher class of Emergency Services Dispatcher II.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Either I
Experience:
The equivalent of six months of experience in the class of Clerk II or an equivalent or higher-level 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.)
Or II
Experience:
The equivalent of six months of general clerical experience that involved public contact and completion of a public safety dispatch training course from an accredited school.
Or III
Experience:
The equivalent of six months of general dispatching experience (such as ambulance, service vehicles, etc.).
Or IV
Experience:
The equivalent of one year of general clerical experience that involved public contact.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Hearing must be normal in each ear.
- Ability to type 40 words per minute.
- A thorough background investigation will be made of all prospective candidates including a psychological exam.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:
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 instructions.
• 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.
• Listen and clarify incoming calls to extract pertinent information.
• Write detailed reports.
• Condense a message into a clear written passage.
EXAMINATION COMPONENTS
THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
- A review of applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications for the class will move onto the next examination component.
- Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications for the position will be invited to take a performance examination which includes a typing test and the CritiCall test. CritiCall is a software that tests job-related knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies critical for public safety dispatchers. The following are some of the areas CritiCall will assess (please note, the following is just an example of areas CritiCall tests for and is not necessarily the components candidates will be tested on): reasoning, stress tolerance, decision making & judgment, multitasking, prioritization, map reading, memory recall, comprehension, probability, data entry, and decision-making. For more information regarding the CritiCall test, applicants may visit their website at: https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants/. Applicants who pass the CritiCall test will be invited to the oral examination.
- The oral examination will be weighted as 100% of the applicant's final score. Applicants who pass the oral examination will be placed on a list of candidates that are eligible to be referred to a background investigation, the final step in the examination process.
CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.
BENEFITS
The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:
For your Health & Well-Being
- Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
- Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
- Vision or Vision Reimbursement
- Share the Savings
- Basic Life Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- County Allowance Credit
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
- Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
- Employee Assistance Program
For your Financial Future
- Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
- Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
For your Work/Life Balance
- 12 paid holidays
- Floating Holidays
- Vacation and sick leave accrual
- Vacation purchase program
- Catastrophic Sick Leave
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits Program
- Guaranteed Ride Home
- Employee Wellness Program (e.g., At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
- Employee Discount Program (e.g., theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
- Child Care Resources
- 1st United Credit Union
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.