Dispatcher

About the Role

Under close supervision of the Communications Supervisor, the Dispatcher will perform entry-level work in operating a 911 telephone system and a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system on an assigned shift in support of a 24-hour, 7-day-per-week operation at the UC Riverside Police Department.

The Dispatcher is responsible for entering calls into CAD; managing and routing 9-1-1 and Police telephone calls; prioritizing dispatched calls for service to ensure the safety of all field personnel; operating and monitoring numerous radios on various frequencies; monitoring fire, robbery, and intrusion alarm systems; making inquiries and entries into computer check systems; disseminating information to the proper authority; and operating numerous computer systems with connections to local, State, and Federal law enforcement systems.

Responsibilities

• Enter calls into CAD and manage 9-1-1 and Police telephone calls.
• Prioritize dispatched calls for service to ensure the safety of field personnel.
• Operate and monitor numerous radios on various frequencies.
• Monitor fire, robbery, and intrusion alarm systems.
• Make inquiries and entries into computer check systems.
• Disseminate information to the proper authority.
• Operate computer systems connected to local, State, and Federal law enforcement systems.
• Receive requests for police, fire, or other emergency services over the phone and answer 9-1-1, alternate emergency, and business calls.
• Monitor agency radio frequencies to stay aware of incidents that may affect operations.
• Maintain accurate logs of incoming service requests and actions taken.
• Enter, update, and retrieve information from computer and teletype networks.

Requirements

Educational Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency (Required).
• Recent completion of the POST Public Safety Dispatcher Course (Required).

Experience Requirements

• Three years of experience in police/fire emergency service dispatching is highly desired, involving substantial telephone contact with the public or other employees and requiring the responsibility to perform numerous tasks simultaneously or progressively responsible experience in decision-making and judgment (Preferred).
• Twelve months of non-probationary experience as a Public Safety Dispatcher for a law enforcement agency or fire department (Preferred).

Minimum Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to handle difficult, sensitive, and confidential situations tactfully.
• Skill in correct English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar; rapid and accurate typing; and independently drafting and documenting correspondence.
• Ability to speak in a clear, concise, and well-modulated voice.
• Ability to perform effectively under fluctuating workloads, high call volumes, interruptions, and competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships and promote the University's principles of community and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to learn operational characteristics of communications equipment and tools used in emergency dispatch.
• Learn streets, buildings, boundaries, and districts representing geographical areas of responsibility within the University.
• Proficient in the use of computers and applications such as word processing, CAD systems, and Internet applications.
• Willingness to work rotating shifts with changing days off in a 24-hour/7-day operation.
• Ability to learn policies and procedures for receiving, processing, and dispatching emergency calls.
• Learn basic communication rules and regulations governing radio transmitting and receiving systems.
• Learn standard radio broadcasting and dispatch procedures and rules.
• Learn principles and procedures of record-keeping, including maintenance and security of communications reports.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, exercise good judgment, and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
• Ability to effectively communicate with and elicit information from upset and irate citizens.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Apply knowledge and reasoning to make prompt and effective decisions in both routine and non-routine situations.
• Analyze situations carefully and adopt effective courses of action.

Pay

The full salary range for the Dispatcher is $32.24 - $42.99 per hour. The expected pay scale for this position is up to $36.54 per hour. Salary offers are based on education, licensure, certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs.

About the Location

In the heart of Inland Southern California, UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres near Box Springs Mountain. The campus provides convenient access to the vibrant and growing Inland region and serves as a living laboratory for exploring issues critical to growing communities, including air, water, energy, transportation, politics, arts, history, and culture.

UC Riverside is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the country. Key rankings include:

• Ranked No. 12 among all U.S. universities by Money Magazine (2020).
• Among the top 1 percent of universities worldwide (Center for World University Rankings, 2019-20).
• Top university in the U.S. for social mobility (U.S. News 2020).
• Member of the University Innovation Alliance, a coalition committed to improving student success for low-income, first-generation, and students of color.
• Ranked No. 2 in financial aid among top-tier universities (Business Insider 2019).
• Ranked No. 2 in the world for research in the Department of Entomology, which maintains one of the largest collections of insect specimens in the nation.

The university's distinguished faculty includes 2 Nobel Laureates and 13 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine.