Salary : $98,052.90 – $119,195.42 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 23/08-1696-DP
Department: Sheriff’s Office (SHF)
Opening Date: 08/24/2023
Closing Date: 9/5/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Information
THIS RECRUITMENT IS PROMOTIONAL ONLY. YOU MUST PRESENTLY BE A FULL- OR PART-TIME REGULAR OR PROBATIONARY COUNTY OF SONOMA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, SONOMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, OR SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY EMPLOYEE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.
The Sheriff’s Office has requested a department promotional certification to fill a Supervising Communications Dispatcher position. Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Sheriff’s Office employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position.
Under the direction of the Communications Dispatch Manager, Supervising Communications Dispatchers direct and oversee the performance of Communication Dispatchers. They spend a significant percentage of time supervising and coordinating shift activities, ensuring staff dispatch emergency and law enforcement services in accordance with departmental procedures. As first-line supervisors, they may act as the Communications Dispatch Manager during their absence. Additional duties include:
- Processing audio/discovery requests for evidence and public records requests (PRAs) for the District Attorney, Public Defender, and private attorneys
- Dispatching environmental support (workstations, lights, chairs, headsets, etc.) and guideline review/updates
- Scheduling staff and creating daily weekly and monthly schedules and monthly overtime reports (based on department minimums)
- Working with the Tactical Dispatch Team (TDT) Sergeant and members to cover special events, trainings, and call-outs
- Orienting new Dispatchers, Deputy Sheriffs, and Sergeants to the communications center
- Processing bi-weekly payroll
- Attending various meetings related to dispatch such as CAD, Supervisor, CTO, TDT, etc.
- Training (in house and POST required bi-annual training)
The ideal candidate will possess:
- The ability to lead and multi-task during high-stress situations
- Experience training, and the ability to motivate staff on policy changes or work processes
- Experience investigating and documenting complex events
- A strong understanding of motivation and leadership techniques
This recruitment is being conducted fill to a Supervising Communications Dispatcher position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include graduation from high school or possession of a G.E.D. and two years of emergency dispatch experience in a public law enforcement agency dispatching the full range of safety personnel, including at least one year in a lead worker position.
Special requirement: Within one year of employment, and as a condition of probation, employees in this classification must obtain a P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatchers Certificate, as awarded by the State of California, Commission on Police Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.).
Special skill requirement: This classification requires the ability to type at a corrected speed of 45 words per minute.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: streets, roads, major buildings, and geography of Sonoma County; the functions of the Sheriff’s Office and other public safety agencies; applicable rules, regulations, and procedures including those of the Federal Communications Commission and their application; communications equipment; the principles and practices of effective supervision; data entry techniques and computer operations; techniques for effectively working with members of various ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic groups; standard office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.
Ability to: supervise and train subordinates in an effective manner; operate a complex communications system involving several transmitters and receivers; accurately dispatch public safety equipment and personnel in a coordinated manner; speak clearly and concisely in English; react quickly, effectively, and calmly in an emergency situation, and to adopt an effective course of action; handle inquiries from the public in a courteous and effective manner; interpret rules and regulations to others; operate communications equipment; operate a keyboard; understand and follow complex written and oral instructions; keep dispatch records; work a shift schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions maybe scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state “See Resume” or “See Application” may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
BACKGROUND PROCESS
Being part of the Sheriff’s Office and being expected to keep the public safe requires a thorough background investigation process. This process includes an assessment of prior work history, verifying educational experiences, court reports, public records searches, understanding past patterns relating to drug usage, financial patterns, etc. This entails gathering a significant amount of information from job candidates and speaking to former employers, friends, family members, etc. Polygraphs, drug tests, and medical and physical examinations are also part of this process. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment. This process can take anywhere from 3-5 months. Many factors are taken into consideration and one should not assume a credit issue or prior drug use is automatically disqualifying. Candidates will be given the opportunity to present mitigating information they feel should be considered. You are encouraged to be as responsive as possible while this process is taking place to help expedite the timeline, and we encourage you to stay patient and interested in this great career opportunity while this process is taking place.
You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
Please read the for further information.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted online at: Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: MN
HR Technician: KK
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution towards the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
Cash Allowance: A cash allowance of approximately $600 per month, in addition to monthly salary.
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources’ Risk Management-Benefits Office at or
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01
Please describe your relevant education, training, and work experience that meet or exceed this positions minimum qualifications, which normally includes two years of emergency dispatch experience in a public law enforcement agency dispatching the full range of safety personnel, including at least one year in a lead worker position.
- List your relevant certifications, coursework, and/or degree(s).
- For each relevant position you list, include job title(s), employer’s name, dates of employment (mm/yy – mm/yy), and a description of your primary responsibilities.
02
Please describe your supervisory or lead worker experience in a dispatch environment.Include details about the scope of your duties, as well as the number and types of staff (professional, technical, administrative, etc.) for which you were responsible.
03
Please describe a complex dispatch situation in which you played a lead role. Describe the situation, the actions you took to address the situation, and the outcome.
Required Question