What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fire Communications Supervisor (Extended) position at City of Oakland?
We are looking for someone who is:
- A strong leader and decision maker: You will oversee a small team of Dispatchers and maintain daily operations in the Fire Dispatch Center, so it is important to make quick and accurate judgments and provide clear direction and support to your team. You need to process information rapidly and choose the best course of action to help keep operations running smoothly.
- Excited to help the residents and visitors of Oakland: You will interact with people during critical moments who need your assistance, so a passion for public service and a commitment to improving the experiences of residents and visitors are essential.
- Patient and calm: You will encounter individuals who are stressed, frustrated, and/or dealing with urgent concerns. Maintaining composure in these situations is crucial, and your ability to stay level-headed, actively listen, and respond with empathy will help diffuse tension and provide the best possible service to those in need.
- Team-oriented: Collaboration, communication, and mutual support are key in this role because you will collaborate with your team of dispatchers, colleagues, supervisors, and other departments to work efficiently and successfully serve the Oakland community. You will also coordinate resources during major emergency events and step in as a dispatcher when needed.
- Skilled at retaining information: Situations evolve rapidly, so you will need to recall critical information about protocols, procedures, resources, and operations to ensure that information passed to dispatchers and first responders is consistent and reliable.
What you will typically be responsible for:
- Assigning, supervising, and evaluating your staff of up to 5 Dispatchers; preparing work schedules to maintain adequate staffing; identifying training needs and goals, and implementing training programs.
- Coordinating dispatch operations during major emergencies or incidents; receiving, screening, and prioritizing telephone calls for fire, medical, and other emergency City services; processing calls for MACRO.
- Monitoring, troubleshooting, and diagnosing components of the CAD system and other equipment used in the day-to-day operations of the Communications Dispatch Center.
- Receiving and responding to complaints received from the public, other City departments, field units, or outside agencies; researching complaints, preparing appropriate responses, and determining the proper action.
- Reviewing and making recommendations in establishing or updating policies and procedures to reflect changes in the law or in the operations of the division.
- Preparing and maintaining activity and staffing reports, training records, and all other related records or administrative reports.
Read the complete job description by clicking here.
- You will be in charge of the Fire Dispatch Center’s operations and will be considered the point of contact for field command staff.
- You will be part of a team that provides life-saving services every day of the year.
- You will be a vital part of the Oakland Fire Department, which has provided over 156 years of valiant service to Oaklanders.
- You will be a part of the staff rotation and be expected to take 9-1-1 calls, dispatch resources, and handle radio traffic.
- You will work in a 24-hour, 365-day operation, which may include mandatory overtime and may be assigned at the last minute.
- You will have a set schedule of either day shift (0700-1500), swing shift (1500-2300), or graveyard shift (2300-0700), which may make it challenging to sleep during the day or maintain a work-life balance.
- Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
- Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
- Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
- Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
- Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
- Establishing Credibility: Doing what one commits to doing and respecting the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
- Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
- Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
- Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
- Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
- Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
- Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
- Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
- Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
- Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.
Any combination of experience and education that demonstrates the possession of required knowledge and abilities may be considered. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education:
High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience:
Five (5) years of experience as a journey-level Fire Communications Dispatcher. One (1) year of lead or supervisory experience is desirable.
License or Certificate / Other Requirements:
Must be a state-certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Advanced First Aid and/or CPR certifications
- Bilingual skills
- Customer service experience
- Experience leading or supervising in a public safety environment
- Previous first responder experience, including firefighter (paid, volunteer, reserve), paramedic or EMT, Police Officer, any military service, and any experience in behavioral health and wellness
Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.
Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.
In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
What’s in it for you?
15 paid holidays
Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum, with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.
*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA
Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
Disaster Service Workers
All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
How to Apply
Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Will Sun, HR Analyst, at wsun@oaklandca.gov.
Salary : $119,215 - $146,390