Salary : $73,809.63 - $80,661.57 Annually
Location : Berkeley, CA
Job Type: Career
Job Number: 2025-01-7016
Department: Police
Opening Date: 01/13/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR BERKELEY is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay.
As an employer, the City of Berkeley offers all the benefits of a career in the public sector while fostering diversity, creativity, and innovation. Join a team of high-caliber, experienced staff with a shared mission of serving the Berkeley community and promoting an accessible, safe, healthy, environmentally-sound and culturally-rich city.
JOB OPPORTUNITY The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher I in the Police Department! In this trainee role, you will have the opportunity to learn to receive 911 system emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatch assignments according to police and fire procedures, operate various dispatch center equipment, and maintain accurate records.
You will use a variety of public safety telephone and radio communications to obtain essential information from reporting parties, respond to inquiries, and determine and dispatch appropriate police and/or fire resources. You will also learn how to use various government agency databases and the Computer Aided Dispatch system.
Public Safety Dispatcher I incumbents are expected to gain knowledge and experience through on-the-job training and demonstrate proficiency to promote to Public Safety Dispatcher II upon successful completion of the Public Safety Dispatcher Training Program.
See the full job class specification here:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:
Equivalent to graduation from high school.
Other requirements include:
- Possession of a typing certificate verifying the ability to accurately type a minimum of 35 net words per minute. Certification may be from an online typing test, a recognized business school, or an employment/temporary agency, and must be dated no more than twelve months prior to the date of application. Candidates may be required to take an on-site typing test as part of the selection process.
- Must be able to pass a medical and psychiatric evaluation.
- Must be willing to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, the incumbent is required to maintain a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record.
APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants must submit:
- Completed application (Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application.)
- Responses to the supplemental questionnaire
- Typing Certificate : Minimum of 35 net words per minute. The certificate must be from one of the following:
- Online typing test
- Recognized business school
- Employment/temporary agency
The typing certificate must be dated no more than twelve months prior to the date of application.
Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.
EXAM PROCESS The exam process will include, but may not be limited to:
- Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated based on the administrative review date)
- Written Exam: POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test
Upcoming City of Berkeley exam dates:
- Saturday, February 15, 2025 (Applications due January 13, 2025)
- Saturday, April 26, 2025 (Applications due March 24, 2025)
- Saturday, June 14, 2025 (Applications due May 12, 2025)
Applicants who have previously taken the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test may waive the written exam
only by submitting a T-score of 48 or higher provided the test was taken no more than one year prior to the date of application. Applicants must submit their results, including the total T-score and date of the test, on the testing agency's letterhead.
If you have previously taken the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test and would like to retest with the City of Berkeley, you must wait 30 calendar days before being eligible to take the test again.
Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.
Reasonable Accommodations: The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to at the time of application.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background/reference check that may include, but is not limited to: employment history, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including driver's license, registrations, certificates, other credentials, credit check, criminal history check, and Live Scan fingerprinting.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans' status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.
DISASTER SERVICE WORKER All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency/disaster.
Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other , including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.
Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week. Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.
Retirement CalPERS
City employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members).
Deferred Compensation
The City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower. Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.
Medical Plans Employees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plus HMO. The City contributes up to the full family premium for the Kaiser plan, or up to 99% of the full family premium for the Sutter Health Plus plan. Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.
Dental Plan The City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California. The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person. Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person. Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.
Life Insurance The City provides employees with a Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy in the amount of $25,000 (Maintenance and Clerical Chapters) or $50,000 (Community Services and Part-Time Recreation Activity Leaders). Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.
Sick Leave Employees earn one day of paid sick leave per month.
Vacation New employees accrue 2 to 4 weeks of vacation annually, depending on classification (see )
Holidays 14 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually
Uniform Allowance Employees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see )
(SEIU)
01
Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?
02
I acknowledge that I must attach a typing certificate, verifying the ability to accurately type a minimum of 35 wpm typing test, from a recognized business school, employment agency, on-line certification or temporary agency, dated within the past twelve (12) months from the application filing date to be considered for this position. If I do not attach a copy of my certificate with my application or fax it to Attn: HR at (510) 981-6860 I will be automatically disqualified.
03
Have you taken the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test within the last 12 months with another California agency and obtained a T-score of at least 48. (If yes, you must attach a qualifying T-Score letter on agency letterhead to your application or fax to HR at (510) 981-6860.)
04
If "Yes" to Question #3, and your T-score is over 48, your written test results from the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Test can be used, and you will not be required to take the written exam. Please respond "Yes" if this applies to you and to acknowledge that you understand this provision. If your response is "No", you will be required to take the written exam through City of Berkeley in order to continue in the recruitment process.
05
I understand that checking this box will serve as my electronic signature. I certify that I am the author of this questionnaire and all information presented is true and based upon my education, training, skills, and experience. I understand and agree that any information provided is subject to verification. I also understand that any false, incomplete, or incorrect statement may result in disqualification, termination, or dismissal from employment with the City of Berkeley.
06
Please indicate where you first learned about this job opening.
- Digital Billboard on Freeway
- Banner on Public Safety Buildin
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Nextdoor
- YouTube
- Government Jobs
- Join Berkeley PD
- Linkedin
- Indeed
- Zip Recruiter
- Career Fair /Event
- Presentation at Academy
- Presentation at school
- POST Exam
- Presentation Military
- Berkeley Careers
Required Question