Public Safety Dispatcher II

Public Safety Dispatcher II Salary $106,489.97 - $115,569.38 Annually

Location: Berkeley, CA

Job Type: Career

Job Number: 2026-02-7018

Department: Police

Opening Date: 02/09/2026

Closing Date: Continuous

Benefits --------

Benefits of working for Berkeley:

Berkeley, California 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 II in the Police Department! In this role, you will receive 911 system emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatch assignments according to police and fire procedures, and maintain records.

The Public Safety Dispatcher II provides technical communications support and computer information processing for police, fire, animal control, parking enforcement and public works functions in a limited capacity. In addition to dispatching and call screening, youll perform varied record keeping, information retrieval and similar work in support of public safety activities.

Public Safety Dispatchers in the Berkeley Communications Center typically operate in four distinct positions. While Public Safety Dispatcher I possesses the skills and responsibility for two positions (Call Taker and Records), those at Public Safety Dispatcher II level possess the skills and responsibility for all four positions.

1. Call Taker (handle phone calls, service requests, operate secondary radio channel)
2. Records (handle phone calls, database entries/removals/inquires, operate records radio channel)
3. Fire Dispatcher (dispatch and monitor fire/medical resources, operate fire channels)
4. Police Dispatcher (dispatch and monitor police resources, operate police channel)

Minimum Qualifications ---------------------

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:

• Equivalent to graduation from high school
• Successful completion of the first two components of the Citys Public Safety Dispatcher Training Program (Call Taker and Records) and successful completion of the probation period as a Public Safety Dispatcher I with the City of Berkeley.
• OR
• The equivalent of two (2) years full-time experience working independently in emergency services or communications with computer use and/or two-way radio operations with a consolidated public safety agency (dispatching police and fire).
• OR
• The equivalent of three (3) years full-time experience working independently in emergency services or communications with computer use and/or two-way radio operations with a non-consolidated public safety agency, and possession of a Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Dispatch certificate.

Licensures, Certifications, and Other Requirements ------------------------------------------------

• Must be able to pass a medical and psychological 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 drivers license as well as a satisfactory driving record.

Application Process -------------------

Applicants must submit:

• Completed application
• Responses to the supplemental questionnaire
• Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Dispatch certificate (if applicable)
• Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to ada@berkeleyca.gov. Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.

Exam Process -------------

The exam process will include, but is not limited to:

• Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated based on the administrative review date)
• 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 hr@berkeleyca.gov 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 drivers license, registrations, certificates, other credentials, credit check, criminal history check, and Live Scan fingerprinting.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) ---------------------------------

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 benefits, including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.

Benefits --------

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 ----------

CalPERSCity 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 Benefits and compensation table)

Holidays ---------

15 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually

Uniform Allowance -----------------

Employees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see MOUs)

SEIU 01

Do you have a High School diploma or equivalent? Yes No

Do you have at least two (2) years full-time experience working independently in emergency services or communications with computer use and/or two-way radio operations with a consolidated public safety agency (dispatching police and fire)? Yes No

Do you have at least three (3) years full-time experience working independently in emergency services or communications with computer use and/or two-way radio operations with a non-consolidated public safety agency, AND possess a Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Dispatch certificate? Yes No

If you answered "Yes" to either questions #2 or #3, describe your experience in a consolidated public safety agency (dispatching police and fire) or non-consolidated public safety agency and list the names of employer(s) and dates of employment. Please provide sufficient detail so that we can evaluate your experience. If you answered "No" to both questions, type "N/A". Do not type "See Application" or "See Resume"

If you answered yes to question #3, Did you attach your Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Dispatch certificate? State yes or N/A. If you answered yes and did not attach it then you will be disqualified.

Please indicate where you first learned about this job opening.

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