Communications Operator

Salary : $65,457.60 - $87,422.40 Annually

Location : La Habra, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: 00377

Department: Police Department

Opening Date: 06/10/2024

Description

The La Habra Police Department is seeking a highly motivated, customer service-oriented and dedicated individual to serve as a

Communications Operator

This position requires a typing certificate with a passing score of 40 NWPM.

**Applications without a valid typing certificate will NOT be considered.**

For typing certificate requirements, please clickHERE

ABOUT THE CITY:

The City of La Habra is a vibrant Southern California community, strategically located in the northwest corner of Orange County
Today the City is home to a population of over 63,000 residents within La Habra's 7.3 square miles
A friendly and diverse community, La Habra is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountains, and desert recreation areas
The City is known for the Corn Festival, Citrus Fair, Tamale Festival and the jewel of La Habra, its Children's Museum
While the City has planned for and encourages measured growth, it retains a small town feel and lives up to its heritage as "A Caring Community."

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

Since 1925, the La Habra Police Department has been dedicated to providing the residents of this community with a safe environment in which to live and work
This commitment to service is a tradition upheld by the men and women who serve La Habra and is reflected in all aspects of the department's day-to-day operations.

In addition to the regular duties of traffic and law enforcement, the La Habra Police Department strives to assess the needs of the City and, working in partnership with area residents, successfully address those concerns
Since law enforcement and public safety are a citywide concern, we actively seek the involvement of community members in all aspects of policing and welcome their participation


ABOUT THE POSITION:

Under general supervision of the Communications Supervisor, the Communications Operator receives and transmits emergency and non-emergency calls from the public requesting police and other emergency services; maintains contact with all units on assignment; documents calls for service on a computer aided dispatch system; and provides general information to the public


This position is assigned to the Police Communications Center, which is a 24-hour, seven days per week operation, requiring shift coverage
Communications Operators must work assigned shifts and must be proficient at multi-tasking
There is a high expectation placed on the accuracy and speed of information gathering and the maturity in decision making.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (The following duties represent the principal job duties; however, they are not all inclusive.)

• Receives calls, complaints, and inquiries from the public for police or other emergency services over the phone
  
• Screens incoming calls to determine priority resources, and types of response required in accordance with established procedures.
• Simultaneously receives, responds and documents information from multiple sources while maintaining accuracy in order to relay information to responding personnel.
• Proficiently handles multiple tasks and events simultaneously
  
• Communicates clearly, concisely, and possesses effective listening skills.
• Responsibly relays confidential information with accuracy back to the field personnel.
• Performs general clerical work in support of communication activities.
• Conducts various data entry functions as directed by supervision
  
• Maintains contact with other cities or agencies for cooperative emergency operations.
• Works holidays, weekends, day, night, and graveyard shifts as assigned and required
  
• Performs related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFYING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and procedures involved in public safety communications work.
• Geography of the City and the location of streets and important buildings.
• Operation of radio/telephone receiving and transmitting equipment.

Skill and Ability to:

• Accurately record and retain data given orally
  
• Communicate effectively orally in highly stressful situations
  
• Speak clearly and precisely
  
• Accurately read and interpret maps.
• Handle simultaneous calls.
• Listen and comprehend radio calls while talking on the phone
• Exercise good judgment and make sound decisions in emergency situations
  
• Effectively communicate with and elicit information from upset and irate citizens
  
• Exercise independent judgment
  
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships.
• Type accurately at a moderate speed.
• Train others in the use of communication equipment
  
• Ability to pass a thorough background investigation and polygraph
  The investigation will cover information regarding relatives, references, acquaintances, educational background, residential history, employment history, criminal history, military service records, financial status, legal history, drug use and related areas.

Supplemental Information

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position
A High School diploma or equivalent is required
One year of experience performing typing and clerical duties, demonstrated ability to function under stress, and the ability to handle several tasks simultaneously
Must be able to type 40 net words per minute (a typing certificate is required)


LICENSE REQUIREMENT:

Must possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver's license
Possession of, or ability to obtain a valid Peace Officer's Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate before or within 12 months after the date of appointment


Typing certificate required from all applicants with a minimum of 40 net words per minute
Certificate must be issued within one (1) year prior to the application date by an accredited school or agency
Certificates from the Internet testing services and/or home computer CD testing will NOT be accepted.

SCHEDULE: Operators work various shifts that include a three/four-month rotation of days, swing and graveyard shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift holdovers
Shift assignments consist of 12 hours a day with some overtime based on varying circumstances


PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS AND SCHEDULE:

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions


Operators are required to work various shifts as assigned; Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard to enter data; and to verbally communicate to exchange Information


Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction to operate a visual display terminal for extended periods of time, sometimes without the ability to move at will


Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting
Exposure to high frequency noise.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra City employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster


INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

Candidates must submit an application online and a typing certificate with a net speed of 40 wpm through the Human Resources Department webpage at Certificates must be issued within one (1) year prior to the application date by an accredited school or agency
Failure to submit a valid typing certificate along with your application will result in disqualification from the recruitment. Completed application will be accepted on a CONTINUOUS BASIS
The City will not accept faxes or resumes in lieu of a City application
All applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited to participate in an oral interview
The final candidate must be able to successfully pass a Police Department pre-employment screening process and successfully complete an extensive background including polygraph, medical exam, drug/alcohol screening, employment history verification, DMV check, and fingerprint verification through Livescan.

If any accommodation is needed during the interviewing process, please notify the Human Resources Department at least five days in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we may be able to provide a reasonable accommodation.

This bulletin is not a contract, neither expressed nor implied


Any provision herein may be modified or revoked.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:
Several CalPERS health plans are available
The City pays a flat rate portion of the premium according to the bargaining unit agreement.

DENTAL INSURANCE:
Three (3) plans are available
The City pays a flat rate portion of the premium according to the bargaining unit agreement.

VISION INSURANCE:
The City pays a flat rate portion of the premium
The Employee may pay a portion of the insurance premium according to the bargaining unit agreement and this benefit is voluntary.

LIFE INSURANCE:
Amount of coverage is based on the employee bargaining unit
The City pays a flat rate portion of the premium according to the bargaining unit agreement.

LONG TERM DISABILITY (LTD):
Employees in this group are required to be enrolled in Long Term Disability (LTD)
Premiums will be entirely employee-paid.

RETIREMENT:
CalPERS 2% @ 60 with a 8% employee contribution (classic); new members 2% @ 62 with a 50% of the normal cost plus 1% cost sharing (PEPRA)
The City of La Habra does not participate in Social Security.

RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS (RHS):
Employee contributes $20 per month to a Retirement Health Savings (RHS) account and the City contributes $10 per month for each unit member.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION:
The City offers MissionSquare Retirement (formerly ICMA-RC) as its deferred compensation administrator
This is a voluntary benefit with no City contribution.

VACATION:
Earned at the rate of eighty (80) hours per year for the first four (4) years of service
Additional vacation may be earned by employees after five (5) years of service.

SICK LEAVE:
Earned at the rate of ten (10) hours per month.

PERSONAL DAY:
All members are granted a personal day per calendar year.

HOLIDAYS:
An average of eleven (11) holidays per year.

01

I understand that an incomplete application may lead to disqualification from the recruitment process and I have supplied all the applicable information in my application
Leaving items blank or noting "See Resume" are not acceptable

• Agree
• Disagree

02

Do you have a valid California class C driver's license, acceptable driving record, and evidence of insurance?

• Yes
• No

03

Are you able to keyboard at a rate of 40 net words per minute or more?

• Yes
• No

04

If so, have you attached a valid typing certificate from an accredited school or agency with a passing score of 40 net words per minute
(Note: A copy of your typing certificate must be attached to your employment application
Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified)

• Yes
• No

05

Are you bilingual? If so, which languages are you bilingual?

06

This position requires one (1) year of recent experience as a Public Safety Dispatcher and successful completion of probation with a California public safety agency, do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

07

Have you completed the "Public Safety Dispatcher Training" through a P.O.S.T
accredited college or university?

• Yes
• No

08

Are you a citizen of the United States or have you applied for U.S
Citizenship at least six months prior to the submittal of your employment application?

• Yes
• No

09

Have you used any narcotics or other habit-forming drugs (other than prescribed) within the last year?

• Yes
• No

10

Have you been CONVICTED of a misdemeanor under California Law within the last three years OR convicted of two or more misdemeanors under California Law as an adult?

• Yes
• No

11

Have you ever been CONVICTED of a felony?

• Yes
• No

12

The Police Department, including the Communication Bureau, works within a paramilitary organization with a clear chain of command
Employees must wear uniform, remain at their workstation for their entire shift (except for scheduled breaks, and meals periods), work with and interact in very close proximity of other personnel, work at a very rapid pace while maintaining intense concentration over an extended period of time, and must attend daily briefings
Are you able to work effectively under these circumstances?

• Yes
• No

13

Communications Operators deal with the general public on the phone
Some of these individuals may be injured, scared, rude, confused, difficult to understand and may use obscene language
Employee must be able to act professionally, while still capturing pertinent information
Are you able to work under these conditions?

• Yes
• No

14

Police Dispatch is a 24/7 week operations
You will be assigned to work any 12 hour shift (morning, evening, or graveyard, which include weekends (Saturday/Sunday), birthdays and all holidays, etc
Are you willing and able to work this schedule?

• Yes
• No

15

You may be required to change your work shift and/or, cancel holiday plans with minimum notice
There may be times you will be mandated to work overtime, required to stay late, or come in on your time off
Do you understand this requirement?

• Yes
• No

16

Are you CalPERS RETIRED annuitant?

• Yes
• No

17

I understand that as part of the qualifying process for Communications Operator, I will have a polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, a physical examination including controlled substance screening, and a thorough background investigation
I will also be required to complete a detailed personal history statement
Any falsification of information or failure to meet the standards listed above will result in my disqualification

• By clicking here, I submit my electronic signature acknowledging that I have read and understand the qualifying process for Communications Operator.

Required Question