Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor

The Harbor Police Department is seeking a Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor with a positive work attitude and excellent interpersonal skills to join our team. This position will assist the Civilian Manager in oversight of the Dispatch Center and will be responsible for first line supervision of Dispatch staff. An ideal candidate should be detail oriented with a background in training, coaching and developing new staff and will possess advanced knowledge of public safety dispatch equipment and technology.

This position will require the ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Hiring Range Negotiable Between:$107,348.80 - $130,499.20 DOE/DOQ*

DEFINITION

Under general direction, plans, schedules, assigns, reviews, and supervises the work of staff performing public safety dispatching duties within the public safety dispatch section; plans and coordinates comprehensive emergency and non-emergency dispatching protocols; provides communications and vital resource support to Harbor Police personnel in the field; provides complex staff assistance to management staff in areas of expertise; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from assigned management personnel. Exercises direct supervision over non-sworn safety, technical, and administrative staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This classification is the supervisory level within the Public Safety Dispatcher series that exercises independent judgment on diverse and specialized administrative and dispatching functions with significant accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities associated with the work. Incumbents are responsible for planning, organizing, supervising, reviewing, and evaluating the work of assigned staff and providing support to assigned management staff in a variety of areas.


Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Represented positions are subject to the meet and confer process.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of staff providing support to the Harbor Police Dispatch section; trains staff in work procedures; evaluates employee performance, counsels employees, and effectively recommends initial disciplinary action; assists in selection and promotion.

• Participates in the development of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for assigned services and programs; recommends and implements policies and procedures including standard operating procedures for assigned operations.

• Monitors activities of the work unit; identifies opportunities for improving service delivery and procedures; provides recommendations concerning process changes; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.

• Coordinates assigned services and operations with other divisions and outside agencies.

• Participates in annual budget preparation; identifies resource needs and technology enhancements of telecommunication and radio systems; prepares detailed cost estimates with appropriate justifications; monitors expenditures.

• Provides staff assistance to management; prepares and presents staff reports and other written materials; supervises the establishment and maintenance of reports, records, databases, and files; ensures the proper documentation of operations and activities.

• Answers questions and provides information to the public; investigates and responds to complaints and inquiries from citizens, other departments, and agencies; recommends corrective actions to resolve issues.

• Supervises calls, complaints, and inquiries received from the public for police or other emergency services over the phone, multiple lines, and multiple radio frequencies; answers 911 emergency calls; screens incoming calls to triage, determining necessity, priority, and type of response(s) required, in accordance with established procedures as required.

• Supervises dispatching of public safety emergency units via radio and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) in accordance with established procedures using a computerized dispatch system; determines priority of emergency and contacts and sends appropriate response units; conducts computer inquiries in several law enforcement databases to determine warrants on persons, missing persons, vehicles, and property; deciphers information received from these databases; enters information into databases; operates telephone equipment (TTY) for hearing impaired persons as required.

• Supervises the maintenance of accurate departmental and law enforcement records and files; researches and compiles information from such files and completes a variety of record keeping functions, filing, and other such clerical work.

• Represents the Port in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, developers, and the public.

• Assists supervisory staff with the performance review process, as directed.

• Provides dispatch desk coverage as needed during staffing shortages, high call volume, emergencies, or other operational needs to ensure continuity of service.

• Performs assigned disaster service worker responsibilities, as directed.

• Ensures staff observe and comply with all Port and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.

• Principles and practices of leadership.

• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.

• Basic principles and practices of budget administration and monitoring.

• Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of public safety dispatching for a government entity and emergency scenarios.

• Proper phone etiquette and techniques for eliciting and providing accurate and timely information in emergency situations.

• Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of general law enforcement and related public safety agencies providing emergency services; including computer aided dispatch and related systems.

• Principles and practices of data collection and report preparation.

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.

• Principles and procedures of record keeping.

• Port and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Port staff.

• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.

• Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.

• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.

• Identify problems, research, and analyze relevant information, and develop and present recommendations and justification for solutions.

• Perform the most complex public safety dispatching and most complicated emergency calls.

• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.

• Ensure staff competently handles multiple radio calls, telephone calls, and emergency and non-emergency scenarios, and dispatches responding units in the most effective manner.

• Testify in court in an accurate and truthful manner.

• Obtain necessary information from individuals in stressful or emergency situations.

• Multitask and handle several telephone calls, radio transmissions, and computer functions simultaneously.

• Respond to complaints or inquiries from citizens, staff, and outside organizations.

• Prepare clear, effective, and accurate reports, correspondence, and other written materials.

• Maintain accurate logs, records, and written records of work performed.

• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.

• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.

• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.

• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:


Education:

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in public safety dispatching experience for a government entity.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid California P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher Certification, to be maintained throughout employment.

• Possession of, or successful acquisition within twelve (12) months of employment, a valid California P.O.S.T. Public Safety Supervisor, to be maintained throughout employment.

Hiring Range Negotiable Between:$107,348.80 - $130,499.20 DOE/DOQ*

The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training, and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the assessment process which may be administered by a written examination, panel interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of Human Resources to be appropriate. The Department of Human Resources will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.

*Depends on experience/Depends on qualifications.

THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT (40%) AND APPRAISAL PANEL (60%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 2026 AND TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026.

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our websitehttps://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/portofsdIf applicable please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded) to your application or your application may be considered incomplete. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application. You must also attach a valid California P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher certificate to your application or your application will be considered incomplete.

Placement on Eligible List:

The Department of Human Resources may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the assessment process. Candidates who are successful in all phases of the assessment process will be placed on an eligible list. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of ninety (90) days or up to one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to Rule 8, Section 4.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The District firmly believes in, and is committed to, the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. It is the policy of the District to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to age (40 and above), ancestry, color, disability (mental or physical), gender (including identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth), marital status, medical condition, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and
closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.


ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing divisional policies and procedures.


WORKING CONDITIONS

Some positions may require working varied shifts and/or alternate schedules as needed.

Port employees are expected to work overtime, weekends, evenings, and holidays as required to accommodate the Port’s needs, in addition to responding as a Disaster Services Emergency Worker.

Employees in this classification are subject to on-call, which may include rotating-duty schedule, weekends and 24-hour emergency call out with little or no notice.