The San José Fire Department is accepting applications for the position of Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee. This is the entry-level training classification for a career in public safety dispatching within the City of San José. As a Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee, you are provided with formal training, both in the classroom and in the Communications Center, to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the full range of public safety dispatching functions. Trainees must successfully complete all formal academic and on-the-job training to be appointed to the class of Public Safety Radio Dispatcher and retain their employment.

The annual salary for the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee classification is $98,793.24 per year. This includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay and a (3.75%) Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Certification Pay.

Duties of the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher include answering emergency and non-emergency telephone calls, complying with medical and fire call taking and dispatching policies and protocols, obtaining information from callers, providing emergency instructions over the telephone, entering data into the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, dispatching fire and emergency medical personnel and equipment, providing telecommunications systems support, and performing other related work as assigned.

The Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee Training Program includes Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) protocol training. The EMD and EFD certification is a condition of employment. If an employee fails to maintain San José Fire Department protocol compliance standards, the employee is subject to discipline up to and including termination.

These positions require working weekends, holidays and/or assignments including swing, midnight, or other nonstandard shifts. Shifts are currently an 8-hour schedule (five days a week). Shift schedules may change based on the needs of the Department and may include an alternate 9-hour schedule (every other set of days off includes three days off). You must be available to work the shift schedule assigned to you by the Department. There is a shift differential payment of $2.25/hour for swing shift and $2.50/hour for midnight shifts.

• Mandatory overtime will be required during critical incidents or to maintain staffing levels.

• Wearing a uniform is required.

Incumbents receive paid training beginning on their first day attending the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee Academy. Employee benefits are provided in accordance with the applicable union agreement.

Laterals are encouraged to apply.

In addition to the base salary, employees in the Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay and a (3.75%) ongoing non-pensionable Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Certification Pay.

Salary range(s) for this classification is/are:

• $90,688.00 (pensionable total salary) 
• $95,222.40 (pensionable with 5% non-pensionable total salary)
• $98,793.24 (pensionable with 5% non-pensionable and 3.75% public safety radio dispatcher certification pay total salary)

Upon successful completion of training, Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainees are eligible for promotion to the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher classification. The salary range for the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher classification is currently $109,714.87 - $133,370.87 annually. This includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay and a (3.75%) Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Certification Pay.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

Education: Successful completion of high school, General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate

Experience: One year of experience receiving, processing and/or dispatching calls in a radio dispatch or call center (one year = 2080 hours) OR, three years of experience working in public contact employment (three years = 6240 hours)

Certifications: When assigned to the Fire Department, must possess within three (3) months of employment, and maintain the Emergency Medical Dispatch and Emergency Fire Dispatch certification through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. 

 

Other Qualifications

 

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations. 

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts. 

Building Trust - Communicates an understanding of the other person's interests, needs and concerns; identifies and communicates shared interests and goals; identifies and communicates differences as appropriate; demonstrates honesty, keeps commitments, and behaves in an appropriate manner.

Multi-Tasking - Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).

Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate. 

Customer Service- Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor. 

Social Awareness – Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people’s emotions and how they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness. 

In addition, ideal candidates will also possess basic knowledge, skills and abilities to:

• Pass an intensive background investigation;

• Learn to accurately and quickly enter information in the computer system while receiving information via radio and telephone;

• Learn radio codes used in computer-aided dispatch;

• Retain composure and work accurately under pressure in emergency situations;

• Read, write, spell, and speak in clear and concise English;

• Deal tactfully with the public and others;

• Follow oral and written instructions;

• Learn and interpret maps;

• Work in a confined area and wear a radio headset

• Type

• Competency in a City approved language other than English is desirable, but not required for employment.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Applicants deemed most competitive after oral interviews will be required to pass a Fire background investigation, which includes polygraph and psychological screening. Additional phases of the selection process are described below.

Tentative Timeline

Information Session:  Week of 4/21/25

Personal History Questionnaire: 4/23/25-4/30/25

Computer Practical (CritiCall Exam):  4/23/25-4/30/25

Oral Board Interview: 5/12/25-5/14/25

Tour/Sit Along: 5/23/25-6/1/25

Backgrounds: 5/26/25-7/11/25

Selection Interview (2nd Interview): 7/21/25-7/22/25

Poly/Psych/Medical Exams: 7/28/25-8/18/25

Final Job Offer Notifications: 9/8/25

Academy Start Date: 9/29/25

*DATES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IF NEEDED*

INFORMATION SESSION: The Information Session provides applicants with more details regarding the day-to-day duties of the position(s) and an overall understanding of the hiring and training process.  Candidates will also have an opportunity to ask questions of current dispatch personnel.

PERSONAL HISTORY QUESTIONNAIRE (PHQ): The most qualified applicants for Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee will be invited to complete an online pass/fail PHQ screening. The PHQ screening is designed to identify applicants who meet the Fire Department's hiring standards. The PHQ screening will consist of approximately 180 questions. The questionnaire will ask applicants to self-report behavior that has been determined to relate directly to job suitability.

Applicants should be prepared to provide detailed information of their personal history in the following nine categories: education, employment, driving history, military experience, substance use, financial history, legal history, fire, public safety and/or emergency medical experience, and other general information.

COMPUTER PRACTICAL EXAM (CritiCall): Candidates will be invited to take a computerized practical exam. During this exam, applicants are tested in several areas including data entry, multi-tasking, call summary, reading comprehension, map reading and more. Only the most qualified applicants will move forward from this examination.

COMPUTER PRACTICAL (CritiCall) TEST PREPARATION: Additional information about the computer practical exam (CritiCall), including a test preparation guide can be found at: https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants/

The San José Fire Department will not accept previous test scores; all candidates who pass the PHQ must take and pass the computer practical exam (CritiCall) during this recruitment in order to continue to be considered for the position. 

ORAL BOARD INTERVIEW: Oral board interviews will be held after candidates pass the practical exam (CritiCall).

BACKGROUND: The most qualified candidates who pass the practical exam (CritiCall) and oral board interviews will be considered for advancement to the background. 

TOUR/SIT ALONG: This is an in-person sit along in the Fire Communications Control Room. Candidates who advance to the background will be notified regarding scheduling of the in-person sit along.

If you have questions regarding the duties of this position, please email inquiries to FireCommRecruitment@sanjoseca.gov. 

The application deadline is Friday, April 11, 2025, at 11:59 PM.  

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Lorena Diez at lorena.diez@sanjoseca.gov.