South Sound 911
LATERAL EXPERIENCED Dispatcher or Call-Taker ***$5,000 Hiring Incentive!***
South Sound 911, Tacoma, WA, United States
Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Full-Time Communications
Job Number: LATERAL - Dispatch
Department: Operations
Division: Communications
Opening Date: 01/13/2023
Summary
***THIS IS A LATERAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPERIENCED 911 COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL. Please visit for specific details on how to apply.***
The Dispatcher position performs complex and responsible dispatcher duties in the Emergency 911 Communications Center; processes citizen's requests for law enforcement services under various conditions, including emergency situations, receives emergency communications, determining the nature, location and severity of the emergency and dispatches appropriate personnel, apparatus and equipment; provides information to client law enforcement agencies, other City and County agencies and law enforcement officers in the field; monitors and controls communication traffic and assure officer safety to the extent possible. Completes training for and demonstrates ability to perform the duties of Telecommunicator 1; and maintains the skill to perform the essential functions of the Telecommunicator 1 classification.
This position does not have supervisory responsibility. Dispatchers are expected to work independently in a variety of tasks and ask for assistance/clarification from the Communications Supervisor when questions/concerns arise. This position reports to the Communications Supervisor.
Essential Functions
Receive incoming emergency and non-emergency communications from the public, law enforcement officers, departmental employees and commercial organizations via telephone, radio, written materials and video computer terminal. Secure necessary information including the nature, location and severity of the call; determine the priority of the call and adjust the priority based upon the nature of the emergency.
Work under stress with accuracy in a calm and efficient manner, accurately recording pertinent information into computer aided dispatch (CAD) system simultaneously. Respond to situations in a positive and efficient manner.
Dispatch appropriate personnel, apparatus and equipment via radio, computer aided dispatch (CAD) system, departmental intercom or telecommunications equipment; determine the number of units needed and which officer to dispatch according to established guidelines and the nature of the emergency. Maintain contact with customer agency field units to assure safety and efficiency; inform officers of the status of the situation and receive and maintain officer's status and location at appropriate times; respond to units' calls and transmissions appropriately. Gather appropriate information regarding incidents that have occurred on prior shifts from logs, listings and reports. Receive personnel availability status reports and contact agencies regarding the availability of their personnel.
Communicate with citizens, various police agencies, and various other agencies to provide and receive information and services as requested or required; provide excellent customer service.
Provide training and orientation to new employees; assist coworkers as necessary when available; work in a team environment. Attend meetings or training during shift or on overtime as directed.
Operate a variety of department equipment such as a variety of radio and telephone equipment, personal computer, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software, alarm monitoring systems, notification systems, TDD, playback recorders; monitor a variety of safety and security devices such as television camera monitoring equipment, door security recorder equipment, many active radio channels and phone lines including emergency and non-emergency, and relay appropriate information to affected field units.
Enter and update a variety of detailed information into the computer terminal including the nature and location of calls received and premise histories; prepare and maintain various logs, listings, schedules and files; testify in court as required. Answer incoming calls on emergency and non-emergency lines; determine type of service or information required; obtain and process required information and transmit to appropriate dispatcher according to established guidelines and procedures for priority or emergency calls; initiate requests for services for routine calls received.
Work overtime on a volunteer basis or assigned and mandatory to cover staffing needs. There is more overtime during vacation and/or illness periods and during seasonal workload peaks. May include both extended shift or work on scheduled day(s) off. Range of overtime per payroll period could be 0 to 36 hours. Cover on-call assignments on a voluntary basis or assigned and mandatory to support operational needs.
Qualifications
LATERAL Candidates must have a minimum 2 years of experience as a Dispatcher within a 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
Graduation from high school or equivalent. Ability to perform split ear functions. Two years of experience involving considerable public contact and multi-tasking.
Supplemental Information
Hiring Process
Interested candidates should email HR@SouthSound911.org. Please include resume and letter of interest, detailing the size and call volume of current and past agency employment, along with any other relevant information. If selected to move forward in process, candidates will participate in additional process steps, as listed below, in sequential order:
Additional steps of Lateral Process:
Completion of Personal History Statement through Public Safety Testing (online, no cost)
Complete Dispatcher CritiCall Test (online, no cost)
Panel Interview (in-person strongly preferred, will consider virtual setting as needed)
Conditional Offer
Fingerprinting (in-person)
Observation (in-person, can be combined with fingerprinting session)
Background Investigation
Psychological Assessment (virtual)
Fit Assessment (online - PXT Select)
Final Interviews with Executive Staff (in-person strongly preferred, will consider virtual setting as needed)
Medical/Drug Screen (in-person, or if out of area, can arrange for local-to-candidate testing)
Final Offer
Incentives
Lateral candidates receiving a final offer of employment after completing the process will receive the following:
$2,000 hiring incentive upon date of hire*
Starting salary will be dependent on number of years' experience in a Dispatch role, as follows:
< 5 years' experience - Step 2 ($38.36/hour)
5-10 years' experience - Step 3 ($40.28/hour)
10+ years' experience - Step 4 ($42.29/hour)
If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please contact Laura Lakowske @ 253-625-0813 or laura.lakowske@southsound911.org.
*Hiring incentive will be paid in full at time of hire, on the first eligible pay date. The hiring incentive is subject to all required taxes and withholdings. Retention of full amount of hiring incentive is contingent upon continued employment with agency. If employee leaves at any point prior to their 2-year anniversary, a repayment schedule will apply.
South Sound 911 offers a wide range of employee benefits. Read more about these benefits
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Full-Time Communications
Job Number: LATERAL - Dispatch
Department: Operations
Division: Communications
Opening Date: 01/13/2023
Summary
***THIS IS A LATERAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPERIENCED 911 COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL. Please visit for specific details on how to apply.***
The Dispatcher position performs complex and responsible dispatcher duties in the Emergency 911 Communications Center; processes citizen's requests for law enforcement services under various conditions, including emergency situations, receives emergency communications, determining the nature, location and severity of the emergency and dispatches appropriate personnel, apparatus and equipment; provides information to client law enforcement agencies, other City and County agencies and law enforcement officers in the field; monitors and controls communication traffic and assure officer safety to the extent possible. Completes training for and demonstrates ability to perform the duties of Telecommunicator 1; and maintains the skill to perform the essential functions of the Telecommunicator 1 classification.
This position does not have supervisory responsibility. Dispatchers are expected to work independently in a variety of tasks and ask for assistance/clarification from the Communications Supervisor when questions/concerns arise. This position reports to the Communications Supervisor.
Essential Functions
Receive incoming emergency and non-emergency communications from the public, law enforcement officers, departmental employees and commercial organizations via telephone, radio, written materials and video computer terminal. Secure necessary information including the nature, location and severity of the call; determine the priority of the call and adjust the priority based upon the nature of the emergency.
Work under stress with accuracy in a calm and efficient manner, accurately recording pertinent information into computer aided dispatch (CAD) system simultaneously. Respond to situations in a positive and efficient manner.
Dispatch appropriate personnel, apparatus and equipment via radio, computer aided dispatch (CAD) system, departmental intercom or telecommunications equipment; determine the number of units needed and which officer to dispatch according to established guidelines and the nature of the emergency. Maintain contact with customer agency field units to assure safety and efficiency; inform officers of the status of the situation and receive and maintain officer's status and location at appropriate times; respond to units' calls and transmissions appropriately. Gather appropriate information regarding incidents that have occurred on prior shifts from logs, listings and reports. Receive personnel availability status reports and contact agencies regarding the availability of their personnel.
Communicate with citizens, various police agencies, and various other agencies to provide and receive information and services as requested or required; provide excellent customer service.
Provide training and orientation to new employees; assist coworkers as necessary when available; work in a team environment. Attend meetings or training during shift or on overtime as directed.
Operate a variety of department equipment such as a variety of radio and telephone equipment, personal computer, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software, alarm monitoring systems, notification systems, TDD, playback recorders; monitor a variety of safety and security devices such as television camera monitoring equipment, door security recorder equipment, many active radio channels and phone lines including emergency and non-emergency, and relay appropriate information to affected field units.
Enter and update a variety of detailed information into the computer terminal including the nature and location of calls received and premise histories; prepare and maintain various logs, listings, schedules and files; testify in court as required. Answer incoming calls on emergency and non-emergency lines; determine type of service or information required; obtain and process required information and transmit to appropriate dispatcher according to established guidelines and procedures for priority or emergency calls; initiate requests for services for routine calls received.
Work overtime on a volunteer basis or assigned and mandatory to cover staffing needs. There is more overtime during vacation and/or illness periods and during seasonal workload peaks. May include both extended shift or work on scheduled day(s) off. Range of overtime per payroll period could be 0 to 36 hours. Cover on-call assignments on a voluntary basis or assigned and mandatory to support operational needs.
Qualifications
LATERAL Candidates must have a minimum 2 years of experience as a Dispatcher within a 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
Graduation from high school or equivalent. Ability to perform split ear functions. Two years of experience involving considerable public contact and multi-tasking.
Supplemental Information
Hiring Process
Interested candidates should email HR@SouthSound911.org. Please include resume and letter of interest, detailing the size and call volume of current and past agency employment, along with any other relevant information. If selected to move forward in process, candidates will participate in additional process steps, as listed below, in sequential order:
Additional steps of Lateral Process:
Completion of Personal History Statement through Public Safety Testing (online, no cost)
Complete Dispatcher CritiCall Test (online, no cost)
Panel Interview (in-person strongly preferred, will consider virtual setting as needed)
Conditional Offer
Fingerprinting (in-person)
Observation (in-person, can be combined with fingerprinting session)
Background Investigation
Psychological Assessment (virtual)
Fit Assessment (online - PXT Select)
Final Interviews with Executive Staff (in-person strongly preferred, will consider virtual setting as needed)
Medical/Drug Screen (in-person, or if out of area, can arrange for local-to-candidate testing)
Final Offer
Incentives
Lateral candidates receiving a final offer of employment after completing the process will receive the following:
$2,000 hiring incentive upon date of hire*
Starting salary will be dependent on number of years' experience in a Dispatch role, as follows:
< 5 years' experience - Step 2 ($38.36/hour)
5-10 years' experience - Step 3 ($40.28/hour)
10+ years' experience - Step 4 ($42.29/hour)
If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please contact Laura Lakowske @ 253-625-0813 or laura.lakowske@southsound911.org.
*Hiring incentive will be paid in full at time of hire, on the first eligible pay date. The hiring incentive is subject to all required taxes and withholdings. Retention of full amount of hiring incentive is contingent upon continued employment with agency. If employee leaves at any point prior to their 2-year anniversary, a repayment schedule will apply.
South Sound 911 offers a wide range of employee benefits. Read more about these benefits