Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Fire Dispatcher

Recruitment #16-8220-01

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

 

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Postmarks are not accepted. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

 

ON-LINE APPLICATIONS ONLY

 

DESCRIPTION

ACFD

THE AGENCY

THE ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT (ACFD) provides all-risk emergency services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (excluding Fairview), the cities of San Leandro, Dublin, Newark and Union City and Emeryville, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. With 29 fire stations and 35 companies serving a population of 394,000, the ACFD serves densely populated urban areas, waterways, industrialized centers, extensive urban interface, agricultural and wildland regions. Over 400 personnel and 100 Reserve Firefighters provide a wide variety of services to an ever expanding, dynamic and diverse community of roughly 508 square miles. These services include:

  • Advanced Life Support
  • Fire Suppression
  • Hazardous Materials Response
  • Urban Search & Rescue
  • Water Rescue
  • Community Outreach & Education
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Fire Prevention and Code Compliance
  • Regional Dispatch

The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) was formed on July 1, 1993 as a dependent special district with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors as its governing body. This consolidation brought together into a single jurisdiction the Castro Valley Fire Department, Eden Fire Department and County Fire Patrol (each a dependent special district under the Board of Supervisors).

Prior to 1993 Unincorporated Fire Protection:

  • Castro Valley FPD
  • Eden Consolidated FPD
  • County Fire Patrol
  • July 1, 1993 Alameda County Fire Department

Subsequently, the following communities have consolidated with the ACFD:

  • July 1, 1995 City of San Leandro
  • July 1, 1997 City of Dublin
  • August 1, 2002 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • October 1, 2007 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • January 20, 2008 Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC)
  • May 1, 2010 City of Newark
  • July 1, 2010 City of Union City
  • July 1, 2012 City of Emeryville

The ACFD is also responsible for the administration and operation of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC). The dispatch center provides dispatch and regional communication center services for the ACFD, the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Camp Parks Combat Support Training Center, and the cities of Alameda, Fremont, Livermore and Pleasanton. ACRECC is also the Dispatch/System Status Management Center for Paramedics Plus ambulance service.

 

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, to receive requests for emergency assistance using a computer-aided dispatch system; to dispatch appropriate public safety equipment and personnel; to accurately document on-going emergency operations; and to do related work as required at the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communication Center (ACRECC).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency certificate, such as the General Educational Development Certificate (State of California).

 

And Either I

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Fire Dispatcher Trainee in the ACRECC.

Or II

Experience:

The equivalent of one year dispatching experience (within the last 3 years) with a public safety agency or ambulance company.

And

Special Requirements:

Typing:


Ability to type 40 words per minute.

Candidates must pass a psychological evaluation, a medical examination and a thorough background evaluation after an offer of employment is made. A Computer Voice Stress Analyzer examination will also be included in the process to assess candidates’ responses in the areas of drug use, driving history, honesty, racial discrimination, and sexual harassment. Any felony conviction will result in disqualification. Candidates must be US citizens.

Incumbents in this classification are expected to work 12-hour shifts, and may also be required to work holidays, weekends and up to 18-hour shifts when needed. There is mandatory overtime.

License:

All candidates must possess a valid California State Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Standard radio protocols and call-taking procedures.
• Geographical area of Alameda County.
• Regulations and statutes applicable to public safety communications.

Ability to:

• Operate a two-way radio, and computer aided dispatch terminal.
• Dispatch public safety equipment in a quick and effective manner.
• Speak clearly and concisely in a well-modulated voice.
• React with sound judgment under stress and emergency situations while doing several tasks simultaneously. • Respond to the public with tact.
• Direct emergency vehicles using maps, local area knowledge and other tools that are available.
• Use word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Write in a clear, concise and legible manner.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps:

1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum qualifications. The Supplemental Questionnaire will be used for further screening of minimum qualifications. Candidates who meet those minimum qualifications will be invited to the HR Typing Lab for an on-site typing test in order to determine who meets the special requirements of this class (Ability to type 40 words per minute). Candidates who meet the special requirement will be invited to the next step.

2) A performance exam which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score.

 

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

 

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components. Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:


TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Deadline for Filing:

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

Performance Exam (Testing Test and Criti-Call):

5:00 p.m, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017

Monday, Feb. 6, 2017

February 21 - 23, 2017

 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS

*** For benefit information, please contact Fire Administration at 925-833-3473.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 

Gizelle Huynh, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-6472
Gizelle.Huynh@acgov.org

 

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer