Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor

DEADLINE TO APPLY: 11:59pm on Friday, November 13, 2026  

THE POSITION: 

The City of Hayward is excited to announce its recruitment for the position of Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor (formerly Communications Supervisor). This is a hands-on, working shift supervisor position responsible for the day-to-day technical, functional, and operational supervision of personnel in a 24/7 emergency communications center. Supervisors work alongside dispatch personnel, remain proficient in call-taking and police/fire radio operations, and may provide direct operational coverage as needed. The position reports to the Communications Administrator and rotates between day and night shift assignments, including weekends and holidays.
You are:

The ideal candidate is an experienced public safety communications professional who demonstrates sound judgment, professionalism, accountability, and strong leadership in a fast-paced 24-hour emergency communications environment. The successful candidate will be able to effectively lead and support employees while maintaining awareness of staffing, workload, operational priorities, and emerging issues across the Communications Center. They will communicate clearly, make timely decisions, appropriately address performance and conduct concerns, and provide coaching and feedback that supports employee development. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and a willingness to identify opportunities for operational improvement. Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to manage conflict, and the ability to build effective working relationships with employees, other supervisors, field personnel, and partner agencies are essential. Experience with employee training, performance evaluation, quality assurance, policy and procedure development, scheduling, and/or project implementation in a public safety communications environment is highly desirable. Successful completion of the California POST Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor Course is also highly desirable.What you will do:
 
Essential responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Receive emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, or other related services; determine nature and location of emergency; determine priority and dispatch emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures; coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other law enforcement agencies.

Use a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system to enter calls for service/radio traffic and monitor real-time status of situations; use an automated records management system (RMS) related to public safety activities to enter and retrieve information.

Maintain contact with all units on assignment; maintain status and location of field units and monitor radio frequencies of outside public safety agencies. 

Receive incoming telephone and voice radio calls for non-emergency assistance; dispatch animal control, utilities and street maintenance staff as needed.

Enter, retrieve, and update information from teletype networks, including the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles and other information.

Relay emergency and non-emergency information to public safety personnel in the field as required.

Supervise day to day operation of assigned shift; direct and monitor workflow.

Prepare work schedules and assign personnel to various tasks required within assigned shifts, and ensure good customer service to internal and external customers.

Evaluate performance of assigned communications personnel; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement disciplinary procedures; and counsel employees.

Approve days off and vacation requests from Public Safety Call Takers and Dispatchers and coordinate replacements for vacancies; schedule emergency and short term assignments of communications personnel.

Assist in the development and implementation of new policies, procedures, programs and goals/objectives for the Communication Center.

Assist in identifying training needs and the design of training programs; supervise and/or provide training to employees and other City department personnel on 

Communication Center operations.

Maintain communication with public safety personnel regarding Communications Center issues; attend line-ups, special operations briefings and inter-agency meetings to ensure current information is available to the Communication Center.

Maintain 24-hour logging tapes, including furnishing copies of tapes for investigations and courts; and testify in court.

May be assigned to act in the absence of the Administrator.

Perform related duties as necessary. 

For a complete job description, please visit: Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor Job DescriptionCORE COMPETENCIES  

Knowledge of:

• Emergency telephone answering techniques, policies, and procedures.
• General policies and procedures used in the operation of the City's dispatch center.
• Primary roads, streets, highways, areas, major buildings, and public facilities within the City's  boundaries.
• Standard radio broadcasting procedures and rules associated with operation of an emergency services communication network; learn to monitor multiple frequencies. 
• Radio and other codes used in the creation of computer aided calls for dispatch.
• Correct telephone answering techniques, policies, and procedures.
• Use of various police report forms.
• Manual and computer aided emergency communication equipment, procedures and practices.
• County, state and federal law enforcement computer systems.
• Correct English usage, including comprehension and grammar.
• Communications rules and regulations governing the operation of radio transmitting and receiving systems.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and general law enforcement procedures.

Ability to:

• Plan, assign and evaluate the work of others.
• Read, write, spell, and speak in concise English.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Deal tactfully with the public and others.
• Work in a confined area and wear a headset.
• Remain calm during emergencies and obtain relevant information from callers who are in stressful situations.
• Answer and prioritize calls for emergency and non-emergency police, fire, and other City services and to dispatch appropriate units in response in a courteous manner.
• Accurately enter information in the computer system while receiving information by telephone. 
• Operate a computer aided dispatch system, video display terminal, teletype and other computer programs and equipment related to public safety communications and records.
• Interpret maps.
• Effectively perform emergency telephone answering and processing duties.
• Perform several job tasks effectively under pressure for sustained periods of time. 
• Memorize and retain information from a variety of sources.
• Teach procedures and equipment operation to others.
• Interpret information from distraught, incoherent or angry callers and relay critical facts to appropriate emergency or nonemergency personnel.
• Assign priorities both to incoming calls and to dispatch of calls for service.
• Respond to request for emergency and nonemergency services in a professional and courteous manner.
• Speak clearly and concisely in an understandable voice via radio and telephone and in person.
• Type accurately at a speed of 35 words per minute.
• Work various shifts, including day, swing and graveyard as well as weekends and holidays.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

JOB RELATED AND ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS 

You have: 

Experience and Training 

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

Experience: Two (2) years of responsible emergency dispatching experience comparable to the Public Safety Dispatcher in the City of Hayward.

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

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

License or Certificate: Completion of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Course Certification within one year of hire

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Essential duties require the mental and/or physical ability to: work in an emergency call center environment; perform repetitive hand movements and fine coordination to enter data using a computer keyboard and mouse/trackball, use standard office equipment; safely lift, carry, and maneuver radio equipment or office supplies weighing up to 35 pounds; in the performance of daily office activities dexterity to operate computer keyboards; answer phones; hear tones, signals and radio and phone traffic as outlined by POST hearing standards; visually read and monitor computer screens; react and remain calm in emergency situations, sit for prolonged periods of time; converse by telephone and be clearly understood; interact with the public and all different levels of City staff in a professional manner. BENEFITS AND REWARDS: 

This summary provides a brief overview of the benefits available to regular full-time City employees.  Depending on employee group, some of these benefits may include:

The City of Hayward reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The examination process will result in a ranked eligible register of candidates for hiring consideration by the department derived from any of the exam processes mentioned above.

Department Interviews - Actual hire depends on success in the departmental selection process.  

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City should expect to undergo an employment background/reference check that may include, but is not limited to: employment history verification, medical evaluation, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including driver's license, registrations, certificates, and other credentials as part of the appointment process. Some positions, depending on the nature of the work, also require a credit check and a review of Summary Criminal History obtained from the State Department of Justice through Live Scan Fingerprinting.

Candidates are encouraged to apply online at www.hayward-ca.gov under the Current Vacancies tab or at www.GovernmentJobs.com.  Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hayward City Hall located at 777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541 or via phone (510) 583-4500.