Lead Dispatcher (Police Dispatcher II)

San Diego State University is seeking an experienced and service-focused Lead Dispatcher to provide lead direction and operational oversight for the University Police Communications Center. This role coordinates dispatch operations, supports communications personnel, and ensures reliable emergency communications and public safety services for the university community.

• →Lead Direction & Communications Center Operations 
• →Provide lead direction to assigned personnel, establish work priorities, review work, and provide input on employee performance.
• →Oversee daily Communications Center operations, staffing, and operational readiness while ensuring compliance with established policies and procedures.
• →Promote teamwork, professionalism, and high-quality service among Communications Center personnel.
• →Emergency Communications & Systems 
• →Ensure operational readiness of 9-1-1, radio, CAD, fire alarm, access control, CCTV, and other Communications Center systems.
• →Receive and process emergency and routine calls, dispatch police personnel, and maintain accurate CAD records.
• →Troubleshoot equipment and system issues and coordinate technical support when needed.
• →Police, Dispatch & Records Support 
• →Support police, dispatch, and records functions and coordinate assistance or mutual aid with outside agencies.
• →Enter, retrieve, update, and validate information in CLETS and other authorized law enforcement databases.
• →Serve as the agency's backup Agency Terminal Coordinator (ATC), as needed.

• Full-time, benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• Position is designated non-exempt under FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Regular work schedule will be one of the following:
• 3/12 work schedule, consisting of twelve (12) hour shifts on three (3) consecutive days during each calendar week plus an additional eight (8) hour shift every other week 4/10 schedule, consisting of four (4) consecutive days of ten (10) hours.
• Dispatchers may be required and/or mandated to work on-call assignments, work past scheduled shifts, and work overtime with short notice; work overnight shifts, rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Safety and security is coordinated by University Police, through a force of 40 sworn police officers and 57 non-sworn support employees. Our police officers are graduates of a California Peace Officers Standards Training Academy with full arrest powers throughout the state. They undergo continued training to improve their skills as well as first aid and CPR requirements. 

University Police officers are armed. They conduct foot, vehicle and bicycle patrols on campus and in the adjacent community 24 hours a day, year-round. Officers are responsible for reporting and investigating crimes and traffic accidents, enforcing state laws and local ordinances, responding to medical emergencies and all other incidents requiring police assistance.

For more information regarding the University Police Department,  click here.

Entry to the first level within this classification typically requires one year of verifiable experience using a switchboard and two-way radio communication system in a law enforcement or comparable agency within the last ten years and a high school diploma or equivalent. Essential entry qualifications require the ability to effectively use a phonetic alphabet, speak clearly and concisely, follow oral and written instructions, transfer information accurately, handle a wide range of interpersonal interactions effectively, and learn the use of applicable automated dispatch and law enforcement systems and databases.

Incumbents must have completed or be able to attend and successfully complete the Police Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Dispatcher Course. Incumbents who, upon hire, do not possess a P.O.S.T. Dispatcher Certificate also will be required to pass a written test related to essential dispatching skills. Additionally, incumbents must successfully pass supplemental P.O.S.T. requirements for dispatchers such as a background check, physical and psychological examinations, drug testing, and related requirements.

• Emergency call taking and public safety dispatch, including prioritizing incidents, assisting callers, and coordinating field responses.
• First-level supervision in a 24-hour communications center, including assigning work, adjusting staffing, training employees, and addressing performance concerns.
• Advanced proficiency with CAD, 9-1-1, multi-channel radio consoles, display terminals, and related communications equipment.
• Knowledge of CLETS requirements and the ability to accurately manage and safeguard information in law enforcement databases.
• Ability to monitor, troubleshoot, and coordinate support for communications center systems, including alarms, access control, and CCTV.
• Ability to coordinate mutual aid and information sharing with law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety agencies.
• Ability to apply and improve dispatch procedures, quality standards, and training practices while recommending solutions to operational issues.
• Ability to remain composed, maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and communicate clearly during high-stress incidents.

• Possession of a P.O.S.T. Intermediate and/or Advanced Dispatcher Certificate
• Completion of the P.O.S.T. Communications Training Officer course
• Completion of the P.O.S.T. Civilian Supervisory course
• Completion of the P.O.S.T. Tactical Dispatcher course
• Bilingual skills are desirable.

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

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• Valid California Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.
• Achievement of the P.O.S.T. Dispatcher certificate.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.