Police Dispatcher / Call Receiver Lead [Dispatcher Lead]

Job Description

POLICE DISPATCHER / CALL RECEIVER LEAD [Dispatcher Lead]

Req #: 247668 Department: DIVISION of CAMPUS COMMUNITY SAFETY: POLICE DEPT Job Location: Seattle Campus Posting Date: 07/28/2025 Closing Info: Closes On 08/06/2025 Salary: $5425 - $7292 per month Other Compensation: Union Position: Yes Shift: Alternate Work Shift Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.

Please note that this position has been re-posted. If you have already submitted your application, you need not submit it again, as it has already been received.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
The Division of Campus Community Safety (DCCS) unifies front-line public safety units across the University for a holistic approach to campus community safety, innovation in approaches, and clarity in leadership responsibility and accountability. Key units include UW Emergency Management, SafeCampus and the UW Police Department Seattle campus. Division staff work daily in partnership with units across and outside the UW system to both create safer, welcoming campus environments; prepare for potential natural or human-made disasters; and respond appropriately to incidents.
Safeguarding the academic community with P.R.I.D.E.
The University of Washington Police Department (UWPD) has the exclusive responsibility to act upon law-enforcement matters and perform police functions for the Seattle Campus of the University of Washington, 24 hours a day. UWPD responds to public calls for service within a very diverse community, providing community-oriented law enforcement services to the campus and nearby areas, enforcing state laws, city ordinances, and University regulations. Watch our UW Police video to meet us and see what it is like to work on the Seattle campus.
DCCS has an outstanding opportunity for a Police Dispatcher/Call Receiver Lead to perform the duties and functions of a Police Dispatcher in addition to providing guidance and support to the work of the police dispatchers and assisting the work of the police dispatcher supervisor. The Lead will act as a key resource to the UWPD communications team regarding operational procedures, equipment operation, and technical issues. They will also assist the supervisor in maintaining and improving the day-to-day operations of the communications center as well as assisting with administrative tasks to support the unit, department, and UW community.
Duties and Responsibilities Include:
• Provide professional and courteous public safety services when acting as a 9-1-1 and non-emergency call taker as well as a public safety dispatcher
• Guide and support the work of the police dispatchers, especially during times of elevated workloads and critical incidents
• Communicate individual, team, and departmental challenges to the supervisor and recommend solutions to improve services, performance, and quality-of-life
• Assist the supervisor in maintaining required staffing levels and managing dynamic staffing needs
• Serve as a subject matter expert on all dispatch systems, including but not limited to: Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), criminal databases (NCIC/WACIC/ACCESS), Intrado Phone system, Motorola Dispatch consoles, SafeZone safety application, CAAMS door system, and others
• Provide guidance, conduct troubleshooting, and perform basic maintenance on dispatch systems
• Create and maintain resources and manuals to support the work of the communications center
• Create audio recordings and related records for public disclosure and police investigations
• Collect and record statistical data and assist in internal research
• Represent the UWPD Communications Center in (non-governing) internal and external meetings and workgroups, as assigned by the supervisor
• Assist the supervisor in developing and implementing in-house training
• Support operations during communications center emergencies to include equipment failures, backup operations, and evacuations
• Support special projects in the communications center as assigned
The department strongly subscribes and operates under the tenets of community-oriented policing and service. The Communications Center operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Competitive candidates will possess demonstrated experience in formal or informal leadership, guiding and developing the abilities of others, and creating a positive environment for mentoring and growth. Candidates will be effective communicators with high emotional intelligence, with the ability to work constructively with subordinates, peers, managers, and executives, internally and externally. Excellent organizational skills, critical thinking, and the ability to locate and interpret data to support decision-making will be inherent to success in this position.
This is an opportunity to join a team committed to the highest standards of professionalism and service and to work in an environment that is focused on on-going employee development.
UWPD is proud to be dually accredited by both the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
• High school graduation or equivalent
• AND two years of experience to include dispatching responsibilities and/or completion of an accredited dispatcher program

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• 3 years public safety dispatching experience
• Washington State Telecommunicator Certification
• Supervisory experience, especially in public safety dispatching
• Training, mentoring, and/or coaching experience, especially in public safety dispatching
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to work in a high-pressure, high-security environment
• CTO, TERT, Peer Support, and/or other public safety dispatching certifications
• ACCESS 2 Certification
• Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) Certification
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
• Employees must be willing to work any shift or workweek, including mandatory overtime, and nights, weekends, and holidays, as assigned.
• Work is performed primarily seated in a confined office setting for extended periods of time with no outside visibility.
• All final applicants will be required to complete a minimum of two hours observation in the University of Washington Communication Center. This will be scheduled before the oral board.
• No felony convictions and no pattern of misdemeanor convictions that could compromise access to confidential records.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of comprehensive background investigation, polygraph, and psychological examinations.
This position is located at UW Police Department in a state-of-the-art building on 15th Ave NE. Must be comfortable working in a police station environment.
External applicants will be required to satisfactorily complete the UWPD Dispatch Training program in addition to lead training. Probation may be extended to accommodate the additional training needs.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
Application Deadline: see above
Testing: Must be completed by the application deadline to be considered for the initial review
Oral Boards: TBD
Reapplication is permitted at any time, except for candidates disqualified for reasons of prior felony convictions or non-correctable selection.
Please note: It may take 2 to 4 months to successfully complete all phases of the selection process from Oral Boards to Official Offer of Employment.
Be sure to check back periodically for updated recruitment information.
Apply on-line by the application deadline noted. A complete application includes:
• Copying/pasting an updated resume into your candidate profile
• Completing the US Work Authorization Assessment.
Part of the application process for this position includes completing the US Work Authorization Assessment to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. The assessment will appear on your screen for you to complete as soon as you select "Apply to this Position" on this job announcement. Once you begin the assessment, it must be completed at that time. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until the assessment is complete.
All information submitted will be considered to determine the applicant's qualifications for this position. Please ensure that your current email address is listed in your online candidate profile as well as in your resume. A Personal History Statement may be emailed to you early for completion. A completed Personal History Statement will be required for those who progress to the Background Investigation Process. Detailed information requested includes:
• Addresses of all residences;
• Personal and Professional References;
• Names and addresses of family members;
• Arrests and criminal history;
• Traffic driving record;
• Military service;
• Employment history;
• Drug use;
• Education history;
• Memberships in professional organizations;
• Financial information;
• Copies of the following documents:
-High school diploma/GED certificate;
-Social Security card;
-Driver’s License;
-Birth Certificate (Certified copy)
• Any other documents, certificates, resumes, performance evaluation reports, etc., which show your abilities and training for the position
Testing [APPLICANTS WILL BE ASSESSED A FEE FOR TESTING]:
Note: Internal candidates who have already completed skills testing and are in good standing at UWPD are not required to repeat testing.
The Dispatcher Exam is administered through Public Safety Testing. Results are provided to the University of Washington Police Department for decision-making. You must select University of Washington Police Department as an agency for us to access your required testing scores.
Please note: You must successfully complete the PST Typing Test before your Dispatch Written Exam date. Failure to do so may result in a failure of the test.
What to expect at the Public Safety Testing website:
• Flexibility to schedule your test time. Tests are conducted multiple times a week, including Saturdays, and offered at multiple locations
• Information on completing the required typing test
• Detailed information on how to create a testing account
• Written Exam Instructions
• PST Policies for test day
• Test-Date-Location Information (Test & Event Calendar)
• Fee structure for agency selections
• Out-of-state testing information
The test will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis, however, scores are important. Scores will be automatically forwarded to the University of Washington Police Department for further decision making. Those who attain passing scores may be invited to participate in other stages of the Department’s selection process.
Observation (to be scheduled) and Oral Boards
Applicants who pass the testing phase may be invited to participate in Oral Boards (structured panel interview).
A minimum two-hour observation session at the UWPD Communications Center will be required of final candidates. Candidates will be contacted directly for scheduling.
Additional selection steps include a polygraph, background investigation and psychological evaluation.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected] .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .

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