Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor

Final date to receive applications: 11:59pm on Fri day, November 13, 2026

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.

This is the supervisory class in the Public Safety Dispatcher series. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible duties within the series, including supervising communications personnel, coordinating shift operations, and making real-time operational decisions. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to their assigned areas of responsibility.

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.

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…