Radio Dispatcher

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets! At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people, we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city.

With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live.

SDOT invites a highly collaborative and detail‑oriented Radio Dispatcher to join our 24/7 Radio Dispatch Office within Maintenance Operations. This office operates continuously, 24/7, 365 days a year. The Radio Dispatcher receives calls from both internal and external customers, applies judgment to prioritize calls or requests, and creates work orders in the work‑management system for field staff.

This work requires keen listening, clear written and verbal communication, flexibility amid changing priorities, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with interruptions. Regular contact with the general public and departmental staff is essential.

• Answer phone calls from citizens regarding public safety hazards or conditions that need attention, evaluate the nature of the call to determine the response needed, and dispatch field personnel or contact other agencies as appropriate.
• Operate two‑way radios to communicate during daily activities and during emergencies.
• Provide excellent customer service information to citizens regarding work in progress and answer questions.
• Relay information or requests from citizens to work crews, field personnel, or supervisors.
• Write or type work orders, code and assign project numbers, send and distribute requests to appropriate department units or field offices, and maintain logs of department activities.
• Compile payroll information, maintenance statistics, and/or personnel information for processing and records maintenance.
• Monitor various equipment such as building alarms, closed‑circuit television cameras (CCTV), and dispatch information as needed.
• Perform data entry (e.g., timecards, equipment time and asset updates).
• Type simple correspondence and reports.
• Document and log calls and field crew activity.
• Support department goals in promoting diversity and social justice.

This position is considered essential personnel and is required to respond during an emergency. These responsibilities are a summary of typical functions and are not exhaustive. The position may perform other duties as assigned.

• Two (2) years of clerical work experience, including one (1) year of public contact or communication, such as radio communication, switchboard operation, reception work, or clerical office work that requires receiving and relaying information.
• Ability to type required for most positions.

OR:
An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position's duties.

• At least two (2) years of customer service, call center communications, dispatching or related background.
• Experience handling a high volume of phone calls (80‑100 calls a day).
• Experience with traffic incident management or emergency management (such as 9‑1‑1 operator).
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to type a minimum of 50 words per minute and make corrections to text quickly and accurately.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse group of internal and external customers in fast‑paced surroundings and handle difficult situations in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and make decisions following general guidelines.
• Ability to successfully demonstrate conflict management skills and maintain a professional composure.
• Ability to effectively work in a multi‑cultural workplace with a diverse customer base.
• Capacity for adapting to changing priorities and handling multiple tasks with ease and accuracy.
• Experience relaying information or requests from customers to work crews, field personnel or supervisors.
• Detail oriented; strong organizational, time management, and customer service skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft…