Salary : $72,632.64 - $91,310.88 Annually
Location : Visalia, CA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: 02133
Department: POLICE
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description The City of Visalia Police Department is recruiting for Senior Communications Operator. Please
click here for more information and the recruitment announcement.
THE DIVISIONThe Operations Division consists of the Patrol Bureau and Communications Unit that provide patrol, traffic, commercial, and emergency communications services for the Visalia Police Department. The Patrol Bureau operates out of two District Substations, one in each policing district, and the Visalia Emergency Communications Center. In 2025, the Department fielded more than 264,000 police calls for service.
Examples of Duties THE POSITIONThe Senior Communications Operator shall serve in a supervisory role and report directly to the Communications Supervisor. They will oversee daily shift operations, assist with staffing/scheduling, budgeting, training/mentoring/assessing employee performance, supervising, and preparing written documents. They will receive and transmit routine and emergency telephone and radio traffic, dispatch and coordinate police, fire, and animal control. They will maintain and process a variety of communications paperwork, records, and logs, and will perform related responsibilities as required. As an Emergency Services employee, the applicant must be available to work shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Qualifications / Requirements THE IDEAL CANDIDATEThe Visalia Police Department is seeking a highly motivated and professional candidate with strong leadership abilities, supervisory experience, effective communication skills, and desire to serve the community. Candidates must have the ability to multi-task in a high-volume call center and make appropriate decisions under demanding situations, while focusing on customer service.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAny combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge, skill and ability is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skill and abilities would be:- Minimum of two years 911 dispatch experience with a law enforcement agency, equivalent to a City of Visalia Communications Operator, within the last four years, including previous training experience.
- Possession of high school diploma or GED.
- Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a California POST Communications Training Officer (CTO) Certificate within 18 months of appointment.
- Keyboarding speed of 40 CWPM (correct words per minute).
- Possession of a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.
Please
click here for a detailed job description.
Additional InformationSELECTION PROCESSApplication and supplemental material will be evaluated and applicants who appear to be the most qualified will be invited to participate in a job related interview and/or examination process. Successful candidates may be required to pass a background, physical examination, and/or drug screen.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITSThe City of Visalia offers a competitive total compensation package that includes:
- Monthly salary range $6,053 - $7,609
- CalPERS retirement program
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Longevity Pay
- Onsite City Health and Wellness Clinic (no out of pocket expenses)
- Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick Leave and much more...
Review the Benefits tab for more information.
Holidays: Regular non-shift full-time City employees receive 11 paid holidays and one (1) floating holiday per year. In lieu of holidays, Police shift employees receive 4 hours of compensatory time off and 4 hours of regular pay in the pay period the holiday falls. In addition, shift employees receive one floating holiday in the pay period that includes January 1.
Vacation: Regular full-time employees earn 10 days per year. After 2 years, employees are eligible for 11 days; after 4 years, 14 days; after 9 years, 17 days; and after 16 years, 20 days of vacation per year. Employees are eligible for vacation usage after six (6) months of service. Employees hired from another governmental agency may be entitled to receive years-of-service credit for their vacation accrual rate for such previous employment and applies only to the government agency the employee was employed with immediately prior to employment with the City of Visalia.
Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees earn 96 hours of sick leave per year, accrued per pay period. Employees are eligible for sick leave usage after three (3) months of service.
Annual Sick Leave Buy Back: For employees covered under the Sick Leave I provision of the policy, the City will automatically cash out all sick leave hours over 480 hours at 40% of the employee's base rate of pay.
Administrative Leave: Employees classified as FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime pay) currently receive 56 hours of administrative leave per calendar year. Any unused administrative leave hours are automatically paid out on the first paycheck in December.
Compensatory Time Off: Regular full-time employees classified as FLSA non-exempt (eligible for overtime pay) currently receive eight (8) hours compensatory time off per calendar year.
Health Insurance: The City provides employee health insurance which includes medical, dental, and vision care. Employee contribution rates are determined by employee's bargaining unit and plan selected. Health benefits are also available for an employee's dependents for an additional contribution rate. Eligibility for health insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire. Contribution rates are reviewed for adjustment annually.
Life Insurance: The City pays the premium for a life insurance and accidental death or dismemberment policy of $30,000. A supplemental life insurance policy may be purchased and paid through payroll deduction. Eligibility for life insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire.
Retirement: The City of Visalia is a member of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). New employees are covered under the 2% @ 62 plan. (Employees with previous PERS qualifying service (Classic employees) may fall under the 2% @ 60 plan.) Each pay period, the employee pays an employee contribution at the CalPERS established rate. The City pays an employer contribution towards the retirement benefit and employees are responsible for contributing 4% of the employer contribution in addition to the required employee contribution.
Social Security/FICA: City employees are not subject to regular Social Security (FICA) deductions. However, Federal law requires that the Medicare portion of the FICA is deducted.
Section 125: The City offers a voluntary Section 125 program whereby tax-free contributions are put into a trust account and are available for withdrawal with documentation of an unreimbursed healthcare or dependent care expense (i.e. premium, dependent care, medical care).
Long Term Disability: Regular full-time City employees are eligible for disability insurance (up to 2/3 of their salary) in the event they are disabled for more than ninety (90) days. LTD premium cost is paid by the employee.
Worker's Compensation: Full-time and hourly employees who sustain an occupational injury or contract occupational illnesses receive standard Worker's Compensation benefits as prescribed by law.
Other Benefits: The City also offers additional benefits such as an employee assistance program (EAP), a pre-tax deferred compensation plan, education assistance up to $1,500 per fiscal year, as well as a City-sponsored clinic staffed by clinicians 6 days per week available to all full-time employees and covered dependents. Services include general medical care and health and wellness coaching. No deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses.
As a potential applicant, you are about to participate in a series of events collectively called the employment process. Because the goal of the employment process is to obtain the most qualified candidates to fill City positions, examinations are administered to qualified applicants. These examinations are conducted in a variety of ways (written, oral, practical, and/or performance), yet they share a common purpose - to test applicants based upon the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job.
The employment process occurs in several stages which are described below:
Application: Perspective employees must submit a City of Visalia application and other documents required as outlined in the announcement by the closing time specified on the final filing date. Final filing dates and times are listed on the front of each announcement. Separate original applications must be submitted for each recruitment/position applied for.
Examination: Applicants will be evaluated and applicants who clearly appear to be more qualified in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities will be invited to take an examination or combination of examinations. Written, practical, oral, and/or performance examination scores, or a pre-determined combined examination score, will determine standing on the eligible list.
Exam Accommodations: If you are most qualified for the job, but need reasonable accommodations to take the exam, contact the Human Resources Division at least five (5) days prior to the exam. We want to work with you to design a fair and effective means by which you can demonstrate your ability to perform the essential functions of this job. Be prepared to furnish proof of the need for accommodation. Such proof should normally be a signed statement on letterhead by a professional who is qualified to make a diagnosis.
Eligible lists: Eligible lists contain names, in descending order of score, of applicants who have obtained passing scores. Eligible lists are maintained for no less than six (6) months and no m
