COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR

Department of State Hospitals · Napa County

Salary: $4,690 – $7,306 per month

Closes: 2026-11-09T00:00:00.000Z

Job description and requirements

Job Description and Duties ***If you previously applied to this Job posting you do not need to submit another application*** DSH-Napa Protective Services have multiple openings for a permanent full-time Communications Operator position. Interested candidates must have the ability to work under stress and maintain composure; follow instructions precisely; listen and translate what is heard into the appropriate action; adapt quickly to a variety of situations; act in an emergency situation; write rapidly and legibly; perform several functions simultaneously; read and comprehend at the level required for the job; establish priorities and take appropriate action; extract critical information from incoming calls; recall a variety of situations and retain information. Experience in dispatching work involving the operation of radio communications equipment/systems is highly desirable. To ensure that your application will be considered for this recruitment the following items are required: • You must complete the STD. 678 Employment Application • Duties performed and Supervisor’s name and contact information must be completed on the STD 678. - Incomplete applications will not be accepted. • If you meet the minimum qualification for the position, you are also required to pass the examination to obtain eligibility for appointment. Here is the link for the exam Communications Operator EX -5036. Please read the exam bulletin in its entirety. Two cut-off dates are set for application submission: 10/23/2026 11/9/2026 Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. For more information visit https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113 Let us know how you learned about this career opportunity by taking this brief survey DSH Recruitment Survey You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired. • The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired. Existing law requires that a thorough background investigation shall be conducted to verify the absence of past behavior indicative of unsuitability to perform public safety dispatcher duties. The background investigation shall include a check of Department of Motor Vehicles' records, and a search of local, State, and national criminal history files to disclose any criminal record. Persons unsuccessful in the investigation cannot be appointed to the Communications Operator series. Existing law requires that a medical examination shall be conducted to verify the absence of any medical condition which would preclude the safe and efficient performance of dispatcher duties. Persons unsuccessful in the medical exam cannot be appointed to the Communications Operator series. Penal Code Section 13510(c) requires that State agencies participating in the P.O.S.T. program shall evaluate oral communication skills to ensure skill levels commensurate with the satisfactory performance of dispatch duties. Penal Code Section 13510(c) requires that State agencies participating in the P.O.S.T. program shall require that the P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher's Basic Course be the minimum basic training for all public safety dispatchers in the program. The course shall be completed within 12 months of hire or assignment to dispatcher duties. Failure to successfully complete the course shall be cause for termination based on failure to meet the required conditions of employment.
Show full description and requirements

Job Description and Duties

***If you previously applied to this Job posting you do not need to submit another application***

DSH-Napa Protective Services have multiple openings for a permanent full-time Communications Operator position. Interested candidates must have the ability to work under stress and maintain composure; follow instructions precisely; listen and translate what is heard into the appropriate action; adapt quickly to a variety of situations; act in an emergency situation; write rapidly and legibly; perform several functions simultaneously; read and comprehend at the level required for the job; establish priorities and take appropriate action; extract critical information from incoming calls; recall a variety of situations and retain information. Experience in dispatching work involving the operation of radio communications equipment/systems is highly desirable.


To ensure that your application will be considered for this recruitment the following items are required:

  • You must complete the STD. 678 Employment Application
  • Duties performed and Supervisor’s name and contact information must be completed on the STD 678. - Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
  • If you meet the minimum qualification for the position, you are also required to pass the examination to obtain eligibility for appointment. Here is the link for the exam Communications Operator EX -5036. Please read the exam bulletin in its entirety.

Two cut-off dates are set for application submission:

10/23/2026
11/9/2026

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies


Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. For more information visit https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113


Let us know how you learned about this career opportunity by taking this brief survey DSH Recruitment Survey

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
  • The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

Existing law requires that a thorough background investigation shall be conducted to verify the absence of past behavior indicative of unsuitability to perform public safety dispatcher duties. The background investigation shall include a check of Department of Motor Vehicles' records, and a search of local, State, and national criminal history files to disclose any criminal record. Persons unsuccessful in the investigation cannot be appointed to the Communications Operator series.

Existing law requires that a medical examination shall be conducted to verify the absence of any medical condition which would preclude the safe and efficient performance of dispatcher duties. Persons unsuccessful in the medical exam cannot be appointed to the Communications Operator series.

Penal Code Section 13510(c) requires that State agencies participating in the P.O.S.T. program shall evaluate oral communication skills to ensure skill levels commensurate with the satisfactory performance of dispatch duties.

Penal Code Section 13510(c) requires that State agencies participating in the P.O.S.T. program shall require that the P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher's Basic Course be the minimum basic training for all public safety dispatchers in the program. The course shall be completed within 12 months of hire or assignment to dispatcher duties. Failure to successfully complete the course shall be cause for termination based on failure to meet the required conditions of employment.

About this opportunity

More jobs at this employer

Department of State Hospitals currently has 108 other open positions in this database.

Regional hiring context

There are 43 current state openings in Napa County, including this position.

Application timeline

Applications close in 5 days, on November 9, 2026.

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These employers are currently listing the same normalized role:

Posting history

This posting appears on CalCareers. CA Public Jobs first observed it on August 15, 2026. It was last verified open on November 4, 2026.

View the official posting