Dispatcher

Escambia County Sheriff; Florida; On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office in Florida is seeking an Emergency Communications Dispatcher. This role involves taking calls, routing emergency services, and recording information in CAD, with in‑house training provided.

The position emphasizes calm under pressure, strong customer service, and the ability to operate multi‑line phones and radios. Applicants should have a high school diploma or GED and will undergo certification requirements after hire.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED plus 1 year of experience answering phones and data entry.
• Alternative combination of education and experience sufficient to perform duties.
• Minimum score of 800 on Criticall assessment before interview.

Responsibilities

• Dispatches units to calls via radio console and tracks calls.
• Receives and routes emergency and non‑emergency calls.
• Maintains and retrieves information from radio logs, files, and computer programs (CAD).
• Enters information into a computer‑aided dispatch system (CAD).
• Receives requests from field units for information and relays it to them.
• Monitors emergency warning systems and notifies other agencies as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Calm under pressure

Multi-line phone system

Computer skills

Typing

Reading maps

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

CAD system

Job description

This class receives, records, and routes emergency communications; dispatches appropriate personnel.

During the training phase, the employee participates and engages in in‑house training and work activities specifically designed and chosen to train and indoctrinate the individual to work an emergency communications dispatch center. Work is performed under the guidance of an experienced dispatcher. Dispatches appropriate units to specific calls utilizing a radio console; tracks calls and notifies appropriate individual(s) of situations requiring their attention.

Receives telephone calls reporting situations, incidences of an emergency nature, or life‑threatening nature and directs emergency services, questions caller and solicits information, and receives and routes emergency and non‑emergency telephone calls.

Maintains and retrieves information from radio logs, files, and computer programs; disseminates information to appropriate individuals.

Enters information into a computer‑aided dispatch system (CAD).

Receives requests from field units for additional information; locates and relays information to field units.

Monitors emergency warning systems and notifies other agencies of situations requiring their attention.

Performs other duties of a similar nature or level. High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) AND at least one (1) year of experience answering phones, performing word processing, and data entry; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Minimum score of 800 on Criticall computer skills assessment (will be conducted at the ECSO prior to an interview)

License and Certification Requirements:

• FCIC/NCIC Certification within six (6) months of employment
• Florida Dept of Health 911 Telecommunicator (within one (1) year of hire date)

Knowledge of (position requirements at entry):

• Customer service principles.
• Geographic layout of the City and County.
• Two‑way multi‑frequency transceiver terminology, procedures, and techniques.
• Emergency communications facility operations, procedures, and standard policies.
• Computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) system.

Skills in (position requirements at entry):

• Providing customer service.
• Remaining calm in stressful situations.
• Operating multi‑line phone systems.
• Using a computer and related software applications.
• Keyboarding.
• Reading maps.
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Material and Equipment Used:

• Modern office equipment.

Positions in this class typically require:

• Reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work:

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

NOTE:

The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.