Fire District Dispatcher

NENA; Pleasant Hill (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District seeks a Fire District Dispatcher to handle 911 calls, screen using Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols, and dispatch fire apparatus to emergencies. You will contribute to an all-hazards organization delivering fire suppression, ALS EMS, and ambulance transport services across the county.

The role requires handling routine and emergency calls, maintaining records, and coordinating with field units on a 24-hour shift schedule.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years of full-time experience operating 9-1-1 telephones, CAD, and radio communications.
• National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch certification within 3 months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Receiving routine and emergency calls for Fire and Medical services.
• Processing calls using MPDS protocols.
• Providing pre-arrival instructions to callers (CPR, childbirth, choking).
• Transmitting messages by operating telecommunications and computer equipment.
• Maintaining an accurate record of location and status of emergency response units.
• Maintaining radio contact and enforcing proper channel control with discipline and courtesy.
• Selecting emergency response units per policies and procedures.

Skills

Decision Making

Problem Solving

Professional Expertise

Adaptability

Attention to Detail

Handling Stress

Integrity

Self-Management

Informing

Listening

Interpersonal Savvy

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

EMD Certification (IAED)

Job description

Why join the Contra Costa County Communications Division?

The Communications Division operates the 911 system for nearly all fire, emergency, and medical calls County-wide and manages the dispatch of first responders to 141,000 fire and EMS incidents annually.

The Fire District Dispatcher is responsible for providing general information to the public and screening calls using established Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols and dispatching fire apparatus staff to emergency situations.

The District is an \"all-hazards\" organization providing fire suppression, First Responder Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical services as well as 911 emergency ambulance transport services for over two-thirds of the county, technical rescue, marine firefighting, and water rescue.

Ranking among the larger California fire agencies, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District is a well-equipped, full-service fire agency.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Able to multi-task and triage incoming calls and radio communications.
• A strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills who knows how to talk to people, elicit pertinent information, and remain calm in stressful situations.
• Committed to career-long learning, and has the ability to receive constructive feedback and apply it in your future work.
• Adaptable to learning new technology and has excellent computer skills.
• Flexible, highly motivated, mature, and willing to work 24-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays.
• A team player who understands and embraces TEAMWORK!

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Receiving routine and emergency calls for Fire and Medical services.
• Processing calls using Medical Protocol Dispatch Systems (MPDS).
• Providing pre-arrival instructions to callers (i.e. CPR, childbirth, choking).
• Transmitting messages by operating telecommunications and computer equipment.
• Maintaining an accurate record of the location and current status of emergency response field units.
• Maintaining radio contact with field units and enforcing proper channel control, with discipline and courtesy.
• Selecting emergency response field units in accordance with established user agency policies and procedures.
• A few reasons you might love this job:You’ll be a part of an AMAZING team of dispatchers that take pride in their work.
• The 24-hour work schedule allows for more time with your family.
• We are a team of the “best of the best” dispatchers in Northern California.
• You’ll have the opportunity to respond to the field as a part of our Incident Dispatch Team.
• New communications center facility—coming soon
• A few challenges you might face in this job:Getting acclimated to the 24-hour Kelly schedule.
• Adjusting to a new or different way of dispatching fire and medical units.
• Learning a new CAD system, EMD protocols, and new geographical area.

Competencies Required:

• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new ways to do business
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Informing: Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication
• Interpersonal Savvy: Considering and responding appropriately to the needs and feelings of others in different situations
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

Minimum Qualifications

License Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. Out of state valid motor vehicle operator’s license will be accepted during the application process.

Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate.

Certificate: Within three (3) months of employment, must possess and maintain the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch certification through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

Experience: Two (2) years of full-time (or the equivalent of full-time) experience operating 9-1-1 telephones, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), and radio communications equipment while dispatching public safety emergency services.

Performance Requirement: Ability to type at a speed of not less than 40 words per minute at a PC terminal.

Other Requirement: Must pass a thorough background investigation and medical screening prior to employment.

Desirable:Certification as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)