Fire District Dispatcher (lateral)

NAPCO; Pleasant Hill (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24‑hour shift schedule

Job summary

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District seeks skilled Emergency Dispatcher to handle 911 and non-emergency calls, provide on-scene guidance, and coordinate with field units. You will use MPDS and CAD systems, give pre-arrival instructions, and maintain accurate unit status records.

Requires a high school diploma, 40 WPM typing, and the ability to pass a background check and medical screening. Certification as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher is desirable, with 24‑hour shifts and a demanding

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED equivalency or high school proficiency certificate.
• Ability to type at least 40 words per minute on a PC terminal.
• EMD certification within 3 months of employment is required.

Responsibilities

• Receive routine and emergency calls for Fire and Medical services.
• Process calls using MPDS and CAD systems.
• Provide pre-arrival instructions to callers (CPR, childbirth, choking).
• Transmit messages by operating telecommunications and computer equipment.
• Maintain location and status records of emergency response units.
• Maintain radio contact and enforce proper channel control.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma / GED

Tools

CAD

Radio equipment

Telephones (9-1-1)

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.

TheFire District Dispatcheris responsible forproviding general information to the public andscreening calls using established Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocolsand 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

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)