Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher

Ventura County; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Emergency Medical Dispatch premium

Night shift differential

Educational incentive

Bilingual incentive

Job summary

Ventura County in California seeks a Public Safety Dispatcher II to respond to 9-1-1 emergencies, evaluate requests, and dispatch fire and medical resources using CAD, radio, and related systems.

The role requires one year of dispatch experience, ability to work mandatory overtime, handle high-stress situations, and communicate clearly with diverse county populations; overtime eligible and shift duties apply.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of experience as a public safety dispatcher.
• Experience with Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), 9-1-1 system, and radio dispatching.
• Ability to communicate clearly with a diverse county population.
• Must be willing to work mandatory overtime and long shifts.

Responsibilities

• Receives 9-1-1 and other emergency calls; determines emergency type and priority; inputs data into CAD and dispatches appropriate units.
• Provides pre-arrival medical and fire instructions using emergency dispatch protocols.
• Dispatches resources across multiple agencies; selects personnel and equipment per protocols.
• Coordinates communications among units and jurisdictions; monitors status of field units.
• Operates systems to prepare and obtain activity data and weather information; performs cost analysis inputs.

Skills

Emergency dispatching

Multi-tasking

Radio/telephone comms

Keyboard operation

Calm communication

Tools

CAD system

WIMS / IROC

VIPER phone systems

Job description

Salary Range

Public Safety Dispatcher II: $36.95 – $51.73 per hour

Current base salary listed above does not include overtime pay.

Job Overview

Under general supervision, Public Safety Dispatcher II are the first Fire Department personnel to receive requests for assistance for fire and medical 9-1-1 emergencies. They must evaluate the type of assistance needed, and dispatch appropriate public safety personnel by utilizing computerized 9-1-1 telephone system, computer-aided dispatch system, computerized radio system, and related database and computerized equipment; and perform related duties as assigned. Public Safety Dispatchers are required to work mandatory overtime to fill unexpected or planned vacancies, and return to work when ordered during heightened or peak emergency activity.

The successful candidate will have a minimum one (1) year experience as a public safety dispatcher with another fire or police agency. The candidate will have a calm and focused demeanor, be able to multitask and manage high stress situations in a fast-paced emergency environment, and have the ability to communicate calmly, clearly and effectively with a diverse county population.

Benefits and Incentives

• Emergency Medical Dispatch premium payment of $85.24 bi-weekly.
• Night shift differential calculated at rate of five percent (5%) of the base pay for eligible hours.
• Educational incentive: may be 2.5%, 3.5% or 5% for incumbents based on completion of Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's degree not required by the classification.
• Bilingual incentive: may be eligible depending on MOA and department needs.

Agency / Department

Fire Protection District

Payroll Title

Public Safety Dispatcher II

Public Safety Dispatcher II are represented by the Service Employees International Union and are eligible for overtime compensation.

Vacancies

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies for this or similar positions only, which is a Regular position. This recruitment will be used to fill multiple regular vacancies.

Schedule

Opening date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Closing date: Continuous

First review of applications: Week of March 30, 2026 and subsequent reviews are contingent on vacancies since this is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time.

Responsibilities

• Receives 9-1-1 and other emergency telephone calls for fire and medical emergencies. Determines the nature and location of the emergency; determines priority and enters information into the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Answers non-emergency calls for service, determines type of assistance required, and provides appropriate assistance as needed.
• Provides pre-arrival medical and fire instructions to callers utilizing established Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols and follows established protocols for Medical and Fire Priority Dispatch program.
• Simultaneously receives, keyboards, and transmits information to dispatch fire and emergency medical resources, including aircraft. Provides dispatching services for multiple agencies, following multiple agency dispatching protocols; determines appropriate personnel, apparatus and equipment to be dispatched using radio and/or computer systems; enters and updates information on computerized systems.
• Coordinates communications between multiple units, agencies and jurisdictions, including aircraft, responding to fire and emergency medical incidents. Simultaneously monitors and transmits on multiple radio channels and multiple transmitters; maintains contact with and monitors status of field units.
• Utilizes System Status Management protocols to ensure optimum geographic coverage through deployment of resources by type and availability; following multiple agency protocols: monitors diversion status of all hospitals and specialized units within each hospital;
• Operates specialized computer systems to prepare, input, and obtain state/regional fire or emergency medical services activity, resource deployments, and daily fire weather information through WIMS and IROC computer systems. Gathers information and completes forms for incident cost analysis and recovery.
• Performs specialized dispatch functions related to the responsibilities of a CAL-OES Mutual Aid Operational Area Coordinator Dispatch Center, and specialized functions of a CAL-FIRE Contract County Dispatch Center.
• Public Safety Dispatcher II's may be required to provide training for entry-level dispatch staff.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Account Requirements

Education, Training, and Experience

One (1) year of experience comparable to a Public Safety Dispatcher I at a Public Safety Agency. Experience must include operation of a Computer-Aided Dispatch System (CAD), 9-1-1 telephone system, and radio dispatching.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must be willing and able to work in Camarillo, CA, secondarily at our backup center in Moorpark, CA, and possible future consideration at our headquarters in Thousand Oaks, CA, depending on assignment.
• Must be willing to work mandatory overtime, potentially significant amounts with very little notice.
• Must be willing to work a minimum of 12.5-hours or more.
• Must be willing to work all required shifts, including weekends, evenings, holidays and rotating days off.
• Must be willing to submit to pre-employment background/psychological assessments.

Highly Desired Qualifications

• Experience with IAED Emergency Medical Dispatch or similar EMD system.
• Experience with IAED Emergency Fire Dispatch or similar EFD system.
• Experience with Central Square CAD and VIPER phone systems.

Supplemental Information

Work is performed in a dispatch center and requires sitting for long periods of time, extensive keyboarding and operation of mouse and foot controls, wearing of a headset, and wearing of uniforms.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to: learn emergency dispatching methods and operation of various communications and computer equipment; learn Fire and Emergency Medical Services equipment and resource capabilities, and develop strategies for various types of Fire and Emergency Medical Services emergencies; hear multiple conversations simultaneously, distinguishing between voices and sources to obtain relevant information quickly and accurately; speak clearly, distinctly, concisely and correctly over the radio and telephone; to type on computer keyboards, operate mouse and foot controls while conversing on the radio and/or telephone; prioritize tasks and perform multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast paced, high stress emergency work environment; make immediate decisions and react in a quick, calm, controlled and effective manner in emergency situations; read, understand and interpret complex maps; develop working knowledge of Ventura County geography including cities, jurisdictional boundaries, freeways, roadways, and landmarks; interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures utilized in emergency services dispatching; and, learn to assess conditions of patients with medical emergencies and provide emergency medical pre-arrival instructions to callers following specific emergency medical dispatch protocols.

Contact Information

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Jeff Weaver by email at [e-mail]

Employer

County of Ventura

Address

800 S. Victoria Avenue
LOC. #1970
Ventura, California, 93009

Phone

[phone]

Website

https://hr.venturacounty.gov/

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Background Investigation

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record is required for this position.

Physical/Psychological Examinations

Applicants who receive a conditional job offer will undergo a physical exam and job related psychological evaluation.

Applicants Listing

Applicants successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.