Public Safety Telecommunicator I

DeKalb Health; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Westcom Emergency Communications is seeking full-time Public Safety Telecommunicators to dispatch Police, Fire, and EMS for multiple cities in the area. The role requires a high school diploma and has a strong emphasis on public contact and safety protocols.

Applicants must be flexible with shifts, overtime, weekends, and holidays. An essential function is NCIC access; a criminal history may disqualify applicants. Post-offer background checks and testing are required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1 year experience dealing with the public or heavy customer service contact preferred.
• Access to NCIC is an essential function and criminal history may disqualify applicants.

Responsibilities

• Dispatch Police, Fire and EMS to incidents for served jurisdictions.
• Maintain and coordinate accurate communication between public safety agencies and the public.
• Follow supervision and participate in required examinations and orientation.

Skills

Public safety communications

Customer service

Flexibility

Education

High school diploma

Job description

• Location 4200 MILLS CIVIC PARKWAY,PO BOX 65320,West Des Moines, IA, 50265-2000,United States
• Base Pay $30.10 - $32.34 / Hour
• Employee Type FT Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school

Description

This is a Civil Service position

Hours of Work

Shift and days of work will vary depending on shift bid. Overtime and weekend work as required

Tentative Start Date

October/November 2026

Job Summary

Westcom Emergency Communications is currently seeking full-time qualified individuals to provide emergency dispatch services for the 175,000 residents of the City of West Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, Norwalk, Waukee, and Windsor Heights. Under the general direction of the Public Safety Telecommunications Shift Supervisor, dispatches Police, Fire Department, and EMS to situations in the government entities served by Westcom. Maintains and coordinates accurate communication between Police, Fire, EMS Departments, other government entities, and the public.

This position requires a High School Diploma or equivalent, plus one (1) year additional schooling or a minimum one (1) year of experience dealing with the public and/or heavy customer service contact. Previous experience in public safety is preferred. Applicants must be flexible with working various days, shifts and overtime hours, including holidays and weekends.

Special Note:

An essential function of the Public Safety Telecommunicator position is to be able to access the Iowa/National Crime Information Center (NCIC). In accordance with the Criminal Justice Information Service (CJIS) manual, the following criminal history would disqualify a candidate from being hired:

If the applicant pleads or is found guilty of a felony or aggravated misdemeanor, whether or not judgment is entered, access [to the NCIC system] will not be granted.

The Department of Public Safety makes the determination if access is granted to the NCIC system at their sole discretion. Candidates will not be eligible for hire if it is determined by the Department of Public Safety that they would not be granted NCIC certification.

Criminal history checks are conducted after the recruitment process is completed and the Civil Service Certified List has been approved by the Civil Service Commission.

Physical/Drug Testing

Post offer, pre-employment background check (to comply with NCIC standards), audiometric, and drug test are required.

Applicants that submit a completed application and meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to the Civil Service Examination.

The written examination process will be open from September 9 – 23, 2026. Candidates that pass each module of the exam and exceed the typing scores for indicated modules will be invited to a mandatory orientation session and oral boards (interview), which are tentatively scheduled for September 30 – October 2, 2026 (dates are tentative and subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances).