Fire Communications Dispatcher- Entry Level/Lateral



Job Details

Fire Communications Dispatcher- Entry Level/Lateral
Employer

North County Dispatch JPA

Salary

$4,484.00 - $5,451.00 Monthly

Location

Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

00002

Department

Dispatch

Opening Date

05/16/2018

Closing Date

Continuous

THE AGENCY: North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority was formed in June of 1984. The JPA consists of eight-member agencies and nine contract agencies who agree to jointly exercise all powers for the purpose of providing dis- patching and emergency communication services for fire protection, medical and security services. The JPA serves over 400 square miles with a total combined population of approximately 708,500. The JPA is governed by a Board of Directors with appointees from each of the eight member agencies and employs a staff of 33, including several part-time dispatchers.


THE POSITION: Under the general supervision of the Fire Communications Supervisor, Dispatchers will receive, evaluate, and process incoming requests for emergency and non-emergency Fire Department, Paramedic, and Patrol responses.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Typing Certificate documenting 35- wpm or greater (corrected).

• Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent.

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing as well as speak clearly and concisely over the radio and telephone.

• Hear, understand, and speak the English language.

• Respond to calls quickly and calmly and make sound decisions in emergency situations.

• Retain and relay information received under stressful conditions.

• Communicate with people of diverse social and cultural backgrounds.

• Understand and follow written and oral instructions. Calmly relay written pre- arrival medical instructions to difficult/ hysterical callers.

• Exercise independent judgment and work with minimal supervision.

• Required to sit in confined workstation for long periods of time.

• Establish and maintain working relationships with other agencies.

• Operate a computer keyboard at a speed necessary for proficient job performance.

• Learn geographic features and streets in the JPA communities.

• Comprehend and make inferences from written material.

• Read, interpret, and give directions from maps and/or computer GIS mapping.

• Handle simultaneous events effectively.

• Learn Fire Department, Medical and Patrol terminology and jurisdictional boundaries and available types of emergency services.

• Understand and interpret rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

 

WORK SCHEDULE: This position currently works one of the following shifts:

• A 24-hour shift, three platoon system.

• A 12-hour shift.

• Work schedule includes weekends and holidays.

• This position may also be required to work overtime during emergency situations or staffing shortages.


COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: NCDJPA provides a highly competitive compensation package and salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. The salary range is $4,484 to $5,451 monthly.

Comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Retirement benefits through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Retirement benefits are subject to the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and related Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL).

o Classic Tier 1 – 2.7% at 55 plan

o Classic Tier 2 – 2.5% at 55 plan

o PEPRA – 2% at 62 plan

• Generous health, dental, life, and disability insurance programs available. 

• Sick Leave accrual: 9 hours per month

• Vacation Leave accrual: 1-4 years: 96 hours annually; 5-9 years: 132 hours annually; 10-14 years: 150 hours annually; 15-19 years:168 hours annually; 20+years: 186 hours annually.

• Holidays: 11 paid holidays

• Bilingual Compensation: $100 per month

• Voluntary Benefits: supplemental life, accident and cancer insurance, and participation in a 457-deferred compensation plan.


APPLICATION PROCESS: Please submit an application, supplemental questionnaire, and resume via governmentjobs.com. The recruitment will remain open until the position is filled; however, the first screening of applicants will be conducted on or around the week of June 25, 2018.


Resumes may be submitted, but not substituted for the application and supplemental questionnaire. Failure to submit a complete application and supplemental questionnaire will disqualify you from consideration.


SELECTION PROCESS: Applications, supplemental questionnaires and resumes will be reviewed to determine the most appropriately qualified candidates who will be invited to participate in the examination process which may include any or all of the following: written examination, practical examination(s), technical oral interview, and management interview. Any provision contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.


Candidates with a disability, which may require special assistance in any phase of the application or testing process, should advise the North County Dispatch JPA - Personnel Department, upon submittal of application. Documentation of the need for accommodation must accompany the request. NCDJPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

 

01
The information in this checklist is part of the testing process and will be considered, with other information, in making a selection of candidates to be invited to the next phase of the testing process. The purpose of providing you with this information is to help you be aware of and carefully consider both the positive and negative aspects of a dispatching job before you decide to apply. A career in dispatching offers many satisfying and rewarding elements. It gives you an opportunity to help others and to make a significant contribution to the welfare and safety of the public and fellow employees. It offers challenging, rewarding, fast-paced work that requires quick thinking and excellent problem solving and public relations skills. However, the job has demands that you may find less appealing. The job factors listed below describe aspects of the job of which you may not be aware. If any of these conditions are unacceptable to you, this may not be the best career choice for you, and we urge you to consider alternative employment choices that may better fit your individual needs and interests. Please read this information and place a check on the lines next to each statement to indicate (1) you have read it and (2) are willing to work in the situation described.
  • There will be times when you will be unable to leave your workstation during your shift depending on the work load.
  • You may be unable to schedule your own lunch or breaks and you may be required to eat at your workstation.
  • You will be required to wear standardized apparel and work through a structured chain -of-command.
  • Employees may experience periods of very slow activity followed by periods of very intense activity. You must be able to fully concentrate and focus your attention no matter what is happening at the time.
  • There is little control over the work load or pace.
  • You must be able to accept a daily critique of your job performance and modify your actions accordingly.
  • You must be able to work in a small, confined work area for your entire shift.
  • You will be required to use a computer -aided dispatch system (CAD) and phone system that operates heavily by a computer mouse.
  • You will be required to work shifts, weekends and/or holidays regularly.
  • You may be required to work all holidays in a given time period. For instance, your work days may fall on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years day.
  • While in training you will be given no choice about which shift you are assigned to work or which days you work. You will be required to work the same shift, days and hours as your trainer.
  • You may be required to change your work shift and/or days off, or cancel holiday plans with minimal notice.
  • There may be times you will be mandated to work overtime or required to stay late or come in on your time off.
  • You must respond courteously, calmly and effectively to telephone calls when someone is rude, drunk, irrational, confused, using obscene language, and/or screaming at you.
  • You must respond effectively to telephone calls when a violent or highly emotional situation is taking place.
  • You must efficiently handle multiple tasks at one time.
  • You must make quick, logical, accurate decisions; one or more person’s safety may depend on your ability to do this.
  • You must answer and respond to telephone calls in which the caller is difficult to understand.
  • You may be required to wear a headset during your entire shift.
  • You must keep calm during critical incidents. This means that you must also keep your voice well modulated and somewhat mono tone to convey a sense of calm.
  • You may be required to attend mandated training classes, even if they are on your normal days off.
02
Are you currently employed as a public safety dispatcher?
  • Yes
  • No
03
Which best describes your years of experience as a public safety dispatcher?
  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • 1-2 years
  • 3-5 years
  • 6-9 years
  • 10+ years
04
Based on your response to Question 3, please describe your experience below.

* Required Question

Employer
North County Dispatch JPA
Phone
(858) 400-2811
Website
ncdjpa.org

Apply

OnlineApplication

Warning! You are using Internet Explorer 8. Some features of the Online Application are not fully supported in this version. Please upgrade to a later version of Internet Explorer for optimal performance.

Loading ...