Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher

The successful candidate will have a minimum one 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 multi-task 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.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH (E.M.D.) PREMIUM PAY: All Public Safety Dispatchers who possess an Emergency Medical Dispatcher qualification shall be eligible to receive an Emergency Medical Dispatch premium payment of $85.24 bi-weekly.

NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PREMIUM PAY: Night shift differential is calculated at the rate of five percent (5%) of the base pay for the eligible hours.  

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE: Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. The incentive may be 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% for incumbents in eligible positions, based on completion of Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's degree that is not required by the classification.

BILINGUAL INCENTIVE: Some positions may be eligible for bilingual incentive, depending on the MOA and the needs of the department.

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.

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.  
 
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

OPENING DATE: July 10, 2024 
CLOSING DATE: Continuous
FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS:  Week of August 12, 2024 and subsequent reviews are contingent on vacancies since this is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time.

• 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. 

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list. 

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 of overtime often with very little notice. 
• Must be willing to work a variety of shifts ranging from 10 to 12.5 hours. 
• 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 DESIRABLE:  

• 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: apply emergency dispatching methods and operation of various communications and computer equipment; utilize 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; ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with co-workers, supervisors and others.

FINAL FILING DATE:  This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it.

To apply on-line refer to web site: www.ventura.org/hr. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials. We do not accept resumes in lieu of our application form, nor do we accept any application materials via email.

Note to Applicants: Applicants should provide sufficient information under the Education/Work Experience portion of the application and Supplemental Questionnaire, if applicable, in order to determine eligibility.  A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above sections; however, it may not be substituted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying:  All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING.  The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.  Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire will result in the application being removed from consideration.  

APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying:  All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met.  Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.
 
TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION - 100%: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

It is highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

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

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.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Jeff Weaver by e-mail at Jeff.Weaver@ventura.org or phone (805) 388-4234. 

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.

Salary : $71,754 - $100,455