Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher

About the role

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.

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.
• 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.
• Collaborates with and coordinates communications between multiple units, agencies and jurisdictions, including aircraft, responding to fire and emergency medical incidents.
• 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.
• Maintains communication with and monitors status of 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.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum one (1) year experience as a public safety dispatcher with another fire or police agency.
• 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.

Qualifications

• One (1) year of experience comparable to a Public Safety Dispatcher I at a Public Safety Agency.
• Necessary Special Requirements:
  • 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.
  • Willing and able to work mandatory overtime, potentially significant amounts of overtime often with very little notice.
  • Willing and able to work a minimum of 12.5-hours or more.
  • Willing and able to work all required shifts, including weekends, evenings, holidays and rotating days off.
  • Willing to submit to pre-employment background/psychological assessments.

Skills

• Learn emergency dispatching methods and operation of various communications and computer equipment.
• 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.
• 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.
• Assess conditions of patients with medical emergencies and provide emergency medical pre-arrival instructions to callers following specific emergency medical dispatch protocols.

Benefits

• 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.

Pay

• SALARY RANGE Public Safety Dispatcher II: $36.95 – $51.73 per hour
• CURRENT BASE SALARY LISTED ABOVE DOES NOT INCLUDE OVERTIME PAY.

Schedule

• Tentative 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.