Description

The Emergency Command Center of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is recruiting to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies. Please review the entire recruitment announcement before applying including the schedule of events. Apply online using the following link: Fire Communications Dispatcher - Lateral

Salary:
Initial starting salary for lateral Fire Communications Dispatchers will be step 7, $36.25 per hour; $75,400.00 annually.

This classification is scheduled for the following cost of living adjustments: 

• 5% increase effective May 3, 2024
• 75% increase effective May 2, 2025
• 2.54% increase effective May 1, 2026  

CLASS SUMMARY:
Incumbents are responsible for performing a wide variety of routine to skilled dispatch activities. Incumbents may serve as a mentor to new Dispatchers. Incumbents may be required to perform dispatching for other Public Safety Departments. Incumbents may be required to "move-up" and perform the duties of Fire Communications Supervisor as need arises. Incumbents may be required to be available for staffing, technical and operational emergencies.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Fire Communications Dispatcher is the first level in a three level emergency communications series. The Fire Communications Dispatcher is distinguished from the Fire Communications Supervisor, which has shift supervisory responsibilities.

WORK SCHEDULE:
Fire Communications Dispatchers currently work a twelve-hour (12) workday under a two (2) platoon schedule (A or B Shift). Hours worked in excess of forty (40) regular hours during the workweek will be calculated as overtime.

Fire Communications Dispatchers may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays depending on their assigned platoon (A or B Shift).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

(These duties are intended to be representative sample of the duties performed by the class.)

• Receive and process emergency requests for service from the public, other agencies, and other departments, which includes: calming emotional callers; obtaining relevant information related to the emergency; providing Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) instructions; evaluating the urgency of calls; determine appropriate action to be taken; determining and dispatching appropriate personnel, apparatus, and equipment required on medical aids, structure responses, hazmat responses, multi-victim incidents, and vegetation fires; notifying supervisors of incidents; routing calls to appropriate sections; operating radio7 communication equipment and alarm systems; and, performing other related activities.
• Coordinate and communicate activities between agencies jointly responding to multi-agency incidents.
• Receive and process requests from field personnel, including but not limited to, utility companies, ambulance companies, water departments, building department, Red Cross, Fish and Game Department, and/or other interested parties.
• Operate and monitor a variety of equipment, which may include: multiple radio frequencies; computerized radio equipment; multi-channel digital recorders; instant radio playback machines; instant phone digital recall; alarm system computers; computer systems; electronic equipment; and/or other related equipment.
• Read and interpret maps to locate emergencies, determine jurisdictions, and to dispatch nearest apparatus to expedite response times.
• Attend and participate in after action critiques and debriefings of emergency incidents with field personnel and other staff members.
• Participate in a variety of classes, training, and/or certification sessions.
• Maintain and troubleshoot problems with equipment in the Command Center, which may include: headsets, chairs, radio systems, pagers, CAD terminals, and/or other related equipment.
• Complete geofile forms and updates; enters updates and information into database and/or manual book systems; designs, maintains, and updates system software and files.
• Troubleshoot, issues, and track inventory control logs.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (position requirements at time of application):

• Possession of a High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• Currently working in a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).  Primary or Secondary PSAP is acceptable
• Must have at least 2 years of experience in a PSAP

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS (position requirements at entry):

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

This classification is subject to enrollment in the California DMV Pull Notice Program, which periodically provides Risk Management with the incumbent's Driver License record and status.

HIGHLY DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS (not required):

• Emergency Medical Dispatcher Experience
• Experience working in a Fire Communication Center
• Experience utilizing Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC)
• Communications Training Officer Certification
• Familiar with Tri-Tech CAD System
• Bilingual speaking skills (English and one of the following languages: Spanish, Farsi, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog)

KNOWLEDGE (position requirements at entry):

Knowledge of:

• Customer service principles
• City geography
• Map reading methods
• Standard office equipment
• Recordkeeping principles

SKILLS (position requirements at entry):

Skill in:

• Using computers and applicable software applications
• Handling multiple tasks simultaneously
• Keyboarding at the rate of 30 wpm
• Maintaining records
• Operating standard office equipment
• Evaluating the urgency of calls and taking appropriate action
• Operating radio communications equipment
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

• Recruitment Closes: Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
• Oral Interviews: Week of January 15, 2024
• Selection Interviews: Week of January 22, 2024
• Selected candidates begin background and pre-employment physical process: Week of January 29, 2024

NOTE: The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the department. 

• Online at FC Dispatcher - Lateral (only online applications will be accepted). 
• Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of online applications. 
• Please match your professional experience with the specific qualifications listed in the bulletin and include the areas which you have developed expertise. 
• Applicants are responsible for maintaining/updating their contact information through their accounts at www.governmentjobs.com. 
• To view the full job description, visit www.ocfa.org. 

SELECTION PROCEDURE 

INITIAL SELECTION REVIEW:
Human Resources reviews all initial application materials to identify qualified applicants. Applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be invited to the first phase of the recruitment process. The OCFA reserves the right to refer only the better qualified applicants if the number of applicants is high. If the number of applicants is high, the review process may include a secondary screening (by a panel of job knowledge experts) of the applications and/or supplemental questionnaires in which the better qualified applicants are referred to the next phase of the recruitment process. Because recruitment processes vary, applicants are advised to thoroughly review the job announcement before submitting their online application materials.