Fire Dispatcher I

City of Anaheim•Anaheim, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Anaheim seeks qualified Fire Dispatcher I candidates to experience the challenging and rewarding work of a joint powers authority fire dispatch center. The dispatch center, Metro Cities Fire Authority serves seven agencies in Orange County. Incumbents are responsible for performing a wide variety of routine to skilled dispatch activities. Fire Dispatchers will utilize a Computer Aided Dispatch system to receive, screen and respond to incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for fire medical assistance; dispatch appropriate units and maintain necessary communication with units during their response to calls; and perform a variety of clerical, record keeping and general support duties related to communications activities. This classification must be able to work assigned shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays and overtime when needed. 5% differential to base pay for night shifts.

Requirements

An equivalent combination of experience and training sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.
Ability to Learn to effectively operate a radio, telephone and computer-aided dispatch system
Ability to speak clearly and precisely
Ability to exercise good judgment
Ability to make sound decisions in emergency situations
Ability to effectively communicate with and elicit information from callers
Ability to identify geographic features and streets through the use of maps
Ability to learn department procedures and policies
Ability to operate keyboard and other office equipment quickly, accurately and, at times, concurrently
Keyboard at a net-corrected minimum speed of 35 words per minute
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions
Ability to learn a wide variety of classification codes and computer commands
Ability to spell accurately
Ability to maintain accurate and complete files and records
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Nice To Haves

California P.O.S.T.-certified Public Safety Dispatchers’ Basic Course Certificate.
Current Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certification from the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch.
Current Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED Certificate.
Have the flexibility to respond to unexpected/emergency shifts within 60 minutes or a reasonable amount of time.
Knowledge or entry level experience operating a computer terminal and office equipment.
The ability to exercise good, independent judgment and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
The ability to effectively communicate with and elicit information from distressed and irate callers and communicate emergency medical instructions.
The ability to multitask.
Possession of an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certification from National Academies of Emergency Dispatch is highly desirable and a EMD certification is required by completion of probation.

Responsibilities

Using a CAD system and a computerized emergency telephone system, receive emergency calls from the public requesting fire services; determine nature and location of emergency, determine priority and dispatch fire units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures.
Using an 800 megahertz (MHz) radio system, maintain contact with all units on assignment; maintain status and location of additional fire units and dispatch as appropriate.
Answer non-emergency calls for assistance; dispatch as required.
Test and inspect equipment as required.
Perform a variety of record keeping, filing, indexing and other general clerical work.
Perform duties and responsibilities as required.