Public Safety Dispatcher (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Ashford, WA

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety Dispatcher receives, evaluates, and prioritizes emergency calls for service and coordinates the dispatch of personnel and apparatus to public safety incidents. The dispatcher provides communications, logistical, and officer-safety support to responders and performs Communications Center clerical duties, including data entry, records management, and resource-status tracking.

The seasonal assignment typically runs from May through October, though the duration may vary with weather, project needs, or funding. The likely entry-on-duty date is May 2027. Dispatch work may involve multi-jurisdictional, all-hazard incidents—including law enforcement, wildland and structural fire, aviation, intelligence, medical, search and rescue, and other emergency services—and collaboration with federal, state, county, and local agencies.

The position is an essential, high-stress role performed in a confined Communications Center. It may require shift and rotating-shift work, on-call duty, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and extended shifts during emergencies. The dispatcher must remain at the center until relieved by another qualified dispatcher. During training or other occasions, the employee may accompany field law-enforcement personnel in patrol vehicles to learn agency procedures and jurisdictional boundaries.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Must be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 and meet one of the stated education, training, or student-employment conditions.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Must pass pre-employment and random drug testing; a verified positive drug test precludes appointment.
• Must complete E-Verify employment verification and participate in direct deposit.
• Must wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• Must complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• Must obtain and maintain certification to access FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (NCIC/NLETS), complete CJIS security-awareness training, and comply with monitoring and refresher training.
• Must maintain any required certifications, cybersecurity training, or role-based competencies.
• GS-05 qualification: At least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04, involving customer service with distressed individuals, monitoring and using telephones and/or radios, receiving and entering computer data, and fast-paced work under stress requiring structured communication, rapid information processing, and adherence to procedures; or four years of education above high school leading to a bachelor's degree; or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Hours worked must be documented, and transcripts are required when using education to qualify.
• GS-06 qualification: At least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05, including radio-traffic prioritization and communications; relaying caller information using a multi-line telephone or multi-frequency radio system to initiate responses; operating dispatch-related computer or communications systems; and familiarity with public-safety policies and procedures through relevant work such as security, law enforcement, emergency response, or dispatch. Hours worked must be documented. Education cannot substitute for experience.
• GS-07 qualification: At least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06, including serving as a primary dispatcher for law enforcement or other emergency services and experience with emergency medical dispatch protocols and providing emergency medical care instructions. Hours worked must be documented.
• To receive experience credit, the resume must state full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time and the number of hours worked per week. Qualifying paid and unpaid volunteer experience may be credited.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by a qualified private organization and deemed equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate initial emergency responses by evaluating incidents, gathering necessary information, and applying judgment in accordance with interagency guides, protocols, and pre-plans.
• Receive and evaluate emergency calls and gather information needed to initiate an appropriate response from emergency services personnel.
• Obtain critical information from the public and other public safety agencies for law enforcement, fire, medical, search and rescue, and other incidents.
• Use specialized computer programs and systems, including NCIC, NLETS, and CAD, to perform dispatch duties.
• Dispatch multi-jurisdictional, all-hazard incidents and/or collaborate with federal, state, county, and local agencies.
• Provide communications, logistical, and officer-safety support to responders.
• Perform Communications Center clerical duties, including data entry, records management, and resource-status tracking.
• Complete required training and maintain required certifications, cybersecurity training, and role-based competencies.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance is provided.
• Government housing may be available.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed