Close Date: September 30, 2026
The Emergency Communications Dispatcher performs communications work in the County's primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The Dispatchers are a vital link between the public and first responders. This position is responsible for incoming calls for fire, medical, and other emergency assistance and requires one to dispatch emergency units, relay information, and monitor the status and location of all emergency response units.
Escambia County Fire Rescue (ECFR) has twenty-one individual fire jurisdictions and Escambia County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has up to fifteen ambulance units located throughout the county and mutual aid areas. Performs as a Primary 911 Call Taker and is responsible for answering and computer processing of all 911 calls that originate within Escambia County.
This is a "mandatory-testing" position that requires Drug Testing.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Performs three dispatch functions for Escambia County:
Fire Dispatch: Radio Dispatches appropriate ECFR apparatus to various types of fires, to include: residential fires, commercial fire related events, wild land fires, and serious medical calls while maintaining continuous contact with responding units; Fire Dispatch duties also include: updating responders with up to date scene changing information, announcing hydrant locations, tracking unit status changes in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), initiating SOPs for escalating events, and notifying ECFR staff during times of major incidents, and monitoring fifty county building fire alarm accounts
EMS Dispatch: Radio Dispatches appropriate EMS units to various medical emergencies; EMS Dispatch duties include: maintaining constant radio contact with responders, while providing them with up to date patient and scene information, selecting the closest or most appropriate unit to emergency call locations, track unit status changes and update patient information in CAD, monitoring call location projections via the Dispatch "hotspot" computer to ensure projected call areas are covered with available units; coordinate mutual aid requests, such as requests to launch Life Flight; initiate responder requests to notify hospitals of critical patient information, such as traumatic injuries, cardiac arrest, gunshot/stabbing victims, and burn patients
Emergency Call Taker: Answers, verifies location and call back number, and determines the nature of each emergency call; transfers all crime related calls to the appropriate law enforcement agency
Processes medical calls following nationally recognized protocols; assigns the nature code and the correct priority to each call based on caller's response to scripted questions; enter all responses in CAD and update patient condition as situation warrants; provide pre-arrival Instructions; instruct callers through CPR, Child Birth, and Heimlich; provide post dispatch Instructions, bleeding control measures, airway maintenance, and scene safety instructions; coordinate trauma calls, cardiac arrest, gunshot/stabbing victims and burn patient information with area hospitals
Processes fire calls following nationally recognized protocols; assigns the nature code and the correct priority to each call based on caller's response to scripted questions; enters responses in CAD; provides callers with scene safety instructions; coordinates incidents with State Fire Marshal's Office and State Watch Office as appropriate; notifies ECFR Staff personnel of escalating events
Processes non-emergency calls, such as non-emergency transfer requests, which includes comparing and verifying patient's condition against emergency criteria to ensure request is to be processed as a non-emergency; processes administrative requests as warranted
Coordinates road closures, flooding conditions, and disaster incidents with Emergency Management and State Officials, as appropriate
Performs a variety of administrative tasks in support of emergency communication operations, to include: monitoring equipment status; entering a variety of data into applicable dispatch system, and sending FAX transmissions
Performs other duties of a similar nature or level
TYPICAL QUALIFICATION
Minimum Qualifications Requirements:
Training and Experience:
High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) and two years full-time work experience in the customer service or healthcare industry, or one-year full-time work experience as an emergency dispatcher, an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, a firefighter, a police officer or an air traffic controller; and the ability to type 35 correct words per minute; or a combination of education and experience equivalent to these requirements.
Licenses and Certifications:
Successful completion of the following department-provided training and certification programs must be completed or obtained within 6 months of hire:
State of Florida Department of Health (DOH) Telecommunicator License
National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification
National Academy of Emergency Fire Dispatch Certification
American Heart Association CPR Health Provider
National Incident Management System IS-100 and IS-700
Preferred Qualifications:
knowledge of operation of Computer-Aided Dispatch system (CAD), radios, and related equipment
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs):
customer service principles
remain calm in stressful and emotional situations
handle multiple tasks simultaneously
react quickly, accurately, and calmly in stressful and emergency situations
acquire knowledge of Escambia county's geography, roadways, landmarks, and jurisdiction boundaries
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
County-wide Employee Responsibilities:
All Escambia County BCC employees must serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity in full accord with the letter and spirit of Escambia County BCC's Employee Code of Ethics, gift, and conflict of interest policies.
All Escambia County BCC employees must establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, elected and appointed officials and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, familial status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity and expression.
Emergency Management Responsibilities:
During emergency conditions, the incumbent of this position will automatically be considered an emergency service worker. This employee is subject to being called to work in the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane, or other emergency situation and is expected to perform emergency service duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements:
Positions in this class typically require reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, finger and hand dexterity, as well as repetitive motions.
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
This position requires close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish color), and the ability to adjust focus.
Benefits/Compensation Package: