Communications Dispatcher I/II - Fire & Sheriff

Full Job Description

The Fire Department is accepting applications to fill multiple vacancies located in Santa Barbara.

The Fire Department is looking for committed, compassionate individuals to join our team as Communications Dispatchers (911 Dispatchers).

In this vital role, you will be the first point of contact during emergencies—providing clear guidance, critical support, and reassurance to people in their most urgent moments.

If you are driven by a desire to serve your community and want a stable, meaningful career where every call can make a difference, we invite you to join the team that helps protect lives and keeps our community safe.

Although the current vacancies are full-time, and in the Fire Department, the Sheriff's Office and the Fire Department may use this recruitment to fill future full-time, part-time and extra-help (temporary) vacancies as well.

The work schedule for this position will depend upon the needs of the department.

Benefits & Compensation:

To learn more about County benefits, please visit these links:

Health Benefits and Wellness: CLICK HERE

Compensation Summary: CLICK HERE

Retirement: CLICK HERE

Memorandum of Understanding: CLICK HERE

General Role Description

As a Dispatcher, your primary responsibility is to respond to emergency calls and provide critical assistance to individuals in distress.

Your key job duties include swiftly and accurately answering emergency calls, gathering essential information from callers, and determining the nature and severity of the situation.

You will dispatch the appropriate emergency services, such as law enforcement, fire, or medical personnel, while maintaining clear and reassuring communication with callers to provide vital instructions or support until help arrives.

In addition to handling emergency calls, you will operate communication equipment and maintain detailed records of incidents.

Please note: Extensive training is provided, and no prior experience is required.

The ideal candidate for this position should excel in high-stress communication scenarios, demonstrating effective and reassuring communication skills.

They must uphold a strong reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, and good moral character, earning the trust and credibility of both colleagues and the public.

Dependability, integrity, and sound judgment under pressure are also crucial qualities we seek in our ideal candidate, as they play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community during emergencies.

Hiring Department Information

Please visit the following pages to learn more about the specific roles and requirements in the hiring departments:

Fire Department: We are accepting applications to fill multiple full-time Communications Dispatcher I/II vacancies. Click here to visit the website to learn more about the position and the department.

Sheriff’s Office: Click here to visit the website to learn more about the position and the department.

Requirements

1. Receives non-emergency and emergency requests (including 911 calls) for sheriff/fire protection, medical, or emergency services; and obtains relevant information and inputs data, evaluates and prioritizes calls for service and dispatches appropriate personnel and equipment.
2. Using a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system, monitors and updates fire, ambulance, and sheriff unit location and status in order to coordinate emergency field operations; provides backup support and information as necessary by operating a two-way radio; requests additional assistance from other agencies as necessary; and obtains computerized law enforcement information from local, state, and federal data banks through a telecommunications terminal.
3. Maintains reference cards, logs, reports, procedure manuals, reference manuals, files, and other documents; and performs other clerical duties.
4. Coordinates communications between multiple units, agencies and jurisdictions, including aircraft responding to fire and emergency medical incidents.
5. Simultaneously monitors and transmits on multiple radio channels and multiple transmitters; and maintains contact with and monitors status of field units.
6. Could be expected to testify in court.
7. Utilizes CLETS to determine and confirm information and enters and removes information. (Sheriff’s Office Only)
8. Utilizes established Emergency Dispatch protocols to provide pre-arrival medical and fire instructions to callers and follows established protocols for Priority Medical/Fire Dispatch program.
9. Utilizes System Status Management protocols to ensure optimum geographic coverage through deployment of resources by type; monitors diversion status of area hospitals and specialized units within each hospital.
10. Performs specialized dispatch functions related to the responsibilities of a CAL-EMS Mutual Aid Operations Area Coordinator Dispatch Center, and specialized functions of a CAL-Fire Contract County Dispatch Center. (Fire Department Only)

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 the Weather Information Management System (WIMS) and the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC).

(Fire Department Only)

11. Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. Possession of a High School Diploma or GED AND any combination of experience, education and/or training, which demonstrates possession of the required knowledge and abilities listed below.

• Incumbents must be able to type 35 wpm.
• Work rotating shifts including nights and weekends.
• Work overtime as required to ensure operational stability of the communications center.
• Must be able to pass a work-simulated, computer-based performance test, a background investigation (including a polygraph examination and credit check for the Sheriff’s Office), psychological evaluation and medical exam.
• Work is performed in a dispatch center and requires sitting for long periods of time, extensive keyboarding, operation of a mouse, wearing of a headset, and working in a fast-paced and demanding environment.

Additional Information

Please read the SELECTION PROCESS below. Be sure to frequently check your email throughout this entire process, as this is the only way we will be notifying applicants regarding their status and to provide all of the important information throughout the recruitment process.

SELECTION & EXAMINATION PROCESS

The background check process is different for each hiring department. To learn more about the background and hiring process for each department, please review the following information:

Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office Background Investigation Process includes an interview and in-depth background investigation of police records, personal and virtual character check, military, and employment histories; inquiry of persons who know you and evaluate whether you respect the law and rights of others; are dependable and responsible; have demonstrated mature judgment in areas such as the use of drugs and intoxicants; are honest; and is a safe driver.

Sheriff’s Office (only) Background Investigation Process:

Personal History Questionnaire: The Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) is a pre-screen background questionnaire. Candidates must pass to advance in the selection process.

Polygraph Examination: Measures the accuracy of information disclosed on the PHQ and during the background investigation.

Upon accepting a conditional offer of employment with the Fire Department or Sheriff’s Office, you must conduct the following:

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: Veteran's preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans).

To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans' hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act.

No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.

To receive veteran's preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran's Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD-214 to the Human Resources Department on or before the closing date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process.

The preference points will be added to your final test score.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting.

We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Government Code Section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) StatementThe County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance.

The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates.

The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Monday, February 9, 2026, 4:59 PST: Postmarks are not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty.

If you have any recruitment questions, please email Fire HR at FireDGHR@sbcfire.com; Sheriff HR Analyst Ms. Ryan at cbr4686@sbsheriff.org