Job: E911 Public Safety Dispatcher

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Salaried

Wage: $50,696.60 - $60,780.70/yr. 

Location: Leadville, CO.

Job Description

• Planned start date: January 12, 2026

  • Compensation based on years of experience as a certified Public Safety Dispatcher or equivalent.
  • 2026 Pay Scale – Public Safety Dispatcher Series

    Classification	Annual Salary
    CTO / 6 Month Probation	$53,231.40
    Public Safety Dispatcher I	$56,703.00
    Public Safety Dispatcher II	$58,404.10
    Public Safety Dispatcher III	$60,156.30
    Public Safety Dispatcher IV	$61,960.90
    Public Safety Dispatcher V	$63,819.80

  Benefits & Incentives
  Lake County offers a competitive benefits package. Details can be found at:
   Employee Benefits | Lake County, CO
  
  Available Incentives Include:

  • Communication Training Officer (CTO) Certification Pay – incentive added to salary.
  • Professional Development Support – including instructor courses and education opportunities.
  • Advanced Education Pay – up to a 6% salary increase for applicable college degrees.
  • Bilingual Pay Incentive – supplemental pay for demonstrated Spanish/English fluency.
  • Overtime Opportunities – paid at 1.5x hourly rate.
  • Annual Health & Wellness Allowance for county employees.
  • End-of-Year Bonus based on months of service.

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  Position Summary
  The Public Safety Dispatcher serves as a highly skilled communications professional within the Lake County Emergency Communications Center. Under the general supervision of the Communications Supervisor and direction of the Lake County E911 Authority Board, the dispatcher provides essential emergency and non-emergency communications support to the public, law enforcement, fire services, EMS, and various partner agencies.
  
  Dispatchers must use sound judgment, critical decision-making skills, and adhere to all directives, policies, procedures, and legal requirements. This role requires the ability to remain calm and effective under intense pressure, communicate clearly with distressed or emotional callers, and anticipate the needs of first responders. Dispatchers may work independently in the communications center and must be able to function within a structured chain of command. Mandatory overtime may be required.

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  Essential Duties & Responsibilities
  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  
  Primary Functions

  • Answer, process, and prioritize 911 emergency calls and dispatch the appropriate law, fire, medical, or rescue response.
  • Perform CCIC/NCIC queries and relay information to authorized personnel.
  • Monitor courthouse video surveillance and notify appropriate units of security concerns.
  • Respond to administrative and non-emergency calls, providing information or referral as appropriate.
  • Enter, confirm, modify, and clear warrants as directed by law enforcement, courts, or judicial offices.
  • Maintain accurate, timely documentation within CAD and communication systems.

  Supervisory Responsibilities

  • None.

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  Hazard Notice
  This position involves exposure to:

  • High-stress and fast-paced situations
  • Traumatic or emotionally disturbing calls
  • Extended periods using headsets and computer systems
  • A 24/7 operational environment including nights, weekends, holidays, and emergency activations

  Dispatchers must maintain professionalism, composure, and decision-making accuracy under pressure.

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  Minimum Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Clean criminal and driving record (no felonies)
  • Ability to obtain:
    • Colorado Bureau of Investigation OSN License
    • Notary Public certification
  • Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, CAD, and basic computer programs
  • Strong multitasking, typing, and communication abilities
  • Ability to pass all required pre-employment testing, including:
    • CritiCall dispatch exam
    • Physical ability evaluation
    • Psychological evaluation
    • Oral board interview
    • Drug screening (continuous and random testing may apply)

  Vision, Hearing & Physical Requirements

  • Adequate vision with or without correction to read reports and computer screens
  • Adequate hearing to communicate via telephone and radio systems
  • Ability to climb, stoop, kneel, bend, crouch, twist, reach, and lift up to 20 lbs
  • Manual dexterity for typing and operating communication equipment
  • Ability to sit for long periods
  • Ability to work extended operational hours during critical incidents (wildfires, avalanches, search & rescue, active shooter events, etc.)

  Physical Exam Components May Include:

  • Urine drug screen
  • Hearing and vision screening
  • Orthopedic evaluation
  • Grip strength and balance testing
  • Height and weight measurement
  • Additional exams as required by medical provider

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  Physical Activity & Work Environment
  This position requires:

  • Prolonged sitting, computer use, and headset operation
  • Occasional standing, walking, bending, kneeling, reaching, or climbing
  • Operation of standard office and dispatch equipment
  • Exposure to emotionally charged interactions with the public
  • Work in a high-volume, high-stress, fast-paced environment
  • Occasional outdoor exposure when duties require
  • Occasional travel to off-site locations
  • Availability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and be on-call as needed

  EOE Statement

  Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

  Notice of Work Authorization Requirement

  Applicants must be authorized to lawfully work for any employer in the United States. Lake County is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

  Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities

  All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors.

  Other Duties

  Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

  Expected Duration of the Application Process

  Due to the nature of the application and selection process for Lake County full-time positions, applicants can reasonably expect the application process to take a significant amount of time to complete before a decision is made to hire or not to hire. Typically, it takes approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks from the date of application to complete the entire selection process. The length of time it takes to complete the process can vary depending on a variety of factors. Please note that this is an estimated duration of the selection process.

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.