Bastrop County Emergency Services District #3 (BCESD#) is seeking a full-time Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD). Bastrop County ESD #3 is a newly formed taxing entity created to support and enhance the provision of emergency medical services in Bastrop County to over 110,000 residents across approximately 900 square miles. The District currently contracts with Acadian Ambulance for emergency ambulance service and coordinates with local fire departments and a county-wide non-profit for medical first response. Bastrop County is a rapidly growing suburban/rural county located just east of Austin/Travis County Texas.
The Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) serves as a critical link between the public and emergency medical services. This role involves receiving emergency calls, assessing medical situations, dispatching appropriate resources, and providing life-saving instructions to callers. EMDs must remain calm under pressure, communicate clearly, and follow established protocols to ensure timely and effective emergency response.
The following duties are intended to serve as a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the position. The incumbent may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional duties not included in this description.
The desired candidate will have a demonstrated history in emergency medical dispatch telecommunications in a fast paced, complex organization with a broad variety of clinical situations. Specific attributes include, but are not limited to:
- Receive and triage emergency and non-emergency calls.
- Assess the nature and severity of medical emergencies using structured protocols.
- Determine appropriate EMS, fire, first responder, air-medical, and other resources to dispatch.
- Dispatch emergency units using Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems.
- Coordinate with fire, police, and medical personnel as needed.
- Provide callers with step-by-step medical guidance (e.g., CPR, bleeding control).
- Provide callers other directions to prepare for emergency personnel arrival (e.g., turn on porch lights, put away pets, unlock doors)
- Support callers in stabilizing patients until EMS arrives.
- Relay critical information to responding personnel and commanders.
- Monitor and update responders about scene conditions and patient status.
- Accurately record call details, dispatch actions, and communications.
- Maintain logs for legal, medical, and operational review.
- Offer emotional reassurance and manage high-stress situations with empathy.
- Maintain professionalism and composure during critical incidents.
- Participate in ongoing training and certification programs.
- Adhere to local, state, and national emergency dispatch protocols.
Required
- High school diploma or GED
- Minimum of at least 18 years of age
- 1 year of prior 911 dispatch experience (highly preferred)
- Current valid Class C State of Texas Driver License or ability to obtain.
- Must pass an online skills test
Preferred Qualifications/Requirements
- Documentation of completion of a two (2) or four (4) year degree program (preferred) in criminal justice, psychology, emergency management administration, or related field.
- 2 years of experience preferred in either an emergency dispatch center or closely related experience in fast paced work environments
- NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400
- EMT Certification
- Valid CPR certification (required within 6 months of employment)
- Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification from International Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (IAED), (required within 6 months of employment)
- Must show consistent progress throughout training and complete all modules in the allotted time frame of the Bastrop County ESD3’s 9-1-1 Training Program.
The position requires proficiency in:
- Business English, spelling, punctuation and mathematics.
- Accurate recordkeeping.
- Preparation of reports.
- Effective written and oral communication.
- Ability to operate highly technical communications equipment.
- Ability to operate highly technical computer equipment.
- Adherence to policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of triage guidelines, pre-arrival instructions, and resource deployment.
- Knowledge of caller interrogation techniques.
- Knowledge of emergency resources in the community.
- Knowledge of emergency response capabilities in the Bastrop ESD #3 EMS system.
- Knowledge and Experience in assisting with scene management.
- Ability to read, understand, and follow EMD guidelines.
- Demonstrate strong teamwork and a positive attitude, while engaging with the public in a respectful, courteous, and professional manner.
- Ability to maintain timely attendance and work extended hours when required.
- Ability to manage complex situations.
- Ability to problem-solve during high stress situations.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse socio-economic and educational backgrounds.
- Ability to assess situations and determine priorities with minimal direction or supervision.
- Ability to elicit information necessary from persons who may be distressed, intoxicated or mentally disturbed.
- Ability to distinguish and comprehend simultaneous communications from several sources.
- Must be able to communicate effectively in person, via radio, video, or using messaging tools.
- Must be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the English language fluently. Strong skills in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure are essential for accurate and effective medical documentation.
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers, handle, talk, hear, or feel objects and reach with arms. The employee is required to sit for long periods while working at telecommunications consoles using keyboards, trackballs, mice, and other computer interfaces.
The employee is occasionally required to walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally more than 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must have the ability to see and hear clearly to read computer screens, printed protocol charts, guideline documents, and other materials.
Must be available to work 12-hour shifts, including weekends, holidays and overnights. Duties will be performed in a telecommunications center with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk in closed quarters; answering phone calls and working on a computer; occasional exposure to variable and/or extreme weather conditions; 9-1-1 Telecommunicators are considered essential staff even in emergency situations.
Must pass the Bastrop County Emergency Services District #3 suitability examination, drug and alcohol testing, background investigation, and possess no felony convictions, no misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude or pattern of misdemeanor convictions; no pending misdemeanor or felony charges; no use of illegal drugs in the past ten years; and never sold illegal drugs.
