COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS MANAGER

City of Chicago

$125K — $141K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum of 9 years in emergency communications or dispatch operations, with 3 years in a supervisory role.
  • Associate's degree in Public Safety Management or related field plus 7 years of relevant experience, including 3 years in supervision.
  • Bachelor's degree in Public Safety Management or related field plus 5 years of relevant experience, including 3 years in supervision.
  • Master's degree in Public Safety Management or related field plus 4 years of relevant experience, including 3 years in supervision.
  • LEADS certification required within 6 months of hire.

Responsibilities

  • Direct personnel overseeing Police Communications Operators handling 9-1-1 calls and dispatching police units.
  • Monitor team activities for efficiency and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Prepare work schedules, conduct performance evaluations, and manage disciplinary actions for staff.
  • Review and approve Police Communications Operators' daily assignments and resource allocation.
  • Ensure operational efficiency of computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems and resolve technical issues promptly.
  • Implement new policies and procedures related to emergency communications operations.
  • Act as a primary point of contact during non-business hours for security and building operations.

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • Generous vacation and sick leave policies.
  • Retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
  • Professional development and training opportunities.
  • Commitment to diversity and inclusivity in hiring practices.
Full Job Description
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS MANAGER

Office of Emergency Management and Communications

Police Dispatch

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Salary: $125,316 - $141,660

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 10/16/2026

Under direction, this class functions at the managerial level overseeing the operations and staffing of an assigned shift within the Office of Emergency Management Communications (OEMC); and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Directs personnel responsible for supervising Police Communications Operators engaged in receiving and processing 9-1-1 emergency calls, and dispatching police field units to reported incidents of crime or emergencies
• Monitors team activities to ensure efficient and effective work operations and to lead continuous improvement efforts
• Prepares work schedules for personnel on an assigned shift; prepares staff performance evaluations; attends grievance meetings; and administers disciplinary actions as required
• Reviews and approves daily assignments of Police Communications Operators and allocation of workstation equipment to ensure optimum use of resources
• Monitors operating efficiency of the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and related equipment to ensure timely resolution of technical problems
• Informs staff and ensures implementation of new policies and procedures relating to emergency communications operations
• Notifies administration of critical incidents or emergencies
• Represents the department at various interagency and interdepartmental meetings
• Conducts operational studies, manages key performance indicators, and prepares management reports on staff operational and system performance
• Functions as the first point of contact during non-business hours, responsible for security and building operations for the OEMC facility

Additional duties may be required for this position

Location: 911 Emergency Communications Center

Division: Police Dispatch

Address: 1411 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60607

Days Off: Rotating

Watch: Various (1st, 2nd & 3rd Watch)

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Nine (9) years of work experience in emergency communications and dispatching operations in a computer-aided dispatch environment, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree in Public Safety Management, Public Administration or a related field, plus seven (7) years of experience in emergency communications and dispatching operations in a

computer-aided dispatch environment, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Public Safety Management, Public Administration or a related field, plus five (5) years of experience in emergency communications and dispatching operations

in a computer-aided dispatch environment, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Public Safety Management, Public Administration or a related field, plus four (4) years of experience in emergency communications and dispatching operations

in a computer-aided dispatch environment, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications
• LEADS certification is required within six (6) months of hire date

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications may request that successful candidates pass a drug screen and background investigation. Persons offered employment must pass all pre-employment exams prior to appointment.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the interview will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

City of Chicago :: Classification and Pay Plan

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

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