CHIEF DISPATCHER

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
CHIEF DISPATCHER
DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT
Bureau of Operations and Distribution
Number of Positions: 1
(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Annual Salary: $90,744.00/year

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with the Laborers Union BARGAINING UNIT 53, Local 1092. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND
1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"
2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')
3. Select your correct bargaining unit
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted from 11/24/25 until 11:59pm CDT on 12/8/25

Position manages and directs dispatch operations in the Central Dispatch Office, supervising Emergency Crew Dispatchers engaged in receiving service requests and complaints relating to broken or damaged water or sewer mains, dispatching work crews to investigate and assess extent of damage, repair work needed and level of priority, creating work orders using a computerized scheduling system and making emergency notifications to appropriate personnel

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Directs the preparation of work scheduled and approves changes in work schedules and reallocation of staff, ensuring work shifts are adequately staffed to meet operational needs of the department
• Monitors the availability of resources (e.g. vehicles, equipment) and reallocates resources as needed in response to operational needs, emergencies and work priorities
• Develops and implements protocols and standard operating procedures for dispatching operations and monitors work operations to ensure efficient use of resources
• Works with management in developing and establishing performance measures, productivity and quality work standards
• Monitors and evaluates work performance of subordinate staff and prepares performance appraisals/evaluations
• Attends disciplinary hearings for staff; initiates and enforces disciplinary actions as required; responds to and resolves work-related conflicts or problems with staff; enforces personnel rules
• Plans for the training of staff on operating work procedures and the use of communications and dispatch systems, radios and other computerized equipment

• Prepares productivity and operational reports for use by management

  Additional duties may be required for this position.

  Location: Various
  Days: Various
  Hours: Various

  THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Four years of supervisory work experience relating to the responsibilities of the position, such as dispatching operations for work crews, large vehicle fleets, and equipment, OR the supervision of a vehicle maintenance program, OR the supervision of road service repair and towing operations, OR the supervision of work operations relating to the dispatch of work crews or the inspection and repair of water and sewer lines, OR the supervision of a large scale customer service center

WORKING CONDITIONS
General office environment
Communications / Dispatch center

EQUIPMENT
Standard office equipment (e.g., telephone, printer, photocopier, fax machine, calculator)
Computers and peripheral equipment (e.g., personal computer, computer terminals)
Communication equipment (e.g., two-way radio, dispatch equipment, multi-channel system)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to operate a personal computer and related equipment

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 will be selected. Bidders will be hired in seniority order according to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement.

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:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

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.
The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor