Senior Manager, Emergency Dispatch, Maintenance, and Communications Center

Overview

The Port of Portland is hiring a Senior Manager of Airport Emergency Dispatch, Maintenance, and Communications Center (aka. Senior Manager of Airport Communications Center). This senior manager position provides strategic direction and leadership for the Airport Communications Center (ACC). It is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating plans and initiatives in support of staff, systems, and processes that are essential to safe and effective public safety and security operations.

From the hiring manager:
The senior manager for the Airport Communications Center sets strategy and provides leadership for a critical public safety department  would lead a team of highly dedicated professionals responsible for dispatching first responders, triaging medical calls, managing the response to infrastructure breakdowns, and assisting PDX travelers. You also will manage the transition to a new department structure and provide direction on technology and system improvements to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

• Provide overall leadership, management, strategic direction, and day-to-day support to staff within the ACC. This includes, but is not limited to, management of ACC leadership staff, oversight of all ACC systems, procedures, and call center management, and development of ACC strategic objectives and work plans.
• Collaborate with IT and the PDX Innovation Director on technology plans and system improvements.
• Assist ACC Managers and Supervisors with the management of all ACC staff and with addressing system administration issues as they arise.
• Set the strategic objectives for the continuous improvement of both processes and employee performance; manage the development and maintenance of a comprehensive training and certification program for all staff; address deficiencies and implement disciplinary procedures.
• Mentor ACC Managers and Supervisors and lead them through strategic issues and continuous process improvement for the overall department and in support of the Aviation Business Plan and Port strategic goals.
• Maintain high awareness of the latest developments of industry technology, information technology, and organizational design, making recommendations for improvements, updates, and upgrades to all systems within the ACC while ensuring compatibility with existing and planned technologies.
• Promote positive labor-management relations for represented staff and ensure compliance with labor contracts and Port, Police Department, and Communications Center policy; address contract grievances in a timely manner; assist with labor agreement strategies and negotiation; oversee the hiring process for dispatchers; interact with stakeholders and be a positive liaison for all ACC issues; represent the ACC on Port, local, regional and national working groups at meetings.
• Full job description available upon request.

• Advanced experience - emergency communications protocols for law enforcement (EMS and Fire)
• Advanced experience - Computerized maintenance management systems and theories
• Advanced experience - Labor best practices
• Advanced experience - Leadership & Team Management
• Advanced experience - Budgeting and strategic planning

(tentative schedule): A minimum qualification evaluation of the education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources until this role closes on 2/8/2026. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials. Our goal is to notify candidates who are selected for interviews by 2/16/2026.

We will then schedule virtual first round of interviews with candidates who successfully passed the SME evaluation at the beginning of January. Panel Interviews will be held afterward.

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have – our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them – to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region.…