Description

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 at PDX. You 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.

 
Key Responsibilities

Operational Responsibilities. 

• 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. 
• Responsible for collaborating 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.
• In alignment with the Aviation Business Plan and the Public Safety & Security Work Plan, 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.
• For represented staff, promote positive labor-management relations 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.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

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
 
Selection Process: (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.
 

About us:

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. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone’s life better. And we’ll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region’s success. With YOUR help – together with our partners, customers, and community – we’ll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications
Eight (8) + years of progressively responsible experience in the areas of Emergency Dispatch, Operations Dispatch, or Public Safety.
Five (5) + years’ mid-level management experience in public safety and operations dispatch; experience as a public safety or operations dispatcher is preferred; or the equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience.
Bachelor’s Degree – Business/Public Administration, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement, Communications, Operations, or Maintenance Management. (Additional experience may substitute for the education qualifications.)Master’s degree preferred.
Successful clearance of a pre-employment background check (Red Badge and CJIS).
Driver's License.
Pre-employment drug screening.