The City of Salem's Public Works Dispatch Communications Center is looking for a dedicated, collaborative, and skilled problem solver to join us as a Supervisor. The Public Works Dispatch Center is a 24-hour, 365-day operation that receives and responds to emergency and nonemergency service requests for public infrastructure-related issues. Public Works plans, constructs, and maintains the City’s infrastructure including roadways and lanes; parks and recreation activities; and water, stormwater, and wastewater utility services.

Make an impact:
Lead a team of dispatch staff that provides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week support to the community within the Public Works Department. The Public Works department is dedicated to providing reliable infrastructure and dependable public services that promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

Learn and grow:
Grow your network as you connect with other City professionals, outside organizations, and local service agencies.

What you will do:
The Public Works Communications Dispatch center interacts with the public, internal departments, local jurisdictions, outside agencies, 911 call center, and local fire/police responders. Information is received and transmitted by telephone, radio, in person, email and fax.

You will be responsible for supervising the daily activities of the Dispatch Communications Center including directing and coordinating a variety of simple to complex operational and technical support services; team scheduling; developing and implementing policies and procedures; exercising independent judgement; ensuring customer service standards are met; coordinate daily workload; and adhering to policies, regulations, and best practices while ensuring work quality and accuracy.

The ideal candidate will be adept at learning, implementing, and championing new technologies to ensure the City’s infrastructure is maintained efficiently and transparently. Their forward-thinking approach will enable them to anticipate emerging industry trends, adapt to regulatory changes, and guide staff through evolving expectations and best practices.

The ideal candidate will communicate clearly and respectfully, collaborate effectively across departments and agencies, and confidently represent the City in public settings. They are a strategic thinker who can balance long-term planning with daily operational demands while maintaining composure during emergencies and high-pressure situations. Additionally, the supervisor will inspire teammates and foster a positive workplace culture.

Above all, they are committed to exceptional service, professional integrity, and supporting the City of Salem’s mission through proactive leadership and modern operational excellence.

Additional job duties and responsibilities:

Develop and implement new policies, procedures, and processes for the workgroup that leverage technology projects, fostering change and creating opportunities for increased efficiency and enhanced customer service.
Balance and assign work tasks for the dispatch team, ensuring the completion of routine daily responsibilities while also facilitating participation in emerging projects.
Lead employees with varying skill levels, addressing complex operational challenges and promoting a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
Analyze operational performance and compare it against service level expectations, developing plans and recommendations for enhancement.
Assign work, evaluate performance, assess training needs, and administer disciplinary actions as necessary. Ensure that priority needs are addressed and projects are delivered on time.
Maintain the integrity of data and records, ensuring compliance with applicable public records laws and regulations.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
Competitive pay.
Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Voluntary long-term care.
Employee wellness program.
Employee assistance program.
Employee health clinic.
Position schedule is
Monday through Friday, beginning as early as 7am or ending as late as 6pm.

The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

Must pass the pre-employment background check.
Depending on area of assignment, may be required to pass a drug test (including marijuana).
Must have an Oregon driver license and a driving record that meets the City of Salem's driving standards.
Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field to program assignment (i.e., biology, business management, engineering, environmental sciences, etc.), and four years of supervisory experience in a related field, or any combination of education, experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
Additional education, certifications and/or licenses may be required or preferred depending on the position (and must be maintained throughout employment).

Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

What you will bring along:

Insights regarding management theory and best practices for supervision and customer service.
Ability to plan, lead, and provide program oversight in developing goals and objectives for section.
Knowledge of effective change management methods and successful implementation processes
Knowledge of analyzing, interpreting, explaining and applying relevant laws, regulations, ordinances, policies and procedures.
Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships and communication with all levels of City staff, contractors, other public bodies or agencies and members of the community.
Understand, interpret, and apply laws, codes, regulations, complex plans, and contract documents.
Proficiency in operating office computer and associated software applications, technology, or other programs or equipment to collect and analyze data, retrieve information, and create documents and reports.
Skill in effective prioritization and execution of tasks within time constraints or specific deadlines.
Ability to exercise sound judgment to solve problems, work independently and make appropriate decisions regarding work methods and priorities.
Knowledge of creating, documenting and training day-to-day operational procedures that both align with budgetary constraints and maximize efficiency and accuracy goals;
Competence in respecting, seeking to understand, and valuing individual differences to foster and support a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Visual acuity necessary to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading.

About us:
The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the lush Willamette Valley, Salem is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community and Urban Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.

A serene river scene featuring a modern arch bridge and a kayaker paddling through misty waters, surrounded by lush greenery.

Where can I find out more about the position?
Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Supervisor, II or view by clicking here.

How can I apply?
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application. Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to include how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification in your application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City of Salem through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!

For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.

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