DISPATCHER - ASPHALT

FailSafe Communications; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chicago's Department of Transportation is seeking a Dispatcher – Asphalt to staff asphalt district offices or the central office, handling dispatch, communications and administrative tasks to support crews in the field.

Normal hours are 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The position starts at $53.00 per hour and follows the city's bargaining unit rules for progression. A two-year paving-related experience is required or preferred.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience working in a field or office position involving paving and repair of street surfaces using asphalt materials and /or related equipment

Responsibilities

• Staff asphalt district office or central office, performing dispatch/communications and administrative activities to support asphalt crews in the field
• Use 311-CSR to generate daily worksheets and service requests for pothole repairs and track work
• Enter data and update records on completed pothole repairs and asphalt usage; coordinate with field crews and central office

Job description

Description

DISPATCHER – ASPHALT

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Division of In-House Construction

Number of Positions: 1 (Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Annual Salary: $53.00/ Hourly

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with the LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA - LOCAL 1001 (BARGAINING UNIT 54). Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 11/9/2026.

Under general supervision, work in the Department of Transportation, assigned to staff an asphalt district office or the central office for asphalt operations, performing a variety of dispatch /communications and administrative activities to support the work functions of asphalt work crews in the field, and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Asphalt District Office

• Prepares daily route sheets, rotating crews through wards in district based on review of daily reports from central office


• Accesses 311-CSR system to generate daily worksheets for crews with assignment and location of potholes to be filled/repaired


• Receives deliveries of cold patch asphalt at district office yard and prepares and completes load tickets to track the usage of asphalt materials


• Takes calls from department personnel, aldermanic offices and other city departments reporting potholes in the district; enters data into the 311-CSR system to create service requests


• Receives calls from crews reporting potholes repaired and jobs completed; accesses 311-CSR system to update records and close out service requests


• Maintains contact with crews in the field and relays information on work priorities or emergency requests for pothole repairs; receives and relays messages between field and central office


• Reviews for completeness and accuracy daily worksheets submitted by work crews detailing work completed, size of crew and hours worked, equipment used, and asphalt materials expended during work shift


• Uses Excel to maintain and update work records, track data and prepare productivity reports


• Maintains the security of district office, ensuring office and yard area are locked and secured

Central Office

• Schedules work crews and requests resources for on-going asphalt programs including installation of alley and street speed humps, safety ramps, alley grading, and alley key cuts, and street and alley resurfacing projects


• Prepares work schedules and generates work sheets with the location and routing of jobs to be completed by specialized work crews (e.g. paver or grinder crews)


• Answers phones and responds to inquiries, complaints and emergency requests for services from alderman, public officials and the public


• Performs field survey and checks work completed to assess complaints from the public relating to damage to property or poor quality of work


• Reviews aldermanic menu of requests for asphalt work to plan, prioritize and schedule work projects as directed by management


• Monitors and tracks the daily amount/tonnage of asphalt (e.g. hot mix) picked up by city trucks at plants and used in the field and prepares related reports


• Requests and obtains required construction permit for asphalt projects


• Maintain contact with foremen of work crews to ensure work is progressing and arrange for additional resources as needed, and relay directives between central office and the field


• Access records on various systems (e.g. Projects system, 311-CSR) to maintain project records, update project and work schedules and close out completed projects


• Maintains and tracks data of section's work accomplishments (e.g. potholes filled/repaired, street paved/resurfaced) and prepares productivity reports

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: Varies

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm

Qualifications

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and Experience

• Two years of experience working in a field or office position involving paving and repair of street surfaces using asphalt materials and /or related equipment

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

• None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to operate a personal computer and related equipment

WORKING CONDITIONS

• General office environment

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, Nextel phones )

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires candidates to pass a job knowledge exam. Test results will be sent out by the Department of Human Resources after test results have been analyzed and compiled. Bidders who receive a passing score on the test will be hired in seniority order. External applicants who receive a passing score will be hired in lottery/random order.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION: Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request, adequate information regarding your educational and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. If you received your degree internationally, all international transcripts/diplomas must be accompanied by a Foreign Credential Evaluation. You must provide your transcripts or diploma, professional license, or training certificates at the time of processing, if applicable. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn, and you will not be hired.

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/city/en/depts/dhr/provdrs/Job_Classification_Compensation/svcs/classification-and-pay-plan.html#docaccess-ba6c316e7a6d538348ff53b1eeebb6ab

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.

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.