The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority is seeking an experienced Airport Communications Specialist to join our Operations and Public Safety division. This job is at the center of the action at the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA). The Airport Communications department is the central point of in-coming and out-going communication efforts when it comes to customer/public questions, security breaches and concerns, emergencies, and unusual circumstances. In the course of a shift, your priorities shift every time the phone rings. You may help a passenger recover a lost bag, dispatch the RTAA Police Department to an emergency, check a license plate on a suspicious vehicle, or connect a parent with a child on our paging system (or all of these at the same time). To say the least, this is a busy, diverse, and interesting role. In short, you are a key player when it comes to our #1 priorities: safety, security, and customer service at the RTAA. Key to success is the ability to multi-task and keep a cool head and be able to apply everything you learned in training at a moment's notice. Applicable experience could include experience in a dispatch center, a customer call center, or a receptionist in a busy office, or a position in which you need to successfully juggle multiple things at one time (i.e. calls, questions, interruptions, emergencies, etc.).
A fully completed online RTAA Employment Application must be received by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 26th, 2026. Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received, or a hiring decision has been made. Applications for RTAA jobs are only accepted through an online process.
There is one (1) open position. Both internal and external applicants will be considered. Applicants must be available to work all shifts (day, swing, and graveyard) 7 days a week - including holidays. To be considered for this position, applicants must indicate they are available for day, swing, and night shifts (all three), and must check the appropriate boxes under availability on the RTAA online application. Shift assignments are generally determined by seniority using a Shift Bid System. Shift schedules are either five-8 hour shifts in a week, four-10 hour shifts in a week or seven-12 hour shifts in a two-week period or a combination of those based on organizational need. There may be assigned overtime for any shift as needed.
Airport Communications Specialists are responsible for dispatching appropriate resources for a wide-range of scenarios using a computer-aided dispatch system, public safety radio system, and/or a public-address paging system. In this role you are also responsible for utilizing an alert and warning notification system, monitoring CCTV cameras, door and gate access control, and fire alarm systems. The expectation is that you will approach your work with a positive, helpful, customer service mindset, striving to impact individuals and groups in a manner consistent with the goals and values of the RTAA. We offer a positive, professional work environment that values teamwork, honesty, respect, recognition, integrity, innovation, versatility and excellence.
The nature of this fast-paced and dynamic work environment requires the ability to:
- Quickly assess circumstances and determine the best course of action and then rapidly shift attention between tasks
- Proficiently perform tasks demonstrating an appropriate level of detail and accuracy, while remaining calm and collected;
- Effectively communicate with a diverse array of individuals, including the ability to elicit information from those who may be irate or upset; and
- Align work practices with organizational requirements, including the ability to modify personal work practices to reflect feedback and promote continuous improvement.
Key Accountabilities:
- Operate a multi-line telephone system using a headset to receive emergency and non-emergency calls from the public, tenants or Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority employees; determine the nature, location and priority of the situation; and dispatch police, fire, or Emergency Medical Services units as needed.
- Assume responsibility for communications during emergency situations by operating various technologies, including electronic paging systems and direct contact phones; and convey situational and emergency information to various fire units, the FAA Air Traffic Control tower, and outlying law enforcement agencies in order to maintain coordination between units at optimum levels.
- Operate/maintain computer-based routing data and documentation on emergencies, including reports of medical, fire, bomb, fuel spill, and aircraft in distress/aircraft crash alerts.
- Visually monitor CCTV surveillance and alarm systems - including internal and external doors, remote gates, fire alarms, smoke detectors, and sprinklers.
- Operate the airport terminal public address system to provide public information regarding facilities, services and tenants; and provide paging services.
- Operate National Crime Information Center (NCIC) systems to check and/or verify information on license plates, vehicles, and persons; run criminal history checks; process warrant entries and cancellations; and interpret and convey data received in accordance with FBI Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) and State of Nevada standards.
Entry Salary:
$27.29 - $32.05 hourly, with opportunity for additional merit-based increases up to a range maximum of $39.21 hourly. In addition, employees working non-day shifts receive an additional $3.00 per hour of shift differential pay. Initial salary placement will be based upon experience and qualifications. This is an hourly and overtime eligible position.
Benefits:
The RTAA offers a competitive wage and benefit package and provides a high-quality work-life balance. Employee benefits include 100% employer paid contributions to the Nevada PERS retirement program; 100% employer paid health insurance for the employee; paid vacation and sick leave; and 14 paid holidays per year - just to name a few!
Minimum Qualifications:
- Required Education: High school diploma or equivalent certificate.
- Required Experience: Two (2) years of experience as a team member in a detail-oriented environment requiring multi-tasking and direct public or customer contact.
- Required Licenses: A valid Driver's License is required at the time of application.
- Required Typing Proficiency: Ability to type accurately at a rate of 40 words per minute.
How to apply:
Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received, or a hiring decision has been made.
The RTAA Employment Application is the primary screening tool to determine an applicant's qualifications. A resume may be submitted in addition to, but not in lieu of, completing the RTAA Employment Application. While you may submit a resume, it is supplemental and will not be used to determine whether or not you have met the minimum qualifications. All work experience, education, training, and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your RTAA Employment Application.
We strongly encourage applicants to review our online application instructions, available at the top of the RTAA Career webpage, before submitting the application to help ensure it has been completed in a manner consistent with our requirements as failure to complete the application as required will result in your application being disqualified from further consideration. Below is a summary of our requirements:
- Completed all sections on the RTAA Employment Application.
- Provided detailed information to address how you meet and/or exceed minimum qualifications for the position.
- Provided a minimum of five (5) years of employment history.
- Explained any gaps in employment of six (6) months or more within the "Work History" section. To explain gaps, add a new employer, write what was occurring under the "Name of Employer" (e.g., unemployed, student, etc.), and list dates.
- Please note, a statement in the "Reason for Leaving Section" is not sufficient to address gaps in employment.
- If you had more than one (1) position with the same employer, list each position, and the time you were in that position, separately.
Questions about the application, recruitment, and/or selection process, the physical demands of the position, or requests for a reasonable accommodation, should be addressed to the RTAA People Operations Office at (775) 328-6450, Extension 1.
Selection Procedure:
Review of Application:
After submission, the application will be reviewed to determine if it is complete and if minimum qualifications are met. For those applicants found to meet minimum qualifications, the next step of the process will be an application evaluation. It is essential that applications include detailed information regarding education and experience to enable evaluation of the application.
Selection Process:
Based on the application evaluation process, only the most qualified applicants will be invited to test. The RTAA will communicate the testing process with selected applicants via email, so it is critical that applicants ensure their email address is accurate on the application and the email is one that the applicant checks regularly.
Testing Process:
The testing and selection process may include examinations (computer aided or written) to demonstrate job-related knowledge and skills, practical exercises to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks and manipulative skills, employment interviews (oral or written), or any combination thereof. Applicants must successfully pass all parts of the testing process to be considered for hire.
Pre-Employment Requirements:
The RTAA requires each candidate to successfully complete employment history verification prior to being considered for employment. All employment offers are subject to successful completion/passing of a drug-screening test, a fingerprint criminal history records check, and security badging test.
The RTAA is an organization that thrives by living our core values and by honoring the dignity of all individuals. With teamwork, respect, versatility and a focus on excellence, we serve our employees and our community with pride and passion. We are a drug-free workplace, and an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a healthy work environment.
