diff --git a/bin/job-dispatch.py b/bin/job-dispatch.py
index 1437d99..b6d3e45 100755
--- a/bin/job-dispatch.py
+++ b/bin/job-dispatch.py
@@ -119,6 +119,28 @@ def create_sidechat(sender_agent, dry_run=False):
         print(f"Sidechat creation failed: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
         return False
 
+def find_sidechat(sender_agent, name, dry_run=False):
+    """Find existing sidechat by name and navigate to it. Returns True if found."""
+    if dry_run:
+        return False
+    # List sidechats and check if name exists
+    cmd = [NETVM_EXEC, sender_agent, "--", "python3", str(CHAT_API),
+           "--account", sender_agent, "sidechat", "list"]
+    try:
+        result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
+        if name.lower() not in result.stdout.lower():
+            return False
+        # Navigate to it
+        nav = [NETVM_EXEC, sender_agent, "--", "python3", str(CHAT_API),
+               "--account", sender_agent, "sidechat", "use", name]
+        nav_r = subprocess.run(nav, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
+        if nav_r.returncode == 0:
+            print(f"Reusing sidechat: {name}", file=sys.stderr)
+            return True
+        return False
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
 def send_to_current_chat(sender_agent, message, dry_run=False):
     """Send message to current chat via muse-chat-api.py (no navigation).
     Used after sidechat create - browser is already on the new chat."""
@@ -183,23 +205,23 @@ def main():
     sidechat_created = False
     
     if use_sidechat:
-        # Create sidechat in sender's (opm's) context.
-        # Browser will be on the new sidechat; we send directly to it.
-        # No thread ID lookup needed - send_to_current_chat uses current page.
-        print(f"Creating sidechat for job {job_id}...", file=sys.stderr)
-        sidechat_created = create_sidechat("opm", dry_run=dry_run)
-        if sidechat_created:
-            name_tmpl = sidechat_cfg.get("name_template", "job-{job_name}-{date}")
-            sc_name = render_prompt(name_tmpl, variables)
-            log_event("job_sidechat_created", {
-                "job_id": job_id,
-                "sidechat_name": sc_name,
-            })
-            print(f"Sidechat created: {sc_name}", file=sys.stderr)
-            target = "sidechat"  # marker, not used for dm.py
+        name_tmpl = sidechat_cfg.get("name_template", "job-{job_name}-{date}")
+        sc_name = render_prompt(name_tmpl, variables)
+        # Try reuse first (for recurring jobs), then create
+        if find_sidechat("opm", sc_name, dry_run=dry_run):
+            log_event("job_sidechat_reused", {"job_id": job_id, "sidechat_name": sc_name})
+            sidechat_created = True
+            target = "sidechat"
         else:
-            print(f"Warning: Failed to create sidechat, falling back to main", file=sys.stderr)
-            target = "main"
+            print(f"Creating sidechat for job {job_id}...", file=sys.stderr)
+            sidechat_created = create_sidechat("opm", dry_run=dry_run)
+            if sidechat_created:
+                log_event("job_sidechat_created", {"job_id": job_id, "sidechat_name": sc_name})
+                print(f"Sidechat created: {sc_name}", file=sys.stderr)
+                target = "sidechat"
+            else:
+                print(f"Warning: Failed to create sidechat, falling back to main", file=sys.stderr)
+                target = "main"
     else:
         target = "main"
     
diff --git a/jobs/heartbeat.json b/jobs/heartbeat.json
index a722a31..40f3e39 100644
--- a/jobs/heartbeat.json
+++ b/jobs/heartbeat.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"agent":"opm","chain_next":null,"description":"Heartbeat job - verifies DM system is working every 5 minutes","name":"heartbeat","on_failure":"alert","prompt_template":"Heartbeat check from job scheduler.\nJob ID: {job_id}\nTime: {datetime}\n\nThis is an automated heartbeat. Reply with [RESULT {job_id}] OK to confirm the DM pipeline is healthy.","schedule":"*/5 * * * *","sidechat":{"create":false},"timeout":300}
\ No newline at end of file
+{"agent":"opm","chain_next":null,"description":"Heartbeat job - verifies DM system is working every 5 minutes (goes to sidechat)","name":"heartbeat","on_failure":"alert","prompt_template":"Heartbeat check from job scheduler.\nJob ID: {job_id}\nTime: {datetime}\n\nThis is an automated heartbeat. Reply with [RESULT {job_id}] OK to confirm the DM pipeline is healthy.","schedule":"*/5 * * * *","sidechat":{"create":true,"name_template":"heartbeat"},"timeout":300}
\ No newline at end of file