Transit Superintendent - Base Operations

Full Job Description

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Metro Transit’s Bus Operations Division is seeking to fill two (2) Career Service Transit Superintendent positions: North and South Base. This role is responsible for planning and directing the day-to-day operations of the bus transit operations facility, providing policy direction, proactively solving problems that impact service delivery, managing workgroup deliverables and performance through progressive leadership, and acting as a resource to employees at the worksite. In this position, you will have the opportunity to increase your knowledge in all aspects of being a leader in bus operations, maintenance, and yard operations. This position will be required to be in-person and reports to the Assistant Bus Operations Manager.

Requirements

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

As Superintendent, you will:

• Plan, organize, and direct the day-to-day and long-range activities of our bus transit operations facility.

• Direct and mentor a diverse team of leaders, fostering a culture of mutual support, accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement.

• Administer transit operator dispatch and customer service operations and policies critical to providing safe and reliable bus transit service to the King County service area.

• Establish annual base operating goals and objectives, which include priorities, performance standards, staff development, and resource needs to support efficient, customer-focused service; analyze performance metrics and report on progress achieved; ensure efficient use of resources.

• Supervise administrative support, professional staff, and transit chiefs, directing the work of transit operators and first-line supervisors.

• Play an integral role in Metro Transit's priority of safety and security; take responsibility for timely and appropriate responses in emergencies that may impact public safety; develop operating contingency plans and direct base operations during emergencies, natural disasters, adverse weather, or similar events involving disruption of service delivery.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Candidates must have demonstrated experience and proficiency in the following minimum qualifications. Note: your application materials must support these qualifications

We are looking for candidates who have the following Minimum Qualifications.

Leadership & Team Management

• At least three (3) years of supervisory experience with three (3) or more direct reports.
• Proven ability to build effective, diverse teams by inspiring trust, establishing strong morale, fostering open communication, and aligning staff with organizational vision and service goals.
• Experience developing employees at all levels, including coaching, performance evaluation, mentoring, progressive discipline and assigning challenging or developmental work.
• Experience providing guidance and direction to subordinate supervisors and other staff concerning complex or sensitiveissues and problems while navigating ambiguity surrounding policy.

  
  

Labor & Employee Relations

• Experience working collaboratively with labor unions, including building productive relationships with union leadership, honoring established labor processes, and resolving issues in ways that support a respectful and safe workplace.
• Ability to apply labor relations practices, including interest-based or collaborative negotiations, grievance processes, and arbitration procedures.
• Knowledge of human resources management concepts, supervisory principles, employee performance management, coaching and counseling practices, and federal, state, and local employment laws (e.g., civil rights, affirmative action, workplace safety).

Operational & Administrative Capabilities

• Ability to apply workforce planning, budget monitoring, resource allocation, and project management principles within a transit operations setting.
• Strong conflict resolution, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make timely, informed decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Demonstrated time-management skills and the ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage multiple projects and operational demands simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrated ability to build equitable, respectful relationships and treat all employees and customers with dignity while resolving issues for the good of the organization and community.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with employees, management, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Experience representing a workgroup or division in a wide variety of internal and external work groups, project teams, committees, and task forces.
• Demonstratedability in resolving conflict, problem solving, and negotiation.

Other Requirements

• High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Valid driver’s license (Washington State license required by date of hire) or the ability to travel throughout the county in a timely manner.

We are looking for candidates with these Desired Qualifications.

• Ability to drive vision and purpose creating organization-wide energy and optimism for the future.
• Functional knowledge of the HASTUS scheduling and operations system.
• Demonstrated sensitivity as a leader to cultural norms, expectations, and diverse ways of communicating.
• Supervisory experience in the transportation industry or a unionized workforce.
• Experience conducting statistical and operational analyses and establishing or implementing operational policies, procedures, and performance goals.
• Experience managing operations in a public transit environment, including service delivery, operator workforce management, safety practices, and customer service standards.
• Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or continuous-improvement initiatives in a complex or unionized environment.

Additional Information

Application & Selection Process
An online employment application, a cover letter*, and answers to the supplemental questions are required.

Cover Letter

In your cover letter, please explain how your experience and leadership will enable you to be an asset to the South or North Base team as superintendent. Your cover letter must include your experiences that will allow you to succeed in the following minimum qualifications:

• Achieving operational goals and objectives, and establishing the systems and processes required to fulfill those goals
• Analyzing, forecasting and reporting on base metrics.
• Developing and implementing strategies to improve service quality.
• Investigating and responding to grievances and participating in contractual conflict resolution.
• Participating and representing Bus Operations in a wide variety of internal and external work groups, projects teams, committees, and task forces.
• Demonstrated sensitivity as a leader to cultural norms, expectations, and diverse ways of communicating.
• Ability to drive vision and purpose creating organization-wide energy and optimism for the future.

NOTE: Please answer all relevant questions in the online employment application itself.

Work Schedule

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay. Work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Variations may be required depending on the demands and needs of the work.

Union/Class Code/Grade
PROTEC17, Transit Superintendent /873101/73

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Cody Buchanan at cobuchanan@kingcounty.gov

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

Are you ready to make a difference?

Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.

Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.

We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.To ApplyIf you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.