Transit Vehicle Maintenance Superintendent

Full Job Description

Now is the time to join one of the fastest growing transit agencies in the region! King County Metro Transit is seeking to hire two (2) Transit Vehicle Maintenance Superintendents to skillfully manage the vehicle maintenance operations at our transit bases in King County.

About King County Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance Division
Metro Transit's Vehicle Maintenance division takes pride in meeting our customers' expectations for safe, dependable, clean, and environmentally sound vehicles. Maintenance of Metro's bus fleet takes place at seven bus bases across King County and at our central Component Supply Center (CSC) where specialized work is done. Currently, the majority of Metro's buses are hybrids, followed by diesel, electric trolley, and battery-electric buses. Metro has long been an innovator in green vehicle technology and plans to transition to battery-electric buses as we move toward our goal of a zero-emission fleet. Our division is committed to working in a timely, cost effective, and environmentally sensitive manner, and values teamwork, communication, diversity, and social justice.

Learn how Metro connects you with what matters

Recruitment Information: This competitive recruitment will be used to fill two (2) career service Transit Vehicle Maintenance Superintendent positions within the Maintenance Operations section of the Vehicle Maintenance Division.

An eligibility list of qualified candidates may be established to fill future career service, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies that may occur in this classification and workgroup.

If established, this list would be active for 12 months from the posting date and may be utilized at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who May Apply: This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants, including the general public and King County Employees. Please see the required application materials and minimum qualifications listed in the sections below.

For more information: If you have any questions about this position, its requirements, or if you would like to have a confidential discussion about the opportunity, you are invited to contact our recruiter: Emily Clark (She/Her), Senior Talent Advisor: emclark@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-8373.

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. Other job duties for this role include:

Strategic Leadership and Vision

Financial Management and Sustainability

Customer Service and Public Engagement

Collaboration and Organizational Coordination

Crisis Management and Problem Solving

Data Monitoring and Reporting

Policy Development and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations related to transit safety, operations, accessibility, and environmental standards.

• Lead development, communication, and implementation of policies related to staffing, safety, equity, and service delivery.

• Ensure consistent and uniform policy application by Chiefs and frontline leadership.

• Oversee risk management strategies, including safety protocols and procedures for accident response and prevention (e.g., SSAM inspections).

Organizational Development and Leadership

Innovation and Technology Integration

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who possess the following minimum qualifications:

• At least four (4) years of full-time supervisory or managerial experience that includes the following responsibilities: conducting staff performance appraisals or formal evaluations, overseeing payroll administration, managing team performance, and managing individual employees’ performance (including administering corrective action or disciplinary measures).

• At least four (4) years of progressively responsible maintenance operations experience in a large, multifaceted, complex, and/or public sector setting.

• Experience leading teams in unionized environments, working with labor agreements, and partnering with unions and labor representatives to resolve issues.

• Proven ability to lead diverse teams, build effective working relationships, and foster a culture of accountability, equity, and inclusion.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice in leadership practices

• Demonstrated success in managing operations, setting strategic direction, and guiding organizational change.

• Experience managing budgets and resources, monitoring performance metrics, and implementing cost-saving or efficiency measures.

• Knowledge of vehicle maintenance operations, fleet management principles, related safety protocols, and regulatory compliance.

• Strong analytical and decision-making skills, and the ability to effectively lead employees under pressure and in emergency situations.

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present information to senior leadership, collaborate across departments, and engage with the public or stakeholders.

• Familiarity with maintenance management systems, data reporting tools, and emerging vehicle technologies such as electric buses or automated diagnostics.

• A valid Washington State Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record. If you possess an out-of-state driver’s license, you must obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.

• Must be willing and available to work at any assigned site location and shift schedule (including weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays) as required to support staffing needs and critical operations, in alignment with any negotiated labor agreements.

• Must be willing and able to report for duty and direct base operations during adverse weather events and other emergencies. This may include extended durations.

• Must be willing to be on-call 24-hours a day (as needed or scheduled) to respond to emergent critical needs, emergencies, or other special circumstances.

Desired qualifications include:

• Experience working in a large-scale public transit or transportation agency
• Experience managing vehicle maintenance operations for large fleets
• Experience supporting sustainability initiatives and integrating green fleet technologies.
• Demonstrated experience driving process improvement initiatives, setting standards for team performance, and the ability to improve efficiency and effectiveness across operations.
• Knowledge of King County Metro’s vehicle maintenance systems, policies, and operational procedures.
• Working knowledge of Safety Management Systems as they apply to complex operational environments within transportation, including hazard identification, risk assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal regulations that govern funding, procurement, contracting, and operation of inventory regulations (preferably in mass transit).
• Knowledge of (or experience with) grievance and arbitration processes, with skill in applying collaborative or interest-based negotiation approaches to resolve workplace issues.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional growth through ongoing personal development, relevant training, industry certifications, formal coursework, and active participation in professional associations.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: If 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 Emily Clark (She/Her), Senior Talent Advisor, at EmClark@KingCounty.gov.

Required application materials:

Submit an updated online King County application at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.

Provide separate, detailed entries in the Work Experience section for each relevant position held; including your job title, employer, accurate employment dates, reasons for leaving each position, and thoroughly detailed job duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments.

Respond to all required supplemental questions within the application.

Attach an updated résumé

Write and attach a cover letter that explains your interest in this position, and the achievements and qualifications that best demonstrate your readiness for this role.
Note: Only the first 2 pages of your cover letter will be reviewed.

Please only include the attachments we have asked for in the list, above. Additional attachments will not be reviewed. Make sure your Work Experience section fully supports and reflects any experience or qualifications mentioned in your cover letter, résumé, or supplemental responses. Incomplete applications or those missing required materials may not be considered.

Selection Process: Applicants meeting the posted qualifications will be screened based on clarity, completeness, and competitiveness of their application materials.

The most competitive applicants may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Final hiring decisions may consider both your overall interview results and your application materials.

Employment offers, start date, and base assignments will be finalized only after the selected candidate has successfully completed all pre-employment requirements, including a driving record review, reference checks, and/or a King County Personnel Record Review.

Work Schedule and Work Location This position is FLSA exempt and does not qualify for overtime pay.

The normal schedule is day shift (usually between 6:00AM and 3:00PM) Monday through Friday; however, due to the 24/7 operation of public transit service, the role will require intermittent off shift (swing and graveyard) meetings as well as weekend work.

Work is performed onsite and includes rotational on call duties, which may require availability 24 hours per day during scheduled assignments.

Extended duty may be required during adverse weather events and emergencies.Shift and location assignments are subject to change based on operational needs and may occur on any shift (day, swing, or graveyard) and at any of the operating bases throughout the King County Metro system or the Component Supply Center (CSC).Union Representation: The position is represented by PROTEC-17, Transit Superintendents bargaining unit.Class Code: 8712080 (Transit Superintendent - Vehicle Maintenance)

Forbes 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 Americans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No 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.

Need help with your application?

• Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County.
• For technical support related to accessing or completing your application, contact the GovernmentJobs.com applicant support team for assistance during regular business hours: +1 855-524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.
• The King County Workforce Development page offers free guidance, resources, and checklists to help candidates present their skills and experience competitively for King County recruitments. We encourage you to visit the General Career Resources section on their website for more tips.
• For questions regarding this recruitment please contact the recruiter, Emily Clark (she/her), Senior Talent Advisor: emclark@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-8373