Director, Bus Transportation

** The salary displayed is the full salary range. The hiring salary will be determined based on the final candidate's qualifications, the Council's internal pay structures, and our total compensation package for the position. **

Manages and provides leadership of the Bus Transportation Division which is responsible for providing the scheduled transit service 24 hours a day, seven days of the week.

• Performs overall supervision of the division with approximately 1,176 operators and 153 dispatchers, coordinators, instructors, and administrative employees (including supervisors and managers).
• Develops short-term/strategic plans; monitors and evaluates the quality of the Department's performance and adjusts to ensure service is delivered in a safe, customer friendly, on-time and cost-effective manner.
• Communicates with and visits garages, meets with operators and their managers to discuss operational issues; communicates regularly with Street Operations, Transit Control Center and Instruction Center staff to ensure policies and procedures are in place and understood by employees.

Improves labor relations for the division; responsible for providing opportunity for growth and development for all Bus Transportation employees; ensures fairness and equity are considered in all areas including hiring and discipline.

• Leads, plans and participates in regular Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Transit Managers and Supervisors Association (TMSA) communication meetings; Transit Safety & Security Meetings; promotes employee health and wellness initiatives, including Peer Support by meeting with operators who have been assaulted, ensuring Victim Impact Statements and court visits are attended by management staff; participates and supports operator focus groups for all areas of the business.
• Participates in grievance hearings, medical disqualification hearings and arbitrations which requires a clear understanding of the labor contracts, policies and procedures, ensuring a fair and consistent interpretation and application of them. Promotes the Labor Relations Department with garage teams, by coordinating and meeting regularly with their staff.
• Promotes growth and development opportunities for operators; mentoring, coaching Leadership Academy opportunities along with management stretch and shadowing opportunities; Promoting LOD participation and Metro Transit University principles of training and access for all management staff.

Promotes and researches innovative technology solutions that promotes safety, efficiency and growth.

• Division responsibility for creation of a potentially enterprise-wide resource - IDash system; TransitMaster upgrades and enhancements for Bus Operator communication and information to management teams and customers via Nextrip; Bus Annunciators; Transit Yard Manager; Hastus payroll, booking, daily work assignments and messages are working properly.
• Promotes safety technologies for left and right turn accidents; cornering lights for pedestrian and operator awareness technology solutions; promotes safety campaigns such as Look & See; Safety Keys; operator training solutions; and field audits.
• Participates in research with cities, counties and Universities on operator labor issues, SMART Cities, Urban partnership agreements, Transit Signal Priority enhancements to ensure operator on time performance and customer satisfaction; opportunities to enhance safety in functional urban design strategies and traffic enhancements.

Participates and represents Metro Transit in national transportation meetings; with cities and counties; with members of the executive leadership team; Metropolitan Council Departments; Regional Providers, etc.

• Participates in American Public Transportation Association Bus Operations and Human Resources Committees and working groups: Develop strong partnerships with Council Members, Transportation and planning committees from cities and counties.
• Member of internal working groups with Human Resources, Labor Relations; Safety & Risk Management; Transit Oriented Development, Engineering and Service Development; Office of General Counsel, etc.
• Promotes and participates in Metro Transit Special Events; State Fair; Rodeo; Operator Training; Operator Recognition Events; Drills and Exercises; Homeland Security meetings.

Any of the following combinations of progressive experience in transportation, equipment maintenance, transit operations or project management in a large transit setting and completed education in business administration, transportation, public administration, or closely related field with at least five (5) years of experience in a leadership role with some experience casting organizational vision, strategic planning, labor relations, budget/financial development and management.

• High school diploma/GED with thirteen (13) years of experience including five (5) years of experience in a leadership role.
• Associate's degree with eleven (11) years of experience, including five (5) years of experience in a leadership role.
• Bachelor's degree with nine (9) years of experience, including five (5) years of experience in a leadership role.
• Master's degree or higher with seven (7) years of experience, including five (5) years of experience in a leadership role.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience in a leadership role in Bus Transportation for a large transit institution environment with union employees.
• Experience and ability to promote an equitable, positive and respectful work environment that values diversity among all employees.
• Experience building a collaborative and cohesive team.
• Experience in project management working to meet different stakeholder requirements.
• Experience in technology with updated skills in the following: MS Word, Power Point, Excel and Outlook email and calendars, spreadsheets, graphic presentations, reporting software, internet and transportation systems.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of principles, policies and practices of operating a mass transit system; with focus on budget and administration.
• Knowledge of the collective bargaining agreements of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Transit Managers and Supervisors Association (TMSA).
• Knowledge of effective processes, methods and techniques to analyze and evaluate business operations.
• Skilled at Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills with labor agreement policies and procedures.
• Skilled at MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook at an intermediate level. Able to create graphic presentations, use reporting software and familiarity with HASTUS and TransitMaster.
• Skilled at written communications and able to write in an articulate, organized manner for reports, grievance responses, Operator Bulletins, business correspondence, policies, etc.
• Skilled at leadership development (coaching and mentoring) and team building based on equity and resiliency.
• Ability to think strategically to achieve organizational goals and analyze and interpret transportation documentation.
• Ability to promote an equitable, positive and respectful work environment that values diversity among all employees.
• Ability to persuade and influence others to accomplish the goals and priorities of the department and agency.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and other educational opportunities.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: Non-Represented Classified/Grade E-1
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive Designation: No
What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.
What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:
If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.
If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.
IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.
The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.Employment Type: Full-Time