Description

PURPOSE OF JOB

The Director of Bus Operations is responsible for delivery of the fixed route bus and paratransit operation authorized by the DCTA Board of Directors to provide high quality services to customers.  This includes planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating the day-to-day activities of bus operations including hiring, evaluation, and termination of employees. Provides transformational leadership to the bus operations by identifying opportunities for efficiency, continuous improvement and delivering information, alternatives, and recommendations regarding operations, organizational structure, and services. Ensures service is operated in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and consistent with established policies, procedures, plans, and budgets.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are standard for this position.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

·        Maintains frequent communication with the Vice President of Operations for system status, exceptions and personnel/operational issues.

·        Forecasts bus operator recruitment and updates the Bus Operator recruitment model and Extra Board Model to keep pace with service requirements and staffing changes.

·        Establishes the overall direction of the department by determining priorities, setting goals and objectives and managing the activities of the Managers and Operation Supervisors.

·        Provides assignments, goals and developmental opportunities for staff. Actively participates in employee development and succession planning.

·        Works with Director of Transportation and Human Resources to develop and implements operating rules and procedures for the department.

·        Develops business metrics and key performance indicators and implements processes and procedures based on findings and recommendations. 

·        Develops and analyzes budgetary/financial impacts and makes decisions/recommendations.  Manages monthly budget-to-actual comparisons to ensure on-going budgetary compliance.

·        Oversees processing of employee payroll information.  Ensures safety of the bus operation in accordance with the DCTA Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan.

·        Delivers daily fixed route bus and paratransit services authorized by the Board of Directors and approved budgets.

·        Develops scopes of work, participates in procurement process and administers competitively awarded contracts for transportation services. Reviews and approves contract transportation service invoices.  Monitors and verifies required contractor reporting, ensuring contract compliance.   Reviews the accuracy of operations data; revenue hours, ridership, etc.

·        Develops and monitors paratransit service performance indicators.  Evaluates performance through data collection, analysis, and preparation of reports.  Makes recommendations for schedule adjustments.

·        Prepares monthly reports summarizing contract operator performance or as needed.  Works with other departments to develop long and mid-range planning documents, annual reporting including National Transit Database (NTD) reporting.

·        Provides guidance and technical assistance to contractors.  Ensures contractor compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.

·        Responds to customer comments, concerns and issues.   Ensures timely response and resolution from contractors and internal staff.  Assists customer relations with the investigation of complaints. 

·        Ensures accurate reporting to the Board on performance against budget on a regular basis. 

·        Represents DCTA in applicable represented employee matters in accordance with state law and other applicable regulations.

·        Facilitates exceptional customer service mechanisms and processes and the development and exchange of bus operations Key Performance Indicators and data.

·        Leads development of Board Meeting agendas and supporting information to facilitate the meeting in close coordination with the Vice President of Operations, Director of Transportation, and Operations team.

·        Provides vision and leadership to drive efficiency and effectiveness improvements in the bus operation and in the working relationships with all operations employees.

·        Provides strategic planning and direction to department managers in safety, customer service, administration, operations, and maintenance.

·        Sets vision and provides support for Human Resources function including recruiting, establishment of clear and measurable job expectations, training goals, robust goal setting and performance evaluation processes, investigations, and terminations when necessary.

·        Makes decisions and recommendations related to actions to hire, promote, modify job duties, lay off, and terminate for cause, where such decisions and action are necessary and consistent with applicable law and policy.

·        Facilitates dialogue, collaboration and administrative support between operations and other Agency departments as needed.

·        Ensures all functions of the bus operation follows approved policies and procedures.

·        Works collectively with the Director of Transportation and Maintenance to ensure maintenance and accurate inventory of assets including but not limited to vehicles, facilities, inventories, tools, and equipment. May participate in fleet planning and management processes to ensure future equipment availability.

·        Ensures culture in line with Servant Leader model and leads by example to create a healthy team environment.

·        Develops policies and procedures in support of bus operations.

·        Ensure compliance of local, state, and federal laws and regulations including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

·        Manages and supervises multiple projects concurrently.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manages Operations Managers and works with Operations Managers to manager Operations Supervisors and Bus Operators. Counsels, supervises and evaluates the performance of team; issues disciplinary warnings and assists in grievance procedures. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with the organization's values, policies and applicable laws. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of this unit. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Requirements

QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Where applicable, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of education/experience listed below.

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION (where applicable, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered)

Must be 21 years of age or older. Bachelors' Degree in administration, transportation, or related field. Seven years of experience in public transit operations. Five years of management experience (two of which should be in a public transit/transportation environment), or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A minimum of one year as a bus operator highly desired. Previous supervision of a represented workforce highly desired. Proper license(s) with endorsements and certifications to operate a passenger motor coach preferred. Must possess a safe driving record.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

·        Exceptional interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to communicate effectively and sensitively with all levels of supervisory and non-supervisory employees, a politically, economically, and culturally diverse work force and represent the agency to the community, customers, government entities, vendors, contractors, and others both inside and outside of the agency.

·        Demonstrated working knowledge of advanced principles and practices of transit system operations management and the ability to manage a large and complex operations system, multi-site project management, budgeting practices, labor relations, personnel management, strategic planning and employee development and supervision.

·        Sound knowledge of safety management principles and practices.

·        Previous experience working in a collaborative manner within a collective bargaining environment. Ability to work effectively with labor; including labor grievances and negotiations. 

·        Experience with establishing and managing budgets and knowledge of general business and accounting principles and practices.

·        Demonstrated ability to manage employees and experience overseeing a unionized workforce.

·        Extensive knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws and regulations related to transit operations.

·        Experience with word processing, spreadsheet and project management software packages such as Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint. 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: Physical activity includes, but is not limited to: on a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; board and disembark from transit vehicles in a field environment, move safety through vehicle shop and maintenance areas, intermittently twist and reach office equipment; write or use keyboard to communicate through written means; lift moderate weight; reaching above the waist, reaching below the waist, and reaching waist to shoulder to reach inventory on shelves; talking and hearing when dealing with customers; and observation of transit projects and operations during field work. Occasionally requires kneeling, stooping, crouching, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 25 lbs. Repeated use of hearing and speech to communicate on telephone, radios, and in person.

Summary

Come be a part of an amazing team working to move the people of the 6th largest growing county in the United States!

Additional perks and benefits that accompany full-time employment with DCTA:

·        Employee portions of Medical and Dental benefits are 100% paid by the Agency.

·        If you have utilized a Proportionate Retirement Program in the past, the service time transfers to DCTA’s retirement system, TCDRS. The following systems apply:

o   Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)

o   Employees Retirement System (ERS)

o   Judicial Retirement System of Texas (JRS)

o   Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)

o   City of Austin Employees Retirement System (COAERS)

·        Expanding time-off accruals: 12 days of vacation time accrued for the first year, increasing by one day each year, with a max of 17 days annually. Additionally, employees earn 12 days of sick time each year, 4 floating holidays, 9 fixed holidays, and the ability to earn two additional days off through the Wellness Program.

·        Regional transit passes (bus and rail) for you and your immediate family.

·        DCTA strives to continually improve our Servant Leadership We pride ourselves in having an open, caring, and communicative community of employees, with the drive to help build each other up.

·        Extensive Wellness Program, including several opportunities to volunteer with the agency, sporadic lunch and learn events, chair massages, the potential to earn two extra days off each year, and continual efforts to improve wellness throughout the agency.

***DCTA is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer***