Chief of Base Operations
- Summary
The Chief of Base Operations position has direct oversight of the daily operation of transit service at transit bases. Responsibilities include oversight and direct supervision of transit operators and first line supervisors in the areas of attendance, work performance and ensuring safe, timely and efficient service to the public.
Who may apply: This position is open to King County employees who are career service employees, career service exempt employees, current probationary employees who attained career service status in a previous position and the general public.
Forms and materials required: Applicants for this position are required to submit the complete online application form and answers to the attached supplemental questions and a detailed letter of interest (1 page maximum) addressing the following questions:- What makes you a good candidate for Base Operations Chief?
- What about the future of Metro Transit excite you?
- How do you manage frustrations when change does not go as smoothly or as quickly as planned?
Work location: This recruitment will be used to fill four (4) current vacancies: 2 at Atlantic Base, 1 at Bellevue Base and 1 at Central Base.
Work schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is not overtime eligible. Typical work hours are between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Employees may be required to work extended hours and weekend and holidays and will be required to serve occasional 24/7 "on-call" in rotation with other Base Operations Chiefs. Transit Chiefs must have the ability to report to work in the event of adverse weather or other emergent/crisis situation, and remain on hand during the event unless otherwise directed or relieved.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Troika Braswell
Sr. Human Resource Analyst
King County Metro Transit
TBraswell@kingcounty.gov (Preferred method of contact)
206-263-1523 (desk)
- Job Duties
Base Management duties include:
- Supervise and direct the work of first line supervisors and up to 150 transit operators, exhibiting positive leadership and role modeling, encouraging and supporting staff development and training, conducting performance evaluations, and providing ADA accommodations as needed.
- Develop and implement programs to manage employee performance, including providing progressive discipline, taking disciplinary action, referrals to training and the service auditor.
- Investigate and respond to allegations of employee misconduct. Determine and administer appropriate discipline and/or corrective actions.
- Address specific employee performance deficiencies: counsel, direct, assist the employee in problem solving the deficiencies, establish and communicate performance expectations.
- Interpret and apply labor agreements and County and Metro Transit policy
- Conduct grievance hearings and make decisions regarding resolution of grievances.
- Interview and recommend selection of transit operators and first line supervisors.
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Work with internal and external groups including other Transit Operations Divisions, Vehicle Maintenance, Facilities Maintenance, Scheduling, Finance, Union officers and stewards, emergency response organizations, contractors, the public, elected officials, and representatives from private organizations on various Operational issues and projects.
- Investigate and resolve customer complaints; mitigate high-profile service delivery issues with elected officials, other agencies and the public.
- Workforce planning to ensure that adequate staff exists to meet service schedule requirements.
- Project management for smaller projects within Bus Operations and throughout the Metro Transit Division (MTD).
- Make budget-minded decisions during both day-to-day base operations as well as ongoing projects.
- Coordinate and advise the Base Security and Base Safety Awareness committees; implement base-specific initiatives to improve safety and reduce operator and passenger assaults; make base safety and security recommendations to upper management.
- Work with others to anticipate, identify and implement opportunities for service quality, workplace and business process improvements.
- Make real-time decisions to support transit service during emergency situations.
- Act as Superintendent of Base Operations when assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
In addition to the shared competencies (Download PDF reader) for the Transit Chief role.
- Two years of increasingly responsible transit-related experience, particularly transit operations.
- Working knowledge of and experience working within or managing a unionized workforce and the grievance process.
- Leadership skills, including decisiveness, good judgment, fairness, integrity and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of work systems, programs and strategies.
- Proven ability to be a productive and collaborative team member.
- Skill in coaching and mentoring operators and/or first line supervisors.
- Skill in time management and managing multiple projects and daily responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
- Demonstrated ability to model customer service skills that represent Metro's commitment to customer service and to create an environment that supports customer service.
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships and trust with employees, recognizing diversity of opinion and point of view.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse workgroup, being supportive of different backgrounds, experiences and cultures to create a cohesive environment of trust.
- Demonstrated ability to complete critical forms efficiently and accurately.
- Demonstrated ability to research and utilize multiple sources of information and draw logical conclusions using basic data analysis methods to make defensible determinations.
- Desired qualifications:
- Analytical skills that demonstrate the ability to determine staff level requirements.
- Skill in effectively addressing employee performance issues: instructing and motivating employees to perform well and correct performance deficiencies.
- Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communications skills, including the ability to listen carefully to others with an open mind, and give and receive feedback.
- Skill in indirectly managing a transient workforce that changes three times per year.
- Demonstrated skill with proactively correcting employee performance issues, such as poor customer service, policy violation, safety violation, etc.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and team building, building trustful and respectful relationships within the team.
- Demonstrated ability to gather and evaluate data and make decision-based findings as they relate to conducting investigations, including customer complaints, employee misconduct, employee complaints, as well as EEOC and OCR complaints.
- Ability to think critically about impacts to base performance on both a local and global level; specifically as it relates to performance measures such as attendance and employee performance.
- Working knowledge of managing large-scale fixed-route transit service.
- Knowledge of the regulatory and statutory requirements that govern the operation and delivery of mass transit services.
- Working knowledge of basic human resources principles and practices as they relate to hiring and employee management. Demonstrated aptitude in Microsoft Word and Outlook/Exchange and the ability to use the Internet and other technology in networking with other transit professionals. Working experience in an operating unit of a public transit agency.
- Working knowledge of King County Metro Transit Bus Operations.
- Small project management training and/or experience.
- Coursework in supervision and/or management.
- Valid Washington State Driver's License or alternate ability to travel to locations for which public transportation is not regularly available.
- Work requires reporting for duty and directing first line supervisory staff and operators during adverse weather events and other emergencies.
- Work requires being the on-call Operations Chief at various times throughout any calendar year.
- Supplemental Information
Selection Process: Candidates who demonstrate clearly through their application materials how they meet and/or exceed the minimum qualifications and ideal candidate profile will be invited to participate in first round panel interviews. Candidates who pass the first round interview process will advance to final interviews.
First Round of interviews are scheduled for the weeks of September 9th – September 20th.
Final Round of interviews are scheduled for September 30th – October 11th.
You must be available to on these dates if selected. Skype options are available for out-of-state candidates for the first-round interview only. Final interviews must be in person. We unfortunately not able to provide interviewing or relocation expenses.
The most competitive candidates from the final interview process will proceed to reference checks and a record review. Final offers of employment will be subject to successful completion of the reference check and record review process.
Please note this recruitment will be used to fill the advertised Transit Chief positions only. This recruitment will not create a pool for future career service, Term-Limited-Temporary, or Special Duty Transit Chief assignments.
Union Representation: This job is represented by Professional Technical Local 17 - Chiefs Unit.
Class Code
8730200
An Employer To Be Proud Of
King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this nation's public transportation industry.
Great Benefits
King County provides our employees with a free transportation pass (good on Metro, Pierce, Community and Sound Transit) and a generous benefits package, (see Benefits tab for more details).
At King County Metro Transit we believe:
Our diverse culture encompasses unique perspectives, knowledge, skills and abilities, and the rich dimensions of their unique identity that each member of the Metro community brings to work
SUMMARY:
The Chief of Base Operations position has direct oversight of the daily operation of transit service at transit bases. Responsibilities include oversight and direct supervision of transit operators and first line supervisors in the areas of attendance, work performance and ensuring safe, timely and efficient service to the public.
Who may apply: This position is open to King County employees who are career service employees, career service exempt employees, current probationary employees who attained career service status in a previous position and externally to the general public.
Forms and materials required: Applicants for this position are required to submit the complete online application form and answers to the attached supplemental questions and a detailed letter of interest (1 page maximum) addressing the following questions:- What makes you a good candidate for Base Operations Chief?
- What about the future of Metro Transit excite you?
- How do you manage frustrations when change does not go as smoothly or as quickly as planned?
Work location: This recruitment will be used to fill four (4) current vacancies: 2 at Atlantic Base, 1 at Bellevue Base and 1 at Central Base.
Work schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is not overtime eligible. Typical work hours are between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Employees may be required to work extended hours and weekend and holidays and will be required to serve occasional 24/7 "on-call" in rotation with other Base Operations Chiefs. Transit Chiefs must have the ability to report to work in the event of adverse weather or other emergent/crisis situation, and remain on hand during the event unless otherwise directed or relieved.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Troika Braswell
Sr. Human Resource Analyst
King County Metro Transit
TBraswell@kingcounty.gov (Preferred method of contact)
206-263-1523 (desk)
JOB DUTIES:
Base Management duties include:- Supervise and direct the work of first line supervisors and up to 150 transit operators, exhibiting positive leadership and role modeling, encouraging and supporting staff development and training, conducting performance evaluations, and providing ADA accommodations as needed.
- Develop and implement programs to manage employee performance, including providing progressive discipline, taking disciplinary action, referrals to training and the service auditor.
- Investigate and respond to allegations of employee misconduct. Determine and administer appropriate discipline and/or corrective actions.
- Address specific employee performance deficiencies: counsel, direct, assist the employee in problem solving the deficiencies, establish and communicate performance expectations.
- Interpret and apply labor agreements and County and Metro Transit policy
- Conduct grievance hearings and make decisions regarding resolution of grievances.
- Interview and recommend selection of transit operators and first line supervisors.
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Work with internal and external groups including other Transit Operations Divisions, Vehicle Maintenance, Facilities Maintenance, Scheduling, Finance, Union officers and stewards, emergency response organizations, contractors, the public, elected officials, and representatives from private organizations on various Operational issues and projects.
- Investigate and resolve customer complaints; mitigate high-profile service delivery issues with elected officials, other agencies and the public.
- Workforce planning to ensure that adequate staff exists to meet service schedule requirements.
- Project management for smaller projects within Bus Operations and throughout the Metro Transit Division (MTD).
- Make budget-minded decisions during both day-to-day base operations as well as ongoing projects.
- Coordinate and advise the Base Security and Base Safety Awareness committees; implement base-specific initiatives to improve safety and reduce operator and passenger assaults; make base safety and security recommendations to upper management.
- Work with others to anticipate, identify and implement opportunities for service quality, workplace and business process improvements.
- Make real-time decisions to support transit service during emergency situations.
- Act as Superintendent of Base Operations when assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Two years of increasingly responsible transit-related experience, particularly transit operations.
- Working knowledge of and experience working within or managing a unionized workforce and the grievance process.
- Leadership skills, including decisiveness, good judgment, fairness, integrity and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of work systems, programs and strategies.
- Proven ability to be a productive and collaborative team member.
- Skill in coaching and mentoring operators and/or first line supervisors.
- Skill in time management and managing multiple projects and daily responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
- Demonstrated ability to model customer service skills that represent Metro's commitment to customer service and to create an environment that supports customer service.
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships and trust with employees, recognizing diversity of opinion and point of view.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse workgroup, being supportive of different backgrounds, experiences and cultures to create a cohesive environment of trust.
- Demonstrated ability to complete critical forms efficiently and accurately.
- Demonstrated ability to research and utilize multiple sources of information and draw logical conclusions using basic data analysis methods to make defensible determinations.
- Analytical skills that demonstrate the ability to determine staff level requirements.
- Skill in effectively addressing employee performance issues: instructing and motivating employees to perform well and correct performance deficiencies.
- Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communications skills, including the ability to listen carefully to others with an open mind, and give and receive feedback.
- Skill in indirectly managing a transient workforce that changes three times per year.
- Demonstrated skill with proactively correcting employee performance issues, such as poor customer service, policy violation, safety violation, etc.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and team building, building trustful and respectful relationships within the team.
- Demonstrated ability to gather and evaluate data and make decision-based findings as they relate to conducting investigations, including customer complaints, employee misconduct, employee complaints, as well as EEOC and OCR complaints.
- Ability to think critically about impacts to base performance on both a local and global level; specifically as it relates to performance measures such as attendance and employee performance.
- Working knowledge of managing large-scale fixed-route transit service.
- Knowledge of the regulatory and statutory requirements that govern the operation and delivery of mass transit services.
- Working knowledge of basic human resources principles and practices as they relate to hiring and employee management. Demonstrated aptitude in Microsoft Word and Outlook/Exchange and the ability to use the Internet and other technology in networking with other transit professionals. Working experience in an operating unit of a public transit agency.
- Working knowledge of King County Metro Transit Bus Operations.
- Small project management training and/or experience.
- Coursework in supervision and/or management.
- Valid Washington State Driver's License or alternate ability to travel to locations for which public transportation is not regularly available.
- Work requires reporting for duty and directing first line supervisory staff and operators during adverse weather events and other emergencies.
- Work requires being the on-call Operations Chief at various times throughout any calendar year.
Selection Process: Candidates who demonstrate clearly through their application materials how they meet and/or exceed the minimum qualifications and ideal candidate profile will be invited to participate in first round panel interviews. Candidates who pass the first round interview process will advance to final interviews.
First Round of interviews are scheduled for the weeks of September 9th – September 20th.
Final Round of interviews are scheduled for September 30th – October 11th.
You must be available to on these dates if selected. Skype options are available for out-of-state candidates for the first-round interview only. Final interviews must be in person. We unfortunately not able to provide interviewing or relocation expenses.
The most competitive candidates from the final interview process will proceed to reference checks and a record review. Final offers of employment will be subject to successful completion of the reference check and record review process.
Please note this recruitment will be used to fill the advertised Transit Chief positions only. This recruitment will not create a pool for future career service, Term-Limited-Temporary, or Special Duty Transit Chief assignments.
Union Representation: This job is represented by Professional Technical Local 17 - Chiefs Unit.
Class Code
8730200
An Employer To Be Proud Of
King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this nation's public transportation industry.
Great Benefits
King County provides our employees with a free transportation pass (good on Metro, Pierce, Community and Sound Transit) and a generous benefits package, (see Benefits tab for more details).
At King County Metro Transit we believe:
Our diverse culture encompasses unique perspectives, knowledge, skills and abilities, and the rich dimensions of their unique identity that each member of the Metro community brings to work every day. These perspectives and human dimensions are built through life experiences and membership in socially defined groups (including, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, and religious beliefs).
Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.
If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the contact listed on the job announcement or the department's Human Resources Service Delivery Manager.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete the EDUCATION and WORK EXPERIENCE sections of your application. Failure to do so can result in disqualification from consideration. Please check off all of the items that you have completed in your application:
- Completed education history
- Detailed description of each position that you have held in the last ten years. Please list gaps in employment and reason.
- Reason for leaving employers, (in cases of termination, state why you were terminated)
- Supervisor Name
- Employer phone number
02Are you currently a King County career service employee? If so, please indicate your employment type below:- Not currently a King County employee
- Career Service
- Career Service Exempt
- Probationary employee, but attained career service in another King County position
- Term-limited Temporary, Short Term Temporary, or Contract Worker
03Please indicate the number of years you have been in an increasingly responsible transit-related position:- Zero to three years
- Three to five years
- Five to seven years
- Seven or more years
04Please list the employers where you received this experience and your job title. If none, please enter "N/A":05How many of the above years were in a supervisory or lead capacity?- None
- Less than two years
- Two to four years
- Four or more years
06Please list the employers where you received this experience and your title. If none, please enter "N/A":07Please describe your working experience in an operating unit of a public transit agency, AND/OR your knowledge of King County Transit Operations. If none, please enter "N/A":08Please select the computer programs/applications with which you have working experience with:- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook/Exchange
- Internet
- Other technology in networking with other transit professionals
- None of these, but I am willing to learn.
09Have you completed specific coursework in supervision and/or management?- Yes
- No
10If yes, please specify the coursework, any degree/certification obtained and the dates of attendance:11Do you possess experience or training in project management?- Yes
- No
12If yes, please specify your job title and the company where you obtained this experience, or the coursework, and degree/certification obtained and the dates of attendance of any specialized training:13Please describe your typical process for establishing rapport and setting a positive tone with a new work group. Be specific and tell us where you've obtained this experience and your job title, (if applicable).14Describe a time in your work experience where you had to deal with an unreasonable customer request. How did you resolve the situation, and what would you have done differently, if anything?15Please take some time to describe your problem-solving process when you're required to work with someone who doesn't agree with you or the way you work. How did, (or would), you overcome this barrier, and what would you have done differently, if anything?16How do you, (or would you), get people who work independently to feel like part of the team?17Will you need accommodation in the testing process? If you check the "YES" box, the human resources staff person coordinating this recruitment will send you a request asking for additional information- Yes
- No
18I certify that the statement made by me on the application and supplemental questions are, to the best of my knowledge, true, complete and correct. I understand that any misrepresentation or material omission of fact on this or any other document required by King County may constitute grounds for rejection, or if employed by King County, for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.19I have read the job announcement and understand the duties and requirements for this position. I also understand that the provisions of the job announcement do not constitute an express or implied contract. I further understand that any employment offer may be subject to successful completion and results for drug and alcohol background check, pre-employment physical, drug testing, reference checks, driver's record evaluation, and criminal history checks. Having applied for employment with King County, I give my consent that any person, firm or organization listed hereon is authorized to furnish King County with reference material concerning my character, past employment or any other information requested. I hereby authorize the full release of my employment and work record to the Transit Division of King County for the purpose of evaluation and consideration for employment including, but not limited to, specific reasons and details regarding my resignation and/or termination, attendance and punctuality, infractions or any disciplinary actions I may have received, and disclosure of all performance evaluations for the previous ten (10) years. I agree to hold current or former employers harmless from any claim or action based upon the release of information or documentation relating to my employment record. I acknowledge I have read and understand the above information. By checking this box and completing my name in the field below, I provide my consent for King County Metro Transit to obtain the above referenced information.- Yes
- No
Required Question