Chief of Operations Training

This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols

The Chief of Operations Training position plays an integral role in meeting the organization's vision to provide the best transit service possible. This position will plan, evaluate and develop the daily work of Transit Instructors providing staff training at assigned transit bases and the Transit Safety and Training Center; conduct training needs assessments; design, develop and evaluate training curricula to meet changing organizational needs; develop and maintain programs that reflect Metros rules and procedures, CDL regulatory requirements and traffic laws; review and ensure overall quality of curricula and training provided; evaluate effectiveness of training through post-course evaluations and transit operations performance metrics; develop, implement and evaluate remedial training programs such as post-accident retraining programs as well as customer service and annual refresher training; provide instructor training, coaching and development opportunities; ensure required licenses and certifications are maintained.

This recruitment will be used to fill one current vacancy.

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 detailed letter of interest addressing the following questions:
 
 

• Tell us about your career in training? What made you choose a career in training?
• What about training excites you?
• Share how you manage frustrations when change doesn't go as smoothly or as quickly as you would like.

• Supervise and direct the work of first line supervisors, exhibiting positive leadership and role modeling, encouraging and supporting staff development and training, conducting performance evaluations, and providing ADA accommodations as needed.
• Evaluate training programs delivered to a wide variety of audiences and skill levels.
• Conduct Training for Trainers.
• Lead needs assessments for a variety of job classifications.
• Evaluate instructor guides, student aids and presentation materials.
• Manage courses that are delivered through multi-media and distance learning systems.
• Manage employee performance, including providing progressive discipline, taking disciplinary action, referrals to training and the service auditor.
• Interpret and apply labor agreements and County and Metro Transit policy and procedures.
• Interview and recommend selection of transit operators and first line supervisors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

In addition to the shared competencies (Download PDF reader) for the Transit Chief role.
 

• Bachelor's degree in an organizational development or training-related field OR an associate's degree. (In lieu of degree, an additional four years of organization development or training-related experience is required).
• Two years in a supervisory capacity.
• Working knowledge of developing and implementing comprehensive training programs for professional development, technical proficiency and to meet regulatory mandates.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct effective needs assessments and develop successful, professional training programs based upon information obtained as well as ability to analyze, forecast and report on future needs, training outcomes, trends, cost effectiveness and similar performance metrics.
• Knowledge of adult learning theory, practice and methodology.
• A working knowledge of federal, laws regarding ADA, EEO, FMLA, and Federal DOT Regulations as well as state and national licensure requirements.
• Skill in using current office software programs including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and similar software applications.
• Demonstrated ability to model customer service skills that represent Metros commitment to customer service and to create an environment that supports customer service.
• Skill in establishing and implementing a customer service training program that includes initial, on-going and remedial training.
• Skill in time management and managing multiple projects and daily responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Ability to establish good working relationships and apply good oral and written communication techniques with staff and senior management, elected officials, labor representatives, business and community groups, riders, and local, state and federal agencies, as well as peers throughout the country
• Working knowledge of basic human resources principles and practices as they relate to hiring and employee management.

• Working knowledge of basic human resources principles and practices as they relate to hiring and employee management.
• Working knowledge of and experience working within or managing a unionized workforce and the grievance process.
• Supervisory and leadership skills, including decisiveness, good judgment, fairness, integrity and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of work systems, programs and strategies.
• Analytical skills that demonstrate the ability to determine staff level requirements.
• Skill in coaching and mentoring operators and first line supervisors.
• 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 time management and managing multiple projects and daily responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to research and utilize multiple sources of information and draw logical conclusions using basic data analysis methods to make defensible determinations.
• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and trust with employees, recognizing diversity of opinion and point of view.
• Demonstrated ability to manage 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.
• Proven ability to be a productive and collaborative team member.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook/Exchange and the ability to use the Internet and other technology in networking with other transit professionals.

• 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.

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).