Director of Operations

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

To plan, schedule, and supervise the resources of the operations and customer service departments of the transit system to ensure safe, accessible, courteous, and timely service to meet and exceed the needs of the community on a daily basis. Responsibilities include all transportation operations including drivers, scheduling, dispatching and maintenance services. Participate in budget planning with a working knowledge of funding streams and manage to the budget. Provide operating reports and analysis as necessary and/or requested by the Executive Director. Serves as liaison with City and County agencies. Implement FHATA s policies and interpret Federal, State and local regulations. The Director of Operations is responsible for all personnel matters within your span and escalates as deemed appropriate to the Executive Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participate in the ongoing strategic planning process as an integral member of the executive leadership team.


• Oversee the development and improvement of site operations, dispatch, maintenance and customer service.


• Responsible for transit schedules, procedures, goals, and objectives. Approve route adjustments and changes.


• Responsible for system wide implementation and compliance of applicable local, state, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) regulations.


• Provide regular management reporting that will assist in guiding daily business. Analyze data and trends to ascertain how operations are performing. Implement changes to the operations to ensure productivity and profitability targets are obtained.


• Responsible for the resolution of public complaints relating to buses, operations, and customer service department personnel and schedules.


• Support a safe work environment.


• Serve as an official FHATA representative to the public, governmental agencies, including City, County, State and Federal; local businesses, news media, trade associations, and other transit organizations in the absence of the Executive Director.


• Attend conferences and trainings as deemed necessary by the Executive Director or the Board of Directors

Financial Accountability and Performance Analysis

• Collaborate with the Finance Department in the development and preparation of the annual operations budget. Prepare all capital expenditure proposals.


• Work with the Finance Department in adhering to FHATA s procurement policies and procedures, as well as the federal and state regulatory requirements.


• Monitor expenses to ensure they re consistent with approved budgets. Reviews financial and budget variances, departmental expense (purchase orders, and invoice) and approve account payable documents.


• Develop clear accountability for operations spend combined with a strategy to manage expenditures.


• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on operations activities.


• Analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for each area of responsibility. Produce reports and communicate to executive team the results of the analysis and recommended actions to meet the KPI s.


• Member of FHATA s executive team. Provide status of operations, compliance and budget requirements.

People Management (Relationship Management)

• This leader is also responsible for building and leading an exceptional team delivering first in class services and operations, anticipating changes in the industry before they occur. Administering organization policies by performing the following duties personally or through subordinate managers.


• Supervise driver, dispatch, and maintenance departments.


• Organize workload to ensure deadlines are met, schedule work assignments in order of priority with appropriate department managers/supervisors.


• Consistently promote high standards through personal example and roll out through the teams so that each member of the department understands the standards and behaviors expected of them.


• Manage, coach and develop a high performing team that meets agreed objectives, and which delivers best practice results, added value and continuous improvements.


• Set department objectives and manager/supervisor KPIs, effectively communicate with your team, and review and assess ongoing performance of direct reports and provide directive on corrective action as needed.


• Conducts investigative interviews, and respond to grievances, and mediates employee disputes. Coach managers/supervisors as they deal with this within their teams.


• Ensuring staffing aligns with business needs and growth objectives across all departments within operations.


• Ensure employee performance reviews are completed in a timely manner.


• Support and ensure compliance with FHATA s Policy and Procedures Handbooks which includes state, federal and local regulations.


• Responsible for employee development and training on current operating procedures, ensure they re properly equipped, and motivated so that the operations can be accomplished in a safe, timely, and cost-effective manner.


• Work with managers/supervisors to schedule employees for the department; ensures the effective supervision of employees.


• Conducts routine meetings with managers/supervisors to review operations and administrative matters

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• A four-year degree in a Business-related study, Planning, or Transportation.


• Five to seven years of experience in managing an organization producing exceptional results.


• Strong analytical skills and experience translating a strategic vision into an actionable operational model.


• Competent in problem solving, team building, planning and decision making. Ability to consider different perspectives.


• Ability to navigate adversity and not take it personally.


• Tactful negotiation skills.


• Ability to analyze and react effectively to situations and people.


• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Must have strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated confidentiality, and strong organizational skills.


• Requires ability to research wide range of problems that are presented; requires knowledge of current FHATA policies and procedures.


• Ability to interpret and apply City, County, State, and Federal regulations. Excellent written and oral communication skills.


• Strong proficiency in Microsoft office applications, including: MS Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.


• Direct experience with labor relations issues.


• Understanding of team building and group dynamics including conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.


• Ability to lead and motivate in a diverse work environment.


• Demonstrated reading, writing, presentation and interpersonal skills necessary to train, organize, and facilitate teams.


• A collaborative and flexible style with a strong customer service mentality committed to lifelong learning.


• A leader with a passion for developing people, changing lives, and promoting integrity and values-driven operations within a dynamic, mission-driven organization.


• Able to attend periodic evening and weekend events.


• 15% - 20% regional travel

Preferred Qualifications:

• A master s degree in related field is desired.


• Two years experience in operations within a transit system.


• Knowledge of Manhattan, Junction City, Fort Riley, Ogden, Wamego and surrounding service area and locations.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related or a logical assignment of the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.