Director Automotive

Metropolitan Transportation Authority•Croton-on-Hudson, NY

About The Position

This position is responsible for all aspects of Metro-North's Automotive Department including planning, budgeting, coordinating and overall management, maintenance and monitoring of Metro-North's rubber-tired (non-revenue) fleet of company work and support vehicles. This position oversees the monitoring and reporting of employee vehicle use to support the safe and proper use of company vehicles. This position develops and implements plans to ensure the fleet is in a state of operational readiness and suitable for the intended purpose. This position plans and implements on-going and long-range company vehicle programs which contribute to the safe and effective operation of the railroad and supported departments. The Director will be in charge of a fleet of over 900 vehicles (both owned and rented) and be responsible for monitoring approximately 2500 employee drivers across the entire Metro-North service territory.

Requirements

Knowledgeable of vehicle engineering, including chassis design, engine and transmission design and performance.
Must have strong knowledge of fleet management.
Strong ability to deal effectively with outside service providers and assure contractual obligations are met.
Must be extremely well organized.
Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
Ability to assemble and document a budget including labor and material costs.
Strong leadership skills and must be a self-starter who can motivate others.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Strong organizational, planning, coordination, prioritization and analytical skills.
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word and Excel) and/or comparable software applications.
Knowledge of general licensing requirements and motor vehicle laws.
Knowledge of procurement policies and procedures.
Solid working knowledge of an automated procurement system, preferably PeopleSoft.
Valid Driver's license.
Available to be on call 24 hours per day 7 days per week
Bachelor's Degree in Automotive Technology, Automotive Management Technology, Engineering, Transportation, Business/Industrial Management or related field of study. Demonstrated equivalent experience, education and/or technical credentials may be considered in lieu of degree.
Minimum (10) ten years of experience with increasing responsibility in the management of automotive fleet/utility fleet or other closely related experience to include utilization analysis.
Minimum (7) seven years of experience managing a diverse workforce.

Responsibilities

Direct and manage all aspects of the Department's resources (i.e., budgets, labor, material and equipment) to ensure Metro-North's non-revenue rubber-tired fleet meets Metro-North's operational needs and is maintained in safe operating condition. Oversee the tracking and reporting on the availability of the fleet.
Direct and review the work of staff in the Automotive Department to ensure efficiency of operations and to meet operational and departmental user needs.
Establish and oversee a Preventive and Predictive Maintenance program for all non-revenue vehicles and continuously strive to bring down maintenance costs and repair time to maximize fleet availability.
Produce and distribute fleet status reports which include the specific numbers and classes of vehicles, vehicle assignments, fleet condition and readiness of the fleet, as well as any planned fleet replacement requirements. Develop and implement the annual fleet replacement plan and monitor it for compliance and cost savings opportunities. Lead MNR's new and replacement vehicle procurements in coordination with MTA Headquarters, which will include a transition to electric vehicles per New York State requirements.
Establish and oversee monitoring tools, systems and processes to track and report on all aspects of vehicle use by employee vehicle operators (e.g., fueling, idling, violations and other driver behaviors, driver eligibility, etc.) to ensure vehicles are being used safety and appropriately and that employees who operate company vehicles are qualified and licensed. Oversee the process for Permanently Assigned Vehicles (PAVs), including monitoring the use of the PAV application by employees and supervisors.
Ensure Automotive staff are in compliance with company and governmental regulations. Manage Automotive staff training and development through collaborative efforts with the Metro North's Operations Training Department.
Select, develop, and motivate staff and provide career development for team members. Provide effective coaching and counseling. Manage team and individual performance. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables staff to develop and contribute to their full potential.
Represent Metro-North on MTA interagency fleet management committees and meetings related to policy, procurement and/or other MTA wide initiatives.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Commuter Assistance - based on operating MTA agency (complimentary transportation pass within the MTA's jurisdiction and tax-advantaged accounts)
Low Premium - High Quality Health Insurance Plans (lifetime coverage for eligible retirees and their dependents)
Pension Plans and Retirement Savings Accounts for eligible employees
Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays provided.
Tuition Reimbursement for eligible employees
Employee Assistance Programs
MTA Exclusive Employee Discount Programs
Work Life Services team
Employee Resource Groups
Managerial Benefits